New Zealand envoy sees U.S. willing to deal in Asia-Pacific trade talks

(Reuters) - A senior New Zealand official on Friday said he was optimistic the United States would agree to phase out tariffs in politically sensitive sectors like sugar and dairy as part of a regional free trade deal with Asia-Pacific countries.

"It's our belief the administration is focused on TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership), wants to do it and wants to do it this year," New Zealand's Ambassador to the United States Mike Moore told reporters. "We can see movement (from U.S. negotiators) happening at an accelerating pace."