Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Cancun meeting result disappointing, says minister


PRESS STATEMENT

Cancun meeting result disappointing, says minister

The result from the Cancun World Trade Organisation meeting today was not the end of the global trading system, nor of the efforts to reform it, Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton said.

The meeting ended today without reaching agreement on a detailed negotiating text. Cancun meeting chairman Luis Derbez said considerable progress had been made, but more work needed to be done in some key areas to enable members to proceed towards the conclusion of negotiations and fulfilment of the Doha commitments.

Mr Sutton said the talks did not break down over agriculture.

"We were making good progress. Although there was still some way to go, the agriculture part of the draft text looked as though it would have gone a long way towards the ambitious outcome that New Zealand farmers were hoping for.

"Unfortunately, other issues proved too much for the membership at this time."

Those issues were the so-called "Singapore" issues: investment, competition, trade facilitation, and transparency in government procurement.

Despite the considerable flexibility the European Union and Japan had signalled on investment and competition, a number of developing countries said that they could not at this time accept negotiations on trade facilitation and government procurement, Mr Sutton said.

"That is their right. Developing nations are a majority of the WTO now, and their views have to be recognised. Their greater involvement in the WTO has made this organisation a truly global one.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

"We now need to focus on preserving the good progress we have made since the launch of the round at Doha two years ago. We need to bridge the differences that remain. But most of all, we need to take stock and reflect on how we can best take this process forward, to deliver the real benefits for World Trade Organisation members, developing and developed alike."

Mr Sutton said he was disappointed personally and for the New Zealand team at Cancun by the breakdown in the meeting.

New Zealand had worked intensively with all participants at the WTO meeting, especially with the United States, European Union, Cairns Group, the "G21" led by Brazil, India, South Africa, and China, and with other developing nations.

"A huge amount of work has been done by a lot of people and we have made significant progress, which could still be really positive for New Zealand and the developing nations dependent on agriculture for their export earnings.

"The objective now must be to hang on to the progress made, while working to complete that which has not been completed at Cancun."

Mr Sutton said conference chairman Luis Derbez had put an outstanding effort into the WTO meeting, and his personal reputation as Mexico's foreign minister was enhanced as a consequence.


ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.