Australia committed to Doha world trade deal: Minister
Australia's new government will redouble efforts to secure a deal in the Doha round of international trade talks, the new trade minister said Saturday, but warned of tough times ahead.
By Agencies |
NUSA DUA: Australia's new government will redouble efforts to secure a deal in the Doha round of international trade talks, the new trade minister said Saturday, but warned of tough times ahead.
"I think the reality is that an outcome from Doha is doable, but it's going to be tough," Australia's Simon Crean said after meeting World Trade Organisation (WTO) head Pascal Lamy.
"But I want to make sure that our efforts, our support, to achieve that outcome are redoubled," he told reporters on the sidelines of a key climate change conference on Indonesia's resort island of Bali.
He said he thought the next two to three months were critical in hammering out the deal, which has been deadlocked since the Doha Development Round was first launched in 2001.
Developed and developing countries are at loggerheads over agricultural subsidies and industrial tariffs, but Lamy said last month that he hoped the WTO's 151 members would be able to reach agreement by the end of 2008.
The Labor Party's Kevin Rudd won elections in Australia, a major agricultural producer, ousting John Howard, who had also pushed for the success of the global trade deal.
"I think the reality is that an outcome from Doha is doable, but it's going to be tough," Australia's Simon Crean said after meeting World Trade Organisation (WTO) head Pascal Lamy.
"But I want to make sure that our efforts, our support, to achieve that outcome are redoubled," he told reporters on the sidelines of a key climate change conference on Indonesia's resort island of Bali.
He said he thought the next two to three months were critical in hammering out the deal, which has been deadlocked since the Doha Development Round was first launched in 2001.
Developed and developing countries are at loggerheads over agricultural subsidies and industrial tariffs, but Lamy said last month that he hoped the WTO's 151 members would be able to reach agreement by the end of 2008.
The Labor Party's Kevin Rudd won elections in Australia, a major agricultural producer, ousting John Howard, who had also pushed for the success of the global trade deal.
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