WASHINGTON, June 13 (UPI) -- President George W. Bush met Thursday with Australian Prime Minister John Howard, who is in Washington on a lobbying mission for a free trade agreement to allow more Australian goods and services into the U.S. market.
Howard, who last met with the president the day before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, became the first government leader to address Congress since then when he spoke on Capitol Hill Wednesday and told lawmakers the United States needs to refurbish its free trade credentials.
A sore point with Australia is the U.S. Farm Security and Rural Development Act, Bill, which increases government subsidies for wheat and other grains and re-institutes subsidies for wool and honey.
Bush said the matter was discussed with Howard, and again pushed Congress to get legislation to his desk that would give him trade promotion authority to negotiate trade treaties. No other details were given, however.
The two leaders were said to have also discussed terrorism and the Middle East.
Howard reiterated Australian friendship and his nation's commitment to standing with
America in the war against terrorism.
