Minister Kitt Launches WTO Consultation Process

Industry should register views on www.openmarkets.ie

Trade Minister Tom Kitt, T.D., today (Wednesday September 5th, 2001) urged Irish industry to make known its views on the upcoming WTO International Trade Negotiations. He launched www.openmarkets.ie, a new website which provides the opportunity to Irish industrialists and exporters and their representative associations to voice their opinions on multilateral trade issues up for discussion at the November World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial meeting in Doha, Qatar. Minister Kitt, who will lead the Irish delegation at the Doha Ministerial said that "the industry consultation process will both inform Irish companies about the possible implications of the WTO negotiations and provide them with the opportunity to influence the outcome of the talks".

The Minister said, "later in 2001, it is likely that Ireland, together with most countries in the world, will begin negotiations at the WTO aimed at reducing barriers to trade and investment between countries. Rules agreed at the WTO govern Ireland's trade relations with nearly all non-EU markets".

Minister Kitt concluded: "If your company currently exports, or plans to export, goods or services to non-EU markets; if your company's exports face foreign import tariffs that reduce profitability and market penetration; if discriminatory laws or regulatory or licensing procedures impede sales or establishment in foreign markets, then this is your opportunity to identify the barriers to your company's efforts to expand internationally". “

The website can also be used if you need to learn more about how rules agreed at the WTO may affect your company's operations. In order to identify the tariff and other regulatory barriers that impede your company's overseas expansion, it is vital that we get feedback from industry through this consultation process".

Forfás is launching the process, in conjunction with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the industrial development agencies. Forfás, the national policy and advisory board for enterprise, trade, science, technology and innovation, works closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and with the industrial development agencies in providing the government with advice on enterprise policy, including policy relating to Ireland's trading relations with other countries.

Minister Kitt referred to his ongoing dialogue with non-Governmental organisations (NGOs) in relation to the issues arising in the WTO and said that this dialogue would continue in order that the Government would be fully informed of the NGOs' views.