WORLD TRADE WT/GC(97)/ST/4
16December 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-5521)
Original: English General Council
10December 1997
AUSTRALIA
Statement byH.E. Mr.TedDelofski
Ambassador, Permanent Representative
First, Iwould liketothank theDirector-General forhisoverview report, andmore generally
thank theSecretariat fortheirefforts throughout theyear.
AustraliabelievesthesuccessfulSingaporeConferenceinDecemberlastyearhasbeeninfluential
inshaping developments intheWTO in1997.
Itreaffirmed thework program andthebuilt-in agenda oftheWTO andunderlined thetrade
liberalization credentials oftheWTO.
Amajor achievement ofthepastyearhasbeentheconclusion ofagreements intheimportant
areas ofInformation Technology andTelecommunications. Both agreements willbeimportant in
liberalizing trade inthese highgrowth areas.
Wearehopeful, too,thatthefinancial services negotiations willbeconcluded inthenexttwo
days. Thepackage ofoffers onthetableisgood andthere canbenoreason nottoharvest them on
abinding, MFN-basis. Asuccessful outcome willprovide awelcome boost tofinancial market
confidence.
Onagriculture, theearlyandtimely commencement oftheprocess ofanalysis andinformation
exchange agreed tobyMinisters atSingapore hastodategiven WTO Members abetter understanding
ofsome oftheissues involved andshould enable them toidentify theirinterest before undertaking
thefuture mandated negotiations. Itwillbeimportant toensure thatallissues likely tobecovered
inthenextround ofagricultural negotiations areadequately discussed.
Onemajor areaoftradeisnotunambiguously partofthebuiltinagenda: preparations forfurther
liberalizing negotiations inindustrial tariffs. AstheDirector-General ’soverview notes, therecent
APEC meetings agreed onanambitious program ofindustry liberalization covering 15sectors (including
food). TheWTO could usefully notethiswidespread support forfurther liberalization inthecontext
ofdiscussion about possible multilateral negotiations inindustrial tariffs.
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Thedisputesettlementmechanismhasbecomeanincreasinglyimportantvehiclefortheresolution
ofdisputes inthisrules based organization. Thegrowth inrequests forconsultations andforthe
establishment ofpanels isindicative thatthemechanism isrespected andeffective.
Likewise, thelargenumber ofcountries seeking tojointheWTO alsoreflects awiderecognition
ofthevalue ofanon-discriminatory trading system.
TheestablishmentoftheCommitteeonRegionalTradeAgreementsisanimportantdevelopment
thathasledtoanimproved examination process fornewregional trade agreements. There hasalso
beenawelcome starttoasubstantive consideration ofthesystemic issues deriving fromtheformation
ofregional trade agreements. AstheDirector-General ’soverview notes, therelationship between the
multilateral trading system andregional arrangements isbecoming more complex andextensive. It
isimportant thatWTO rules remain relevant tothischanging situation.
Looking ahead, akeyissue fortheOrganisation willbeitsability tomanage anincreasingly
complex anddiverse work programme, especially asmore oftheelements ofthebuilt-in agenda come
intoplayandthelargeworkload resulting fromthecurrent program ofaccession negotiations continues
unabated.
Australia considers thatthe1998Ministerial Conference gives usanopportunity toensure that
themembership ’sapproach totheWTO work program iscoherent andcomprehensive. Wesubscribe
fully totheview expressed intherecent APEC Joint Ministerial Statement thatthesecond WTO
Ministerial Conference provides atimely opportunity totakestock ofprogress intheimplementation
ofexisting commitments andthebuilt-in agenda. Webelieve thatthe1998Ministerial should instruct
theWTO toprepare options forathird Ministerial Conference in1999 forthemanagement ofthe
Organization ’sagenda, including preparation ofmandates forthenewnegotiations onagriculture and
services, aswellasother areas thatMembers might wanttoaddandincluding, too,theoption ofa
newround ofmultilateral trade negotiations.