MEDIA RELEASE
23 March 2004

Cairns Group and G20 Move Makes Sense

Wide benefits are expected from the decision of the Cairns Group of agricultural exporters and the G-20 to work more closely on common issues, Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.

Last year’s ministerial meeting in Cancun rammed home the point that developing countries have been severely disadvantaged by WTO rules on trade and that it was time their issues were addressed, he said.

“The G-20 countries put agriculture at the top of their agenda, as does the Cairns Group.”

Ross Wilson said that the CTU supported trade based on agreed multilateral rules, but was critical of the performance of the WTO for failing to establish a fair set of rules.

“Labour issues are also continually sidelined in the WTO,” Ross Wilson said.

“The CTU would like New Zealand to work more closely with developing countries within the WTO.”

ENDS

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