. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/GC/36
WT/COMTD/27
20 November 2000
(00-4934)
Original:  English
TARIFF TREATMENT FOR LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
Communication from New Zealand
The following communication dated 16 November 2000, addressed to the Director-General
has been received from Ambassador Roger Farrell, Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the
WTO, with the request that it be circulated to the General Council and the Committee on Trade andDevelopment.
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In response to your letter of 5 October, I am pleased to inform you of a decision taken by the
New Zealand Government to provide duty-free a nd quota-free market access for all imports from
least-developed countries as from 1 July 2001.  This decision was announced by our Prime Minister,
the Rt Hon Helen Clark, earlier today.  A copy of the Press Statement issued by the Prime Minister is
attached.
As indicated in the attached statement, New Zealand has taken this initiative in order to
support international efforts to improve market access opportunities for the LDCs.  We recognize that
the steep barriers to certain LDC imports are one of the critical impediments to economic
development and poverty alleviation in the world’s poorest countries. We hope that our action will go
some way towards facilitating the fuller participation of these countries in the global economy.
We support your continued efforts in improving market access for imports from LDCs, and
we strongly encourage other WTO Members to take similar early initiatives.WT/GC/36
WT/COMTD/27
Page 2
MEDIA STATEMENT
BY
THE RT. HON HELEN CLARK
PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand Removes Tariffs on Imports from
the Poorest Countries in the World
From July 2001 all of the least-developed countries of the world will have duty-free access to
New Zealand for all their imports, Prime Minister Helen Clark announced today at the APEC leaders’meeting in Brunei.
“This is a significant move which demonstrates that international trade is not just about
wealthy companies or well connected entrepreneurs,” Helen Clark said.
“We want to ensure that the world trade system has room for the poorest people from the
poorest countries. The rich nations must ensure that the benefits of globalization are available for
everyone and this is a tangible contribution.
“Last year, after the failure of the trade talks at Seattle, WTO Director-General Mike Moore
challenged the world to open up trade for the poores t countries.  From their point of view, as they
struggle with massive debt and huge development problems, the trade debates between rich nations
can seem irrelevant.
“Too often, trade agreements have excluded the very poor.  They have no negotiating
leverage but have real needs.
“As Mike Moore pointed out, if those countries are ever to support another round of
international trade negotiations they have to know that they will gain.  The best approach is to give
them the key straight away, and this move will do that.
“I will be announcing this move to leaders at the APEC retreat today, and I will call on them
to join New Zealand in this approach.
“Between us we could make a real difference for millions of the poorest people of the world.
They don’t just want our sympathy.  They don’t just want our aid.  They want a chance to participate
in a fair and inclusive trading system,” Helen Clark said.
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