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Bush to focus on trade, terrorism in Australia
Canberra, Oct 22: Days after dubbing Australia a regional `sheriff` in the war on terrorism, US President George W Bush came here today to say thanks for backing the war in Iraq and to push for a free trade deal by 2004.
Canberra, Oct 22: Days after dubbing Australia
a regional "sheriff" in the war on terrorism, US President
George W Bush came here today to say thanks for backing
the war in Iraq and to push for a free trade deal by 2004.
The 20-hour stop, anchored on a meeting with
Australian Prime Minister John Howard and a speech to
lawmakers called back to work to hear him speak, was part of
a whirlwind six-nation trip to shore up alliances against
terrorism.
The US President also hoped to build on plans, announced when Howard paid a visit to his Texas ranch in May, to conclude negotiations on a bilateral free trade deal by year's end.
"I told john that we'd like to get a Free Trade Agreement done by the end of this year, I think this is a good opportunity to say that again," Bush said in a TV interview.
Australia estimates such a pact would boost its economy by four billion dollars a year, but Howard has expressed skepticism about finishing up negotiations this year unless Washington gives ground on agriculture.
Bureau Report
The US President also hoped to build on plans, announced when Howard paid a visit to his Texas ranch in May, to conclude negotiations on a bilateral free trade deal by year's end.
"I told john that we'd like to get a Free Trade Agreement done by the end of this year, I think this is a good opportunity to say that again," Bush said in a TV interview.
Australia estimates such a pact would boost its economy by four billion dollars a year, but Howard has expressed skepticism about finishing up negotiations this year unless Washington gives ground on agriculture.
Bureau Report