I do so on the eve of possibly the most important international meeting that will take place this year - the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference in Seattle next week . In Seattle representatives of 135 member countries will have the opportunity to determine the direction of international trade policy for the next decade, to decide whether or not to continue the path of trade reform that's underpinned global economic prosperity for the past 50 years. And to decide whether to launch a new round of global trade negotiations as well as the scope of those negotiations. The stakes for Australia are high. Trade matters enormously to Australia.
Exports underpin our economy.
Over two-thirds of our farm production is exported and the figure for minerals and energy is 90 per cent of production. The services sector is also a vital part of the Australian economy accounting for more than two-thirds of our GDP and almost a quarter of our total exports. Manufacturing is the third critical area for us in Seattle. Export-related manufacturing jobs pay on average 20 per cent more than other manufacturing jobs. That's why we'll be fighting to break down trade barriers in this area.