2 August 2004
Hon Matt Robson MP, Progressive Deputy Leader
Progressive hope for jobs by upholding international law
The weekend breakthrough in talks among World Trade Organization governments offers the prospect of gains for
employment in New Zealand, Progressive MP Matt Robson said today.
"Everyone in New Zealand can celebrate the news that the WTO's Doha Development Round now appears on track for a future
agreement which may include significant reductions in the punitive cross-border barriers to our agricultural exports.
"The breakthrough in talks is an affirmation for the rule of law between nations and the prospect for further gains in
employment and development shows the benefit that flow from multilateral negotiations to resolve disputes," Matt Robson
said.
Governments over the weekend reached agreement in principle to lower unfair trade barriers that hurt efficient producers
not only in New Zealand but in other economies which have large primary production sectors. Governments agreed to
advance the rule of law in international trade by agreeing to a framework for negotiating the eventual elimination of
agricultural export subsidies, the reduction in domestic agricultural subsidies and generally improved access to markets
through a reduction in import taxes or tariffs on agricultural goods.
The moves have been welcomed by Fonterra, Meat & Wool New Zealand, the New Zealand Forest Industries Council and by workers in those sectors. Efficient sugar producers
in the developing world have the prospect of gaining significant financial gains.
"If the European Union, Japan and the U.S. governments are serious about wanting to drain the swamps of poverty in the
Third World in which political extremism and terrorism thrives then they will ensure that the eventual deal struck in
the Doha Development Round offers significant gains to all primary producers in the Third World, including cotton
producers.
"Any failure by the richest nations to properly address cotton would be a self-defeating betrayal not only of efficient
farmers in the developing countries and their families who are so hurt by existing U.S. cotton export dumping – but
would also represent a serious failure by the governments of the major nations in the broader campaign against poverty
and the terrorism which thrives in the conditions of poverty," Matt Robson said.
ENDS