Minister for Trade & Commerce, John McGuinness, details Irelands concerns on WTO Trade Round developments.

The Minister for Trade & Commerce, Mr. John McGuinness T.D. today (Monday 10^th March 2008) repeated Ireland's serious concerns on developments in Geneva in the WTO/DDA (Doha Development Agenda) round of talks and stressed the importance of clear benefits for Irish business emerging from the conclusion of the round.

Speaking following a meeting of EU Trade Ministers and the General affairs Council (GAERC) the Minister stated that "like many partners we have concerns about the nature of the offer in the current texts. We welcome the recognition in today's Council conclusions that improvements are needed if the negotiations are to move forward. We support the Commission in seeking those improvements which we believe must be substantial." The Minister indicated that the recognition of these concerns, which are shared by many of our partners, followed a comprehensive engagement by himself on behalf of the Government with Trade Ministers, the DG of the WTO and the Chairs of the negotiating groups. "Other Irish Ministers and officials have also been presenting the Irish case forcefully at EU Councils and EU working groups and bilaterally over a prolonged period of time" the Minister added.

The Minister continued that if there is to be an agreement, we need an outcome which is balanced across the three strands of the agricultural negotiations and balanced also between Agriculture, NAMA (Non Agriculture Market Access) and Services. These are areas of substantial potential for the Irish economy as a whole. In addition benefits accruing from a strong multilateral rules based system will continue to provide certainty and security for Irish exporters.

The Minister emphasised the need for the EU to be aware of the risk of serious damage to European Agriculture of an unsatisfactory WTO deal. "Failure to achieve positive balanced outcomes across the whole spectrum of the negotiations is not in the best interests of the EU" the Minister concluded.

Finally, the Minister stressed that the Commission will need to maintain continued pressure on our trade partners to reciprocate on the EU offer if a positive result is to be achieved.