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Foreign Ministers and Trade Ministers from Apec countries at the summit in Singapore - Source: Reuters -
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The Prime Minister and Finance Minister are expressing disappointment and frustration with the United States at the lack of progress towards free trade.
John Key and Bill English have joined other world leaders to push the trade agenda at the Apec summit in Singapore.
The countries represented in Singapore for Apec make up just under half the world's population and just over half the world's trade.
Apec's goal is free trade - that is selling goods across borders without barriers or taxes and New Zealand eyes are on the United States.
"(Free trade) does depend on the extent to which (US President) Obama and his team think it's a good idea and it's not yet exactly clear what will be heard from them," says English.
One of the big things New Zealand was hoping for at Apec was word from the United States about whether it would re-start its stalled free trade programme and perhaps sign up to a multi country trade deal which already includes New Zealand. But in a setback to New Zealand and to the summit itself, the US will have a limited presence at the gathering.
Because of domestic commitments President Obama will be late to Apec and will be there for only one day, which for New Zealand means a missed opportunity to push free trade.
"This is one more complication. It doesn't put us off the objective we want to achieve in the end," says English.
Key recently met Obama but admits he is disappointed he will have limited chance to advance the free trade agreement.
"He's very well disposed towards New Zealand, the relationship is probably in the best shape it's been in 25 years and I think we are making real progress there, so we are a little bit disappointed but not too alarmed by the fact he is going to be delayed," says Key.
And, delays are something New Zealand governments should be used to given they have unsuccessfully pushed the case for free trade with the US for over a decade.
