Rudd Upbeat On Doha
The Age
Wednesday April 2, 2008
THE shape of a deal in the Doha trade round needs to be locked in within the next four or five weeks, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has said.
In an optimistic assessment of the prospects for a successful conclusion of the round, Mr Rudd told an American business audience there had been some encouraging progress in the core areas of agriculture, industrial products and services. Early decisions were needed if the round was to conclude by the end of the year. "We believe that not only is this doable, but it is really our best chance at giving the global economy a psychological shot in the arm," he said. He also pledged that the Australian Government would make "no retreat into protectionism - notwithstanding the rise in protectionist sentiment elsewhere in the world". His Government was "unashamedly pro-market, pro-business and pro-globalisation". "We do not believe it's in the interest of our people to pull back from full participation in the global economy," he told the US Chamber of Commerce. He said that political dynamics in the US, Europe and elsewhere meant that failure to conclude a deal this year "may see the round going into cold storage for several years". "This would be to no one's benefit and would seriously undermine the global trading system. The moment is now!" Mr Rudd said. He said that he had discussed the World Trade Organisation in his meetings in the US and he was very encouraged by the strength of President George Bush's commitment to completing the Doha round. Mr Rudd also urged the US Congress to back the President's commitment. He said that US leadership was critical but other principals to the round also needed to give leadership. He said that in his discussions, there had been an agreement "that the deal needs to be an ambitious one, not a nominal one - one that can make a real difference to trade flows". This meant that every WTO member "must step forward with an offer that makes the Doha round outcome worthwhile. The time of gamesmanship is over - the stakes are too high".
© 2008 The Age