Minister to visit Bolivia, Mexico

Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton leaves New Zealand on Wednesday to attend the Cairns Group meeting in Bolivia and the APEC ministerial meeting in Mexico.

Mr Sutton said today that the two meetings were timely, as they would add momentum to the on-going negotiations in the World Trade Organisation Doha Development Round.

"Both the Cairns Group of agricultural trading nations and the APEC economies are influential groups in the WTO. The meetings in Bolivia and Mexico will be useful opportunities for us to work on strategies to further our goals in the WTO negotiations."

The Cairns Group meeting in Bolivia runs from October 18 till October 21. As well as involving ministers from member countries (Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Fiji, Guatemala, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Paraguay, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Uruguay), there will be invited guests from the United States, the European Union, China, Egypt, Uganda, and Kenya, as well as WTO head Supachai Panitchpakdi and farm leaders.

Federated Farmers representatives and Special Agricultural Trade Envoy Graham Fraser are also expected to attend.

Mr Sutton will then attend the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation forum ministerial meeting in Mexico on October 23 and 24.

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