APEC Comprehensiveness Principle MT171

5 October 1995

MAJORITY SUPPORTS APEC COMPREHENSIVENESS PRINCIPLE - McMULLAN

Responding to media reports that the APEC principle of comprehensiveness is under threat and that Australia should boycott the APEC Osaka meeting in protest, the Minister for Trade, Senator Bob McMullan, said today the principle of comprehensiveness was very important for Australia and is supported by a clear majority of APEC members.

Senator McMullan said that there was no denying that further agricultural liberalisation would be difficult for Japan and Korea and that the task ahead of Australia would not be an easy one.

"In setting the goal of free trade in APEC, Australia always recognised that there would be challenges and hurdles to overcome," Senator McMullan said.

"It would be naive to think otherwise.

"There is still some way to go before the Leaders meeting in Osaka, and Australia's ongoing diplomatic efforts were recently stepped up to ensure we secure a good outcome on comprehensiveness."

Senator McMullan said the comprehensiveness issue would be at the top of the agenda during his visit to Korea and Japan next week.

"I will be giving my counterparts a very firm message that APEC would fail to deliver its full potential to the region if the comprehensiveness principle was watered down.

"There is clear and substantial benefit to Australia's interests in each step along the road to trade reform in APEC.

"The question at issue is not whether Australia will gain from APEC - it is clear that we will.

"The real issue is: will we maximise that benefit for Australia?

"Therefore, it is clearly in Australia's interests to be at APEC, and not just for our agricultural industry.

"In this way, we can strongly pursue all Australia's national interests.

"We will continue our efforts to maximise the benefit for all Australians, including our farmers.

"Our officials, too, will be giving this message to the Japanese at the next SOM in Tokyo next week.

"Australia had said directly to Japan that the Bogor agreement already allows for the phasing of free trade, so long as the 2010 end date is met.

"In Australia's view, a transition time of 15 years for a country as economically powerful as Japan seems generous."

Senator McMullan said that the principle of comprehensiveness was of critical commercial interest to the Australian agricultural industry. Australia had succeeded in the Uruguay Round in finally bringing agriculture onto the international trade liberalisation agenda.

Further information: John Flannery, (06) 277 7420