12:30 pm, Monday September 3rd, 2012

Admission Free
Special Quick Lunch Menu featuring New Zealand Mussels & Smoked Salmon

 

In conjunction with an official visit to Thailand, the FCCT is pleased to have as our luncheon guest the Honorable Tim Groser, New Zealand's Minister of Trade, Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister for Climate Change issues. Broadly knowledgeable on matters of international trade policy and diplomacy, Tim will discuss the bilateral New Zealand - Thai economic relationship as well as the prospects for further economic integration in Asia-Pacific, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the ASEAN Economic Community blueprint and Free Trade Area, as well as his recently announced bid to head the World Trade Organization.

Tim has served New Zealand with distinction in a number of capacities, including being New Zealand's Chief Negotiator in the GATT Uruguay Round: the session that brought agriculture into the system of world trade rules for the first time and conferred substantial benefits on New Zealand's economy.

He is regarded as one of the world's leading experts on international trade. Prior to being elected as a member of Parliament in 2005 on the National Party ticket, he was New Zealand's Ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO), and Chair of Agricultural Negotiations for the WTO, a post from which he was hailed as the driving force behind many of the WTO's successful multi-lateral agreements. Described recently as 'the most powerful man in world agriculture' Tim was personally responsible for brokering the final groundbreaking deal in a marathon session.

Prior to becoming Minister of Trade, Tim had held several important posts in government, including serving as a policy adviser to the Treasury, the Ministries of Trade and Foreign Affairs, and as a member of the Prime Minister's Advisory Group. In addition to holding the trade portfolio, Tim is also Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister for Climate Change issues, a topic on which New Zealand has taken a leading role on the international stage.

Tim's visit to the FCCT comes on the heels of his announcement this past week that he will seek the post of director-general of the World Trade Organization, the job held by former New Zealand prime minister and now ambassador to Washington, Mike Moore, over a decade ago. Current New Zealand prime minister John Key has said the government will support Tim's bid, promoting it at the APEC summit in Vladivostok, now underway, in order to unblock the stalled Doha round of trade liberalization talks.

To mark this event, our chef has created two quick luncheon dishes featuring New Zealand's delicious mussels - one sauteed with basil and chili tossed with fettuccine, the other, Choo Chee Mussel, steamed and served on the half-shell, topped with a red curry and garnished with chili and kafir lime leaves - and one featuring New Zealand smoked salmon, topped with a spicy Northeastern sauce of shallots, mint, lime juice and nam pla.

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