National list an insult to New Zealand
National’s luring the chair of the WTO agriculture committee and New Zealand’s ambassador to the WTO at a crucial time
in multilateral negotiations is a kick in the teeth for all New Zealanders, Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton said
today. Mr Sutton said the Doha Development Round was of enormous importance to New Zealand.
“The last round earned us $10 billion over its 10-year implemention period, and the Doha Round has the potential to do
much, much more. Already, we have an agreement to eliminate export subsidies – provided the negotiation as a whole is
successfully completed.”
Mr Sutton said he agreed Tim Groser was a talented man, but it was highly damaging to New Zealand’s cause to have him
pulled out of the Doha negotiations to stand on the National Party list.
“It’s remarkable that the National Party, which always claimed to be the farmers’ friend, has pulled off a political
stunt which may do more to derail the campaign for agricultural trade liberalisation than years of Japanese and European
protectionism.
“Make no mistake – National did not set out to recruit Tim Groser because he has talent and self-belief – they set out
to recruit him because he has a high public profile as New Zealand’s WTO ambassador at the critical stage of a vital
trade negotiation.
“In other words, they weighed New Zealand’s vital economic interests against National party political interests, and put
the party first.”
Mr Sutton said Tim Groser held his position as chair of the agriculture negotiating committee because he was the nominee
of New Zealand as well as having the skills to do the job.
“In my view, anyone accepting such a privileged position is honour-bound to see it through to completion.”