WT/MIN(15)/ST/10  
17 December 2015  
(15-6697)  Page: 1/2  
Ministerial Conference 
Tenth Session 
Nairobi, 15-18 December 2015  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY HON. ANDREW ROBB, A.O., M.P. 
MINISTER FOR TRADE AND INVESTMENT 
AUSTRALIA  
I am honoured to address the Tenth Ministeria l Conference of the World Trade Organization. 
 This year, we celebrate the WTO's twentieth anniversary and the first WTO Ministerial Conference to be held in Africa. It is important to acknowledge the contribution of African Members to the 
dynamism of the WTO.  
 We come together in Nairobi at a time when the WTO's negotiating function faces a genuine crisis. 
 
The Doha Round of negotiations has been underway for 14 years now. And, while we came close to a conclusion in 2008, differences on key issues have not been bridged. In some cases, they 
have widened. 
 It is now clear that a comprehensive outcome from the Round is no longer in prospect.   
As a strong proponent of the multilateral trad ing system, we are deeply concerned about this 
situation.   
This is the context for our meeting this week. We have two key challenges this week.   
 First, to work together to deliver a credible package of outcomes from the Doha Round. Australia 
will be an active and constructive participan t in striving for balanced and fair outcomes. 
 Australia believes it would not be acceptable to finish MC10 without an outcome on export 
competition in agriculture. As chair of the Cairns Group, we have consistently advocated for 
agricultural trade reform as a core objective of the WTO.   
 Earlier this week, the Cairns Group reiterated that stance. We are committed to working towards a 
credible export competition that covers all of the issues where it is possible for us to reach 
agreement. Such an outcome would demonstrate th at the WTO is capable of delivering outcomes 
which benefit both developed and developing Members alike. 
 
Our second task this week is to find a way to address the deep problems of the WTO's negotiation 
function and move forward from Nairobi.   
Clearly, it would not be credible to rea ffirm the Doha Round here in Nairobi.  
 We all know that Doha cannot be finished any time soon. Equally, we know that there is no 
consensus to bring the Round to an end.  
 The issue is not whether Doha is alive or not. The issue is how do we collectively make the WTO's 
negotiation function more effective. That should be our focus post Nairobi. And we should have a 
period of reflection in 2016 to assess ways the WTO can deliver future outcomes.  Australia sees merit in exploring new approaches to global trade liberalisation and reform, 
approaches that have the prospect of delivering substantial outcomes in time frames that are WT/MIN(15)/ST/10 
 
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  meaningful to business and other stakeholders. This is what ultimately will contribute to global 
economic growth.  I want to emphasise that Australia's interest in different and more agile negotiating approaches 
does not in any way undermine our commitment to ensuring that trade rules work in the interests 
of all Members at all levels of development.    
On the contrary, it is precisely because of our deep commitment to such outcomes that we are 
now supporting different approaches.  In considering new approaches, it is sobering to recall that the WTO has not been able to agree to 
lower one tariff multilaterally since the Uruguay Round. Nor has it cut trade-distorting subsidies by 
one dollar.  
At the same time, free trade agreements have b een flourishing, delivering preferential market 
access, addressing new issues and developing rules for the contemporary global economy.    
There is clearly no lack of interest in pursuing trade liberalisation and reform through preferential 
arrangements.   This raises the question of how the WTO can en sure the positives around free trade agreements 
are multilateralized through the WTO for the benefit of all Members.   
 We believe that one way forward for the WTO is through plurilateral negotiations. When completed 
and implemented, the Information Technolo gy Agreement and the Environmental Goods 
Agreement will provide extensive tariff elimination.  
This more flexible negotiating model should not be seen as weakening the WTO.   
 Rather, by delivering a new negotiating dynamic that generates benefits for business and consumers, it will bolster the WTO, putting it once more at the centre of efforts to underpin 
sustainable global growth. 
 Australia believes that full participation of Members in the WTO is important to a strong and 
effective system.  
 This year, we have committed support of A$15 million to WTO-related initiatives on aid for trade. 
This includes contributions of: 
 
- A$3 million to Phase 2 of the Enhanced In tegrated Framework to help LDCs address 
their constraints to trade, and 
- A$A6 million contribution over three years to the World Bank's Trade Facilitation 
Support Program and A$1 million to the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility, to 
assist developing countries implement the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation. 
 
We have also made a commitment to contribute to the Global Alliance on Trade Facilitation and helped to ensure an LDC trade target was included the Sustainable Development Goals.   
 
Finally, Australia is committed to developing a way forward for the WTO that serves the interests of all Members, but equally responds to the reality of the contemporary global trade and 
investment environment by changing and adapting.  
 
This agenda is quite simply too important to allow differences to be a stumbling block to finding agreement.  
 
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