Tim Groser MP
National Party Trade Spokesman

28 January 2007

National welcomes resumption of Doha talks

National Trade spokesman Tim Groser has welcomed the resumption of the World Trade Organisation’s Doha Round talks.

“The announcement by WTO director-general Pascal Lamy in Davos, which comes after months of stalemate, is good news for New Zealand and the international trading system,” says Mr Groser, former chair of the WTO agriculture negotiations.

“It recognises the fundamental reality that for all countries there is no ‘Plan B’ of free trade agreements or other negotiating platforms that can effectively take the place of a multilateral system of unfettered market access and trade rules.

“That said, restarting negotiations is one thing but bringing them to a successful conclusion is quite another matter.

“Trade Ministers from some key developed, and developing countries, have indicated at Davos that they can offer further flexibility. That indication is vital and should be welcomed.

“But that indication still needs to be communicated to their negotiators in Geneva - along with firm instructions that they want the deal done and are prepared to ditch their earlier more one-sided negotiating positions to get it.

“If not, this promising opportunity will disappear without trace into the meat grinder that is the reality of Geneva negotiations, just like some promising earlier opportunities.

“The broad outline of an effective deal that would benefit all developed and developing countries has been evident for some time. If this can be augmented and fleshed out in coming months, we will have a result that will compare more than favourably with the result achieved from the earlier Uruguay Round.

“But failure to build on the momentum established at Davos and some earlier informal meetings will mean New Zealand will have to wait for years to relaunch negotiations. No country would gain from that outcome.

“For New Zealand, this is a critical moment and National expects the Labour Government to make this its top external trade priority in coming weeks."

ENDS

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