Minister confident APEC's stance to be taken into account

... multilateral trading system which we have carried out is expected to become an example of the Doha Round settlement... "

Surabaya, East Java (ANTARANews) - Indonesian Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan is confident APEC`S (Asia PAcific Economic Cooperation) stance toward the Doha Round issues will be taken into account by member countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO) outside the Asia Pacific region.

"With its contribution to the world economy reaching 55 percent, I believe the Asia-Pacific stance towards the Doha Round issues will be taken into account by all members of the WTO," said Gita on the sidelines of the APEC trade ministers' meeting (MRT) here Saturday.

A total of 21 members of APEC will announce its stance on the Doha Round issues on Sunday, April 21 in Surabaya.

Gita hoped it would change the perspectives of non-APEC community in the next few months so that dispute settlement can be reached in the Doha Round-WTO ministerial meeting in Bali in December.

"APEC members today agreed to firmly voice the aspirations of Asia Pacific. The multilateral trading system which we have carried out is expected to become an example of the Doha Round settlement," he said.

Gita statement is in line with the expectations of WTO Deputy Director-General Alejandro Jara which was delivered separately. He stated that the WTO was waiting for APEC stance on the Doha Round.

"We hope that APEC can play a leadership role and encourage the community to use its influence for others to immediately agree one of the options that exist," said Jara.

Jara admitted that the breakdown of the Doha Round negotiations demonstrate the existence of a political crisis between member states which has occurred because the organization wanted to fundamentally change the pattern of trade of agricultural products.

"We do not just want to change things that are directly related to trade in agricultural products, but also other things like the elimination of agricultural subsidies that can damage free and fair competition," said Jara.

The issue of the removal of agricultural subsidies and dumping is still being debated by the developed and developing countries.

Editor: Ade P Marboen
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