Media releases
Tuesday 16 July 2002 - MVT076/2002
Vaile and Lamy Push for Greater Progress in WTO
The Australian Government remains firmly committed to working closely
with the European Union to pursue the WTO’s Doha Development Agenda
particularly agricultural trade reform, Trade Minister Mark Vaile
said today.
Speaking after a two-day visit to Australia by European Commissioner
for Trade, Pascal Lamy, Mr Vaile said the discussions had been wide
ranging and frank.
“Commissioner Lamy and I discussed the way ahead with the WTO’s Doha
Development Agenda, in particular we explored how we can best cooperate
to meet the ambitious deadline of 1 January 2005 to complete the negotiations,”
Mr Vaile said.
“We held constructive discussions on trade in services, industrial
tariffs, agricultural reform, as well as Australia’s bilateral trade
agenda.
“Agriculture negotiations were a key focus of our discussions, and
I set out clearly the Cairns Group’s negotiating objectives and scope
to narrow our differences. I also invited Pascal to this year’s Cairns
Group meeting in Bolivia.
“With regard to the mid-term review of the European Union’s Common
Agricultural Policy (CAP), I reinforced the point that the review
process offered an important opportunity for genuine reform.
“Australia is encouraged by elements of the recent European Commission’s
proposal that looked to make the CAP less trade and production distorting.
“However, I reinforced to Commissioner Lamy that we would be looking
closely at its true impact on world markets and for evidence that
it would see an end to the disruption of world markets, and much greater
access to the EU for our farmers.
“It is well known that Australia and the EU have been at opposite
ends of the agricultural trade reform debate for many years, however,
I will continue to push the case for Australian farmers.”
Mr Vaile said Commissioner Lamy also met with Prime Minister John
Howard and senior Cabinet Ministers, where they discussed the WTO
negotiations, the European economy, the mid-term review of the CAP
and the prospective enlargement of the EU.
“These talks, together with the meetings Commissioner Lamy held with
business leaders and members of the Australian Council for Overseas
Aid, reflect the breadth of our shared interests on global issues.”
Media Contact: Mark Croxford +61 02 6277 7420
Local Date:
Friday, 05-Dec-2008 13:26:23 EST
