FED: Vaile says Cairns meeting vital to WTO round

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-1999
FED: Vaile says Cairns meeting vital to WTO round

Trade Minister MARK VAILE says this week's meeting of the Cairns Group in Argentina is a
vital chance to win United States support for freer agricultural trade ahead of the next round
of World Trade Organisation talks.

Mr VAILE, who will chair the meeting in Buenos Aires on Friday and Saturday, says it must
send a clear message to Europe, the US and Japan that agricultural trade must be on an equal
footing with other trade sectors.

He says he'll raise the issues of lamb import barriers and the proposed $US7 billion aid
package to US farmers with the US Agriculture Secretary DAN GLICKMAN .

Mr VAILE will visit Brazil, Peru and Uruguay on the trip -- his first overseas visit since
he was appointed trade minister.

AAP RTV msl/mfh/msk/rp

KEYWORD: TRADE (CANBERRA)

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