Media releases
Friday, 8 November 2002 - MVT145/2002
Push to Highlight Importance of the WTO to Australia
Trade is vitally important to the future well-being of all Australians
and the World Trade Organisation continues to play a crucial role
in protecting and advancing Australia's trading interests, Trade Minister
Mark Vaile said today.
Launching Australia and the World Trade Organisation Mr Vaile
said there was an ongoing need to foster better understanding in the
community of the vital role the WTO plays in the economic well-being
of Australia.
"Unfortunately there are a lot of misperceptions about the role and
functions of the WTO and this plain English brochure goes a long way
to demystifying the WTO," Mr Vaile said.
"Since 1995 when the WTO was established, Australia's exports have
grown more than 50 per cent from $93 billion to over $154 billion
and have created more than 250,000 jobs.
"Australia has benefited significantly from the WTO system, including
winning better access for beef exports to Korea and regaining access
for prawns and lamb exports to the United States.
"The WTO provides a set of rules which applies to all 144 member
countries to govern international trade. These rules give all member
countries, no matter what their size, a fair go. They enable them
to reach agreement and resolve their trade disputes. The alternative
of negotiating with 144 countries separately would be impossible.
"The WTO is not a body which makes decisions on behalf of countries.
All member countries do get a say. All member countries do have the
same status and all member countries have to agree before a decision
can be taken. Smaller countries can and do contribute to the running
of the WTO.
"There is an ongoing need to foster better understanding in the Australian
community of the importance of trade to the continuing prosperity
of Australia and this publication is an important element of increasing
that understanding."
Australia and the World Trade Organisation will be sent to
schools, businesses, industry associations and local government.
It provides simple explanations of what the WTO is, how it operates,
how Australia's national interests are protected and how global trade
rules and dispute settlement processes benefit Australia.
Copies can be obtained at www.dfat.gov.au.
Media Contact: Robyn Bain +61 02 6277 7420
Local Date:
Friday, 21-Nov-2008 18:17:37 EST
