Trade Talks Top Priority for Truss

The Australian Government’s Minister for Trade, Warren Truss, will visit India, Abu Dhabi, Pakistan and China from 11 to 22 April.

In New Delhi from 12 to 14 April, Mr Truss will be attending a ministerial meeting of the G6 (Australia, Brazil, the European Union, India, Japan and the United States) to discuss ways to move negotiations in World Trade Organization’s Doha Round forward.

“This is the first meeting of the G6 since the suspension of the negotiations last July,” Mr Truss said. “It comes after three months of new negotiations and at a time when there is a new intensification of efforts to find a breakthrough.

“While not underestimating the challenges that still lie ahead, particularly in breaking down barriers to trade in agriculture, this G6 meeting will provide an opportunity for Australia to press for a Doha outcome that delivers new commercial opportunities for exporters.”

Mr Truss will visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 15 April. The UAE is Australia's second largest market in the Middle East with two-way trade of more than $2.3 billion in 2006 and services trade of almost $1.5 billion.

“My visit to the UAE, one of the most economically dynamic countries in the Gulf, will add further weight to our already strong bilateral trade and investment relationship.”

Australia has begun free trade agreement negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (comprising the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain).

“Australia is committed to expanding the strong and growing trade and investment relationship with the GCC. A comprehensive, liberalising free trade agreement should deliver significant mutual benefits.”

In Lahore, Pakistan between 15 and 18 April, Mr Truss will be chairing the 31^st Cairns Group Ministerial Meeting.

“The Cairns Group will be looking to provide strong support for an ambitious outcome to the Doha agriculture negotiations, particularly the efforts to find a way forward in improved agricultural market access and cuts to farm subsidies.

“I am delighted that Pakistan, which joined the Cairns Group in late 2005, is hosting this meeting, and newest member Peru will also attend.”

Mr Truss will visit China from 19 to 21 April. In Beijing, Mr Truss will meet with China’s Commerce Minister, Bo Xilai, and co-chair the second High-level Economic Cooperation Dialogue (HECD) with the Chairman of China’s National Development and Reform Commission, Ma Kai. The HECD provides an important forum to discuss climate change, energy, resources, investment, infrastructure and the proposed free trade agreement with China.

He will also attend the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference and participate in a panel on Accelerating Asian Growth: Evolution of the Asian Economic Community.

Styled as an Asian Davos, the BFA is a forum for senior government, business and academic representatives to debate major economic, social and environmental issues facing Asia.

Other attendees at this year’s BFA will include the Chairman of China’s National People’s Congress, Wu Bangguo the President of the Philippines, Gloria Arroyo, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shaukat Aziz, the Chairman of Microsoft Corporation, Bill Gates, and Nobel Prize Laureate and Founder of the Grameen Bank, Muhammad Yunus.

Media Inquiries: Minister Truss' office 02 6277 7420 - Departmental Media Liaison 02 6261 1555