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US commitment to Asia remains despite shutdown | US commitment to Asia remains despite shutdown |
(34 minutes later) | |
The US commitment to Asia remains undiminished despite President Barack Obama's absence from regional summits, Secretary of State John Kerry has said. | The US commitment to Asia remains undiminished despite President Barack Obama's absence from regional summits, Secretary of State John Kerry has said. |
Mr Kerry was speaking at the start of the Apec summit in Indonesia. | Mr Kerry was speaking at the start of the Apec summit in Indonesia. |
Mr Obama cancelled his Asia trip after the partial US government shutdown. | Mr Obama cancelled his Asia trip after the partial US government shutdown. |
The US government closed non-essential operations on Tuesday after Congress failed to agree a new budget. Thousands of federal employees have been sent home. Some are working but not paid. | The US government closed non-essential operations on Tuesday after Congress failed to agree a new budget. Thousands of federal employees have been sent home. Some are working but not paid. |
US-EU trade negotiations have also been postponed because of the shutdown. | US-EU trade negotiations have also been postponed because of the shutdown. |
'Robust democracy' | 'Robust democracy' |
As world leaders began gathering for the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit in Bali, Mr Kerry sought to allay concerns that Washington was reducing its global engagement. | As world leaders began gathering for the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit in Bali, Mr Kerry sought to allay concerns that Washington was reducing its global engagement. |
"None of what is happening in Washington diminishes one iota our commitment to our partners in Asia," he said. | "None of what is happening in Washington diminishes one iota our commitment to our partners in Asia," he said. |
He said the dispute with the Republicans in the US Congress was "an example of the robustness of our democracy". | He said the dispute with the Republicans in the US Congress was "an example of the robustness of our democracy". |
But at the same time, he urged Congress to think about how the US was perceived internationally when "we can't get our own act together". | |
Mr Kerry said areas where the shutdown was affecting US foreign policy funding included: | |
Mr Obama had been due to begin a four-nation Asian trip on Saturday, heading to Bali and Brunei before travelling on to Malaysia and the Philippines. | Mr Obama had been due to begin a four-nation Asian trip on Saturday, heading to Bali and Brunei before travelling on to Malaysia and the Philippines. |
The White House said Mr Obama's decision to cancel his Asia trip was made due to the "difficulty in moving forward with foreign travel in the face of a shutdown". | The White House said Mr Obama's decision to cancel his Asia trip was made due to the "difficulty in moving forward with foreign travel in the face of a shutdown". |
Republicans who control the House of Representatives refused to approve a budget, saying they would only do so if Mr Obama's healthcare reform law was delayed or stripped of funding. | Republicans who control the House of Representatives refused to approve a budget, saying they would only do so if Mr Obama's healthcare reform law was delayed or stripped of funding. |
Mr Obama and the Democrats have refused, noting the law was passed in 2010, subsequently approved by the Supreme Court, and was a central issue in the 2012 election which Mr Obama won comfortably. | Mr Obama and the Democrats have refused, noting the law was passed in 2010, subsequently approved by the Supreme Court, and was a central issue in the 2012 election which Mr Obama won comfortably. |
On Friday, Democrats and Republicans appeared no closer to finding a way out of the impasse. | On Friday, Democrats and Republicans appeared no closer to finding a way out of the impasse. |
Republican House Speaker John Boehner insisted Mr Obama and Democratic Senate leaders open negotiations on the shutdown. | Republican House Speaker John Boehner insisted Mr Obama and Democratic Senate leaders open negotiations on the shutdown. |
"All we're asking for is to sit down and have a discussion," he said. "This isn't some damn game." | "All we're asking for is to sit down and have a discussion," he said. "This isn't some damn game." |
Mr Obama later said he was happy to hold talks with the Republicans, "but we can't do it with a gun held to the head of the American people". | Mr Obama later said he was happy to hold talks with the Republicans, "but we can't do it with a gun held to the head of the American people". |
The US also faces running out of money and defaulting on its debt if there is no agreement to raise government borrowing limits later this month. | The US also faces running out of money and defaulting on its debt if there is no agreement to raise government borrowing limits later this month. |
'Worse than 2008' | 'Worse than 2008' |
US officials had been due in Brussels next week to discuss a sweeping free trade pact designed to boost bilateral trade between the European Union and the US. | US officials had been due in Brussels next week to discuss a sweeping free trade pact designed to boost bilateral trade between the European Union and the US. |
On Friday, US trade representative Michael Froman informed the EU that financial and staffing constraints made it impossible to send a full negotiating team to Brussels. | On Friday, US trade representative Michael Froman informed the EU that financial and staffing constraints made it impossible to send a full negotiating team to Brussels. |
He stressed that Washington would continue working with the EU on drawing up the deal, but would have to wait until the shutdown was over. | |
Reacting to the US announcement, European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said the delay was unfortunate. | Reacting to the US announcement, European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said the delay was unfortunate. |
"But let me underline that it in no way distracts us from our overall aim of achieving an ambitious trade and investment deal," he added. | "But let me underline that it in no way distracts us from our overall aim of achieving an ambitious trade and investment deal," he added. |
Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said warned earlier that a failure to raise the US debt ceiling would be a far worse threat to the global economy than the current shutdown. | Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said warned earlier that a failure to raise the US debt ceiling would be a far worse threat to the global economy than the current shutdown. |
She said it was "mission critical" that the US agreed a new debt limit. | She said it was "mission critical" that the US agreed a new debt limit. |
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