WTO Talks Find a Path Forward
Phil Goff and the New Zealand team should be congratulated for the progress at the WTO Ministerial on the Doha Round
according to the Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce.
The meeting has provided a path forward by producing a compromise amending some of the latest WTO negotiating drafts in
the stalled talks.
“There is still much work to be done before a satisfactory outcome is reached but the compromise which emerged on Friday
night and early Saturday means that progress can still be made,” said Chamber Chief Executive, Charles Finny who has
just returned from Geneva as part of the New Zealand business delegation and as part of the Global Services Coalition of
which the Chamber is a member.
“It is incredibly important for the global economy that we maintain the momentum towards more open markets. And for New
Zealand achieving some of the offers that are on the table such as the elimination of export subsidies on agriculture
will be incredible beneficial over the long term.
“In the area of services, which is particulalry important for the Wellington economy, the sector has finally been
integrated, at the political level, with the other two market access Doha pillars – agriculture and non-agricultural
market access (NAMA) at this Ministerial meeting in Geneva.
“I was particularly impressed with the role Phil Goff the New Zealand delegation played in reaching this milestone,” Mr
Finny concluded.
Click here for a copy of the statement from the Global Services Coalition.
ENDS