Minister says Open, Global Trade Is Critical To Ireland’s Recovery

Speaking at the World Trade Organisations 7^th Ministerial Conference in Geneva Minister for Trade and Commerce Mr. Billy Kelleher, T.D. said:

“Trade is immensely important for jobs and growth in the economy. Last year we exported €155 billion in goods and services, up from €121 billion in 2001. As a trading economy we need to make sure that more markets are open to Irish exports. Through the WTO’s work and its objective to reduce trade barriers via the Doha Development Agenda we can help free up world trade and gain greater market access for our exporters”.

“The WTO provides the essential framework to manage the huge changes taking place in world trade and in times of crisis the need for a strong trade referee is vital. The WTO’s work and its monitoring and reporting on protection helps keep markets open for Irish exporters and protects jobs” the Minister added.

Commenting on the importance of trade to development the Minister stated that “We are firmly committed to fulfilling the development dimension of Doha. The DDA is designed to give the poorest and weakest countries the opportunities to use trade to deliver on their individual development agendas”.

Introducing measures which facilitate greater trade in green technologies can help deliver a carbon free future the Minister suggested and this will be to the benefit of all in tackling the climate change challenge.

The Minister warned that the huge decrease in global trade volumes reported in the last year emphasises the need to act quickly and resolve differences so as to deliver and ambitious balanced and comprehensive market opening opportunities through the DDA. By achieving this we will help ensure a better future for all.

ENDS/TC408

1 December 2009