WTO remains priority despite “not achieved” grade for Doha

by | Dec 18, 2011 | Media Releases

Remove

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) should remain a top priority for New Zealand’s trade policy even though last week’s WTO Ministerial did not deliver a conclusion to the Doha Development Agenda, says the NZ International Business Forum.

“WTO Ministers have confirmed what everyone already knew – Doha will not be concluded this year. If this were NCEA, the result would be very clear – not achieved,” said NZIBF Executive Director Stephen Jacobi.

In Geneva 15-17 December, Ministers from the WTO’s 153 member states met for their 8th biennial meeting to review progress in Doha and discuss a range of other business including accessions of new members.

“Success in Doha remains blocked by fundamental disagreements between the major players. While that is deeply disappointing for business, the WTO remains the global trade referee. The WTO provides the legal framework for the entire global trading system and an important brake on increasing protectionism. That’s why the WTO remains of fundamental importance to New Zealand and economies why both large and small are keen to join.”

Mr Jacobi underscored both the importance of the accessions of new WTO members and the need to continue the Doha process.

“We welcome these new accessions which expand the WTO’s global community. Russia, an important future partner for New Zealand, is the last major economy to join the WTO. Our close Pacific neighbours, Samoa and Vanuatu, will now also benefit from the WTO’s role in promoting trade and development. We urge all WTO members to remain in dialogue with each other in order to find the right formula for concluding Doha as soon as circumstances permit”.

Mr Jacobi said that the absence of an outcome to Doha increased the importance of other negotiations like the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).

“TPP is no alternative to WTO. As an ambitious, high quality and comprehensive regional trade agreement in the making TPP provides a way forward for reducing barriers to trade and investment and putting in place better trade rules. As in the closing phase of the Uruguay Round the world is looking once more to the APEC region to show leadership on trade”.

REGISTER WITH TRADE WORKS

Register to stay up to date with latest news, as well as saving and discussing articles you’re interested in.

Latest News

AMIDST THE STORM: ABAC MEETS IN AUCKLAND

Perhaps a cyclone was after all a fitting backdrop for the meeting of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) which was held in Auckland on 12-14 February – the global environment against which the meeting took place is decidedly stormy.  In the event the wind...

A YEAR FOR RECONNECTING

As I write this end of year dispatch, NZIBF is preparing to host the first meeting for 2023 of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC).  We are looking forward to welcoming the 200 or so business leaders and senior officials from APEC member economies across the...

NZ Herald: Time to lift our game in India

Following his recent visit to India our Executive Director Stephen Jacobi penned this article advocating a more strategic approach to the further development of the relationship. The article was published by the NZ Herald on 9 December.

APEC Rolls out Priorities for 2023

Issued by the Informal Senior Officials’ Meeting - Honolulu, The United States, 13 December 2022 Aiming to provide tailwinds for member economies to strengthen recovery and resilience, as well as advance broad-based economic growth, the United States rolled out its...

NZIBF 2022 Chair Report

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2022 CHAIR’S REPORT I am pleased to present my second report on the activities and achievements of the NZ International Business Forum (NZIBF) for 2022-23, our fifteenth year of operations.  At the outset I would like to thank Members for...

NZ BUSINESS LEADERS AT APEC 2022

New Zealand business will be represented at the APEC Leaders’ Week in Bangkok, commencing 13 November, by members of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). New Zealand’s three members – Rachel Taulelei, Malcolm Johns and Anna Curzon – supported by Stephen Jacobi...

Submission to MFAT for CPTPP Review

30 September 2022 Phil Mellor Economic Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Wellington (By email) Dear Phil, Thank you for your email of 1 September, seeking our comments on the three year review of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans...