Fri, 13th June 2008

Labor's high stake gamble on Doha

The Hon Ian Macfarlane MP
Shadow Minister for Trade

Trade Minister Simon Crean has been caught out playing Russian roulette with the livelihoods of Australian exporters, with department officials confirming there’s no back up plan if the Doha round of WTO talks doesn’t come to a successful conclusion.

Shadow Minister for Trade Ian Macfarlane said the startling admission during Senate Estimates is more evidence that the Rudd Labor Government is out of its depth on trade.

“During questioning in estimates officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said there have not been any major pieces of work on what might happen post-Doha,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“This is telling evidence that the Trade Minister simply hasn’t grasped the gravity of his role and is providing no guidance on a comprehensive trade policy for Australia.

“While the Doha round is important, Mr Crean has put Australian exporters, farmers and businesses in the precarious position of relying too heavily on just one option for securing future markets, during a make-or-break time for talks.

“The previous Government was committed to Doha but understood there was more to Australia’s trade policy than the single-minded pursuit of a multilateral agreement at the expense of all others.

“To ensure Australian exporters and farmers had access to the broadest possible market arrangements the previous Government also avidly pursued bilateral free trade agreements – signing FTAs with the United States, Singapore and Thailand.

“The Howard Government was also instrumental in initiating and negotiating the recently completed Australia-Chile Free Trade Agreement and took the first steps towards establishing FTAs with other partners including China, Japan, South Korea and India.

“That momentum is now at risk, given the current Trade Minister Simon Crean has vacillated from complete denial of the benefits of free trade agreements to token acceptance.

“He’s also claimed credit for the Australia-Chile FTA but has refused to safeguard the budgets for further negotiations on free trade agreements with Japan and China.

“The result is complete chaos about where this Government stands on free trade agreements – creating confusion for Australian businesses and international trading partners.

“Mr Crean seems determined to pursue a half-hearted policy on trade and his blind ambition to paint himself as the saviour of the Doha WTO talks could compromise the futures of Australian exporters.

“It’s time for Mr Crean to embrace a comprehensive and practical trade policy that incorporates Doha as well as a range of regional and bilateral free trade agreements.

“Delivering outcomes for Australian exporters is far more important than stoking Mr Crean’s ego.”