Media release

31 July 2004 - MVT64a/2004

Some Progress Made in WTO Negotiations

Trade Minister Mark Vaile said that intensive negotiations are continuing in Geneva in an effort to reach agreement on a package of interim outcomes in the Doha Round of WTO negotiations, including a framework on agriculture.

"I have just returned from Geneva where I was involved in a range of intensive discussions earlier this week in an effort to move the negotiations forward.  These discussions, including with US trade representative Zoellick, and EC trade commissioner Lamy, were designed to help the negotiating Chairs shape the new text which has just been released in Geneva," Mr Vaile said.

"The new text will form the basis for our efforts to forge a final outcome over the next day or so.  As a compromise text it contains some positive elements but there are others where we are continuing to seek improvements", Mr Vaile said.

The WTO is the Government's number one trade priority but getting agreement requires a consensus between 147 Members.  The Minister said that the environment in Geneva is not easy and he was disappointed that many WTO Members did not share Australia's ambition for the Round, particularly in their approach to agriculture.

Mr Vaile said that Australia will continue to insist that the framework provides scope to negotiate meaningful outcomes on all three areas of the agriculture negotiations -market access, export subsidies and domestic support - and the basis to open up markets for our manufactures and services exports.

"If an acceptable outcome can be agreed over the next few days, it would provide new momentum to the negotiations and regain the ground lost at the Cancun Ministerial meeting last year, Mr Vaile said.

Media contact: Matthew Doman (Canberra) +612 6277 7420.