US demand raises hackles

Who is running the show? Who seems to think they should be in charge of negotiations for a nine-nation Pacific Rim free-trade pact despite being a member for only a year?

The United States has raised hackles among other, more longstanding members of the Trans Pacific Partnership by imposing rules on media coverage of tomorrow's meeting of the TPP which is being held on the fringe of this year's Asia-Pacific leaders' summit in the Japanese port city of Yokohama.

The US has demanded that visual coverage of leaders arriving for the talks be restricted to one photographer per member country, leaving TV out in the cold. Those of suspicious disposition doubt this ban will apply to American broadcasters.

Prime Minister John Key said he was disappointed by the restriction. Officials were last night trying to find a satisfactory solution.