Media releases
Wednesday, 20 November 2002 - MVT150/2002
Sydney Mini-Ministerial Drives Doha Round Forward: Vaile
The Sydney meeting of 25 trade ministers delivered a strong and positive
injection of political momentum into the Doha round of trade negotiations,
Trade Minister and Deputy Leader of the National Party Mark Vaile
said today.
"Ministers from a wide cross-section of World Trade Organisation
member countries shared a clear commitment to move forward on each
issue in the Doha negotiations," Mr Vaile said.
A major achievement of the meeting was the issue of vital concern
to developing countries of improving access to essential medicines
to fight epidemic diseases.
"The convergence of views between Ministers on how best to improve
access to medicines for developing countries to treat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis
and malaria and other epidemics was a welcome and important outcome,"
Mr Vaile said.
"There is still further discussion to be undertaken in Geneva but
Ministers at the meeting were determined to see this issue resolved
by the end of the year, in accordance with the Doha Declaration deadline."
The Sydney meeting demonstrated strong political will to meet the
negotiating deadlines for market access. Upcoming deadlines include
agreement on a way forward for agriculture and industrial goods negotiations
by March and May 2003 respectively, and initial offers on market access
in services by March 2003.
"Increasing market access opportunities is the core business of the
WTO. It is Australia's highest trade policy priority. I was very
encouraged that all members represented at the meeting, both developed
and developing, agreed the Doha round must deliver substantial trade
liberalisation in agriculture, goods and services to the benefit of
all members," Mr Vaile said.
Discussions amongst ministers also led to a strong commitment to
advance other issues of major concern to developing countries including
capacity building for trade policy, special and differential treatment
and implementation of existing WTO commitments by the end-2002 deadline.
"Enhancing the powers of developing countries to gain from the WTO
is the central idea behind the Doha agenda, and the Sydney meeting
demonstrated developing countries are pursuing their interests effectively.
The major developed economies showed they are prepared to work with
developing countries to improve their trade capacity and meet the
Doha deadlines for achieving that outcome," Mr Vaile said.
"This was an important and successful meeting which helped push forward
key outstanding issues in the round. It built an understanding among
ministers of areas where we need to cooperate. And, it reinforced
this Government's commitment to outcomes.
"Australia has a lot to gain from the current WTO negotiations.
I am determined to take hold and run with every opportunity to help
deliver trade benefits for Australian farmers, manufacturers and services
industries."
Media Contact: Robyn Bain +61 02 6277 7420
Local Date:
Friday, 05-Dec-2008 14:14:45 EST
