WTO Doha Round Takes Another Important Step
I welcome the release overnight of revised draft negotiating texts on agriculture and industrial goods for the Doha Round of world trade talks.
Although I do not underestimate the task before us, these texts take us one step closer to our goal of agreeing a framework package for concluding the WTO Doha Round. The gaps that remain on the negotiating table will only be closed – in my view – at the political level via a Ministerial Meeting.
We must now live up to the mandate set for us by G20 and APEC Leaders last month to conclude modalities, or a framework package, on Doha by year’s end. APEC Leaders directed their trade ministers to meet in Geneva in December to achieve this objective.
I agree fully with the statement overnight by Director General, Pascal Lamy, that the modalities step would send a strong signal that all WTO members stand united to face the challenges of the current economic crisis.
We need to act now, hold a Ministerial meeting, and reach a framework deal – because a breakthrough on Doha would make a major contribution to restoring confidence in a global economy battered by considerable uncertainty.
I call on other WTO members to show the leadership and negotiating flexibility necessary to translate the strong political commitment, evident over recent weeks, into real progress in these negotiations. I look forward to joining my colleagues in Geneva on this task later this week.
I will continue to press for an outcome that helps Australian exporters gain substantially improved access to overseas markets in agriculture, industrial goods and services.
A successful outcome to the Doha Round will mean more jobs for Australians – more jobs in Australia’s agriculture industries, manufacturing and our fast growing services export sector.
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