[asia-apec 1166] NZ Trade Minister on Auckland APEC Meeting

[Gatt Watchdog]

MEDIA STATEMENT FROM LOCKWOOD SMITH, NZ TRADE MINISTER


30 June 1999


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



APEC Reinvigorated At Trade Ministers Meeting


"APEC Trade Ministers have agreed on a set of practical initiatives that
collectively reinvigorate the APEC process," New Zealand Trade Minister
Lockwood Smith said today.

Dr Smith was speaking today at the conclusion of the two-day meeting of
APEC Ministers Responsible For Trade in Auckland, New Zealand.

He said the unanimous feedback from his Ministerial colleagues was that the
meeting had been a success, and had delivered everything that leaders had
requested, and more.

"APEC Trade Ministers have delivered on their obligation to move the forum
closer towards the Leaders’ goals outlined in Declarations from the
Seattle, Bogor, Osaka and Manila meetings," Dr Smith said.

"In fact, fourteen of the 21 APEC economies have announced further tariff
cuts which will accelerate their progress toward free and open trade and
investment ahead of the Bogor goals of 2010 for developed economies and
2020 for developing economies.

"We have reaffirmed APEC's credibility and relevance as we recover from the
financial crisis and prepare for the APEC Leader’s Meeting in September and
the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Meeting in November.

"The meeting has produced a list of significant initiatives in an
atmosphere as friendly and constructive as any I have seen at an APEC
meeting."

Dr Smith said it was significant that APEC had continued to move towards
its ambitious goals although the region was still recovering from the
financial crisis.

"Every APEC member agrees that the best way to repair the damage of the
crisis and to insure against any future crisis is to make solid progress
towards APEC's trade liberalisation and trade facilitation goals, and
actively promote the development of robust, transparent markets."

"Perhaps the most important outcome was the agreement to push for inclusion
of industrial products in the WTO negotiations to be launched in Seattle
this year, in addition to trade in agriculture and services, and that these
negotiations be concluded within three years," Dr Smith said.

"The initiatives confirmed by Ministers may not be as dramatic as
APEC's major goal-setting announcements of the mid-1990s, but each one is an
important building block towards achieving those ambitious goals.

Dr Smith said he was also pleased that it had been possible to make
progress on the APEC Food System proposal launched last year by the APEC
Business Advisory Council (ABAC), and looked forward to working with
Ministers to develop recommendations for leaders in September.

ENDS