US President Donald Trump signs an executive order after announcing sweeping new tariffs. Photo: AFP / Saul Loeb
United States policy is creating "anxiety" in the Pacific, says New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters, who is advocating for dialogue.
Peters, who is also New Zealand's deputy prime minister, and a delegation of cross-party MPs are in Hawai'i on the second leg of their tour of the Pacific.
Peters said his message to both "our American friends" and "Pacific family" was to hear each other out, "opting for quiet, not megaphone diplomacy".
"We acknowledge there is uncertainty and indeed anxiety [about] aspects of current US policy towards the Pacific," he said.
"Part of that is a natural and regular consequence of a change of administration in Washington. Part of it relates directly to recent US decision-making on such issues as development spending and tariffs, positions that, in our view, are still evolving."
On Friday, Peters chastised Prime Minister Christopher Luxon for not consulting him before speaking with world leaders about US tariffs.
During a speech at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Peters said the debate over world trade had been unfortunate and misguided.
He said the use of military language - "trade war" and the need to "fight" - at times comes across as hysterical and short-sighted.
Outside of tariffs, the US has pulled out of the international climate change treaty, the Paris Agreement and paused foreign aid.
Hawaii's Democratic Party governor Josh Green said he is concerned the USAID freeze is undermining the America's credibility in the region.
"I do not pull my punches with the administration, I personally would have not made those cuts to USAID."
However, Green said not all Pacific engagement had been reduced, with the US not cutting back on Hawai'i's military spend.
"The military budget for the for the US is right now being proposed to decrease by 8 percent, in other theatres, but for the Indo Pacific, there are no cuts that have been proposed it will stay fully funded."
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters with NZ Ministers and NZ Delegation on tour at the USS Missouri Photo: Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai
East West Center's Pacific Islands Development Programme deputy director James Viernes said Pacific leaders are savvy and resilient when it comes to change.
"We navigate these tumultuous waters with calm and with confidence that we have weathered storms before, we will weather this one and I think the key to that is working together as a region, as Pacific people."
In Tonga, where Peters had his first stop, Prime Minister and Pacific Islands Forum chair Dr 'Aisake Valu Eke said when it comes to tariffs and the impact on the region, it is still early.
He said America was a friend with similar values and believed common sense would prevail.
Peters has one more day in Hawai'i before making the trip over to Vanuatu on Tuesday.
