Media Release
7 August, 2009
COAG: Meeting of Ministerial Council on International Trade
Australian Commonwealth and State and Territory Ministers responsible for trade met in Brisbane today for the second meeting of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Ministerial Council on International Trade. The meeting was chaired by the Hon Simon Crean MP, Federal Minister for Trade, and kindly hosted by the Hon Stephen Robertson MP, the Queensland Minister for Trade.
"In emerging from the global financial crisis, the Federal Government is committed to working with the States and Territories to help Australian companies seize and grow market share and position themselves to take advantage of the recovery. A stronger trade performance will generate significant dividends for our community. Research shows that export focused industries create higher paying and higher skilled jobs with better working conditions," Mr Crean commented.
"Everyone around the table today understood the vital role played by trade in sustaining national prosperity. And they understood the need to start the work at home: by refraining from introducing protectionist measures and rectify promptly any measures that might unintentionally raise barriers to trade."
"An important role for the Council continues to be to provide input from a trade perspective into the work of other areas of government on issues like development of 'green' exports, skills and infrastructure, with a view to maximising the competitiveness of innovative export industries, allowing them to take advantage of improved market access."
Mr Crean updated the Council on recent developments in the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations, as well as the key benefits for Australian business of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement.
The Ministerial Council on International Trade will meet next in early 2010, if not before.
The work of the Ministerial Council on International Trade reflects the importance the Commonwealth and State and Territory governments place on improving Australia's trade performance and its contribution to Australia's economic growth.
The Council's principal objective is to restore Australia's level of productivity and international competitiveness through better dialogue and cooperation on a broad range of trade-related issues.
Media Inquiries: Mr Crean's office 02 6277 7420 - Departmental Media Liaison 02 6261 1555