Australia’s farmers export two-thirds of their produce to world markets, and stand to benefit from liberalised trade. Many developing countries would also benefit form liberalising world trade, with better access to the markets of rich economies.

“As has already been shown in Australia, reducing barriers to trade will stimulate economic growth for developing countries,” the Australian Government Minister for Trade, Warren Truss, said this evening.

Mr Truss was launching Trade Policy and Developing Countries – Where to now?— a new report from the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) which examines the trade policy interests of developing countries and explores options for progressing more liberal trade.

“The report points out that self-interest is the most powerful motivating force for change; and all countries should realise that it is in their own interest to get rid of trade barriers and protectionism,” Mr Truss said. “Trade is a win-win activity.”

Developing countries form the majority of the World Trade Organisation, and many of them are reluctant to reduce their barriers to trade.

“Progress at the Doha multilateral talks is being held back because insufficient offers are on the negotiating table from both developed and developing countries. Insufficient offers stem from the lack of belief in the gains arising from unilateral trade liberalisation,” said report author Dr Andrew Stoeckel, of the Centre for International Economics.

“The study demonstrates the need for each country to reappraise what is in its own national interest and outlines how this reappraisal can be done. If followed it would improve the chances of more liberal trade to everyone’s benefit,” Dr Stoeckel said.

Trade Policy & Developing Countries – Where to now? is the latest of a series of reports on trade issues published by RIRDC.

“RIRDC invests in research and development for more profitable, sustainable and dynamic rural industries and communities, with a special role to handle national rural issues – research areas that affect all rural sectors,” said RIRDC Managing Director Dr Peter O’Brien.

“RIRDC’s Global Competitiveness Program equips Australian agriculture to improve its performance in the global marketplace,” Dr O’Brien said.

“Australia’s strong commitment to innovation for its rural sector has paid off in terms of gains in productivity. These productivity gains have been, in part, the result of industry and Government co-investment in R&D through the Rural Research and Development Corporations and companies,” Dr O’Brien said.

“This report shows that we can maximise the benefits of that productivity by levelling the global playing field for Australia’s rural sector, and at the same time maximise benefits for developing countries.” Dr O’Brien said.

Trade Policy & Developing Countries – Where to now? is available from RIRDC. For more information visit www.rirdc.gov.au, call 02 6271 4160 or email publications@rirdc.gov.au

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Media enquiries:
Martin Field – RIRDC Public Affairs Manager – tel - 02 6272 4735 / 0418 430 760, email - martin.field@rirdc.gov.au