13 December 2008
Australia Committed to Efforts to Break Impasse in Doha Round
I am disappointed at the news from Geneva that we have not yet secured agreement to hold a Ministerial meeting next week. WTO Director General Pascal Lamy recommended to the Membership overnight that a Ministerial meeting not be convened at this time.
Australia has continued to press for Ministerial engagement as the only way to break the impasse on two remaining issues.
I spoke this morning to WTO Director General Pascal Lamy before his meeting with Ambassadors in Geneva to emphasise Australia’s continuing commitment to a Ministerial meeting this year.
Mr Lamy indicated to the WTO Membership that he will provide a further 48 hours for any new flexibility which would justify a re-evaluation of his recommendation.
Australia will continue to urge key players to show sufficient flexibility to allow for a Ministerial meeting.
I have pressed this message in Washington in the past two days with key Administration and Congressional contacts, including USTR Susan Schwab.
There is no denying that there are difficult issues at play – but they are surmountable with the right level of political will.
When Ministers have engaged this year we have made real progress, as we did in July. Ministers need to meet again to drive the process forward.
I will continue to urge my counterparts to respond to the mandate set for us by Leaders at the G20 and APEC Leaders’ summits last month.
Australia will do all it can to promote that engagement and to create the conditions for the negotiations to advance as soon as possible.
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