Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 October 2004
96 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the outcome of the summer 2004 negotiations on the Doha trade development round; the main implications from the negotiations for agriculture and other industries here. [23789/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is particularly pleased with the outcome of the end July 2004 World Trade Organisation, WTO, general council meeting which agreed a framework to further progress the Doha Development Agenda, DDA. The framework agreement adopted by WTO members sets the parameters for the next stages of negotiation of the DDA.
Over coming months and next year, the WTO members will develop the agreed framework into concrete, detailed and specific commitments under each of the key areas of interest, including in agriculture, non-agricultural products and services. In the case of agriculture, the framework will include negotiations aimed at a substantial cut in trade-distorting supports, the elimination of trade-distorting export competition practices and a significant opening of agricultural markets. In the case of industry, a set of precise guidelines to cut tariffs has been adopted. The framework, in addition, pays close attention to the needs and concerns of developing country members of the WTO.
These negotiations will take place with a view to completing the round as soon as possible. When the Doha round was launched in November 2001, negotiations were scheduled to conclude by 1 January 2005. This is not now going to happen. Alongside the adoption of the framework agreement, the WTO general council, at end July, agreed that the next WTO ministerial meeting will take place in Hong Kong, in December 2005.
As a small open economy, particularly reliant on exports for economic growth and development, Ireland supports a strengthening of the WTO and of the multilateral trading system and an ambitious approach to the elimination of remaining barriers to trade in goods and services. Issues of importance to Ireland under the current round are the conclusion of agreements to further liberalise trade in the areas of agriculture, manufacturing and services, and measures to assist developing countries, and in particular least developed countries, better integrate into the global trading system.
