I-W 119/ 92
Embargoed to midnight AEST 2/ 11/ 92
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HlON P J KEATING MP
URUGUAY ROUND: MESSAGE TO THlE G7
At this critical time for thc success of Uruguay Round I have tonight conveyed to the
leaders of the major world economics a communication signed by a large and
representative STOUP of countries.
It stresses the present danger to the world trading. syjtem and urges the leaders of the
major economies to intervene now to settle the remaining differences in the Round.
On behalf of these countries I[ have asked the leaders of the United States, Japan,
Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Canada, as well as the European
Community and the Dircctor General of the GATT, to recognise that without urgent
solutions the deadline for successfully completing Uruguay Round negotiations by the
end of this year will not be met.
it is quite remarkable and think extremely telling that this expression of grave
concern conics from such a large and divcrsc group of countuics.
It includes Hong Kong, Ncw Zealand, Chile, Singapore, Korea, Colombia, the
Philippines, Czechoslovakia and all the Nordics, as well as Australia.
It embraces most world economic regions, and widely different economies. Despite
widely differing interests all in this group believe the benefits to flow from a Round
outcome cannot be misscd and all share the desire to bring matters to a satisfactory
close. A copy of the communication follows.
Confirmed signatories at 6pm today were Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand,
Chile, Singapore, Korea, Colombia, Thc Philippines, Czechoslovakia, Norway,
Sweden, Finland and Iceland. By the time of release a number of other countries are
expectcd to have confirmed their adherence to the communication.
CANBERRA
2.11.92
I C L. Attachment A
COVERING LETTER TO ALL G7 HEADS OF GOVERNMENT PLUS
DELORS AND DUNKEL
Dear I[ have been requested by a significant and representative group of active participants in
the Uruguay Round negotiations to convey to you the attached declaration concerning
the present impasse in the GATT negotiations.
The signatory countrics believe that without urgent solutions to outstanding
differences, the deadline for successfully completing thc Uruguay Round negotiations
by the end of this year, which the G7 leaders committed themselves to in July, will not
be met.
The concern of signatory countries is that unless G7 leadcrs act now, the benefits of a
successful outcome to the GATT round will be denied to the cntire international
community with very serious implications for growth in a wide range of countries with
diverse economic interests and for the future of the open world trading systemn.
commend the attached declaration for your immediate attention.
P. J Keating . I ~ q~ UA V ñ I 1 I 0U~ . J
Attachment B
URUGUAY ROUND: A MESSAGE TrO THE G7
When G7 leaders met in Munich they committed themselves to a
year end deadline to finish the Uruguay Round. Without an
urgent solution to outstanding differences this deadline will
not be met and a successful conclusion to the entire Round
will be put at risk. The Round cannot be allowed to fail
through lack of political will on the part of 077 countries.
The Uruguay Round has been stalemated since the Draft Final
Act ( DFA) was tabled in December 1991. Already negotiations
have dragged on for six years two years longer than we had
all expected, denying the world economy the boost it urgently
requires. Strenuous efforts have been made in recent ' months to resolve
problems which key participants have with the agriculture
package in the DFA. We understand that considerable progress
has been made. The Round has, however, encountered political
difficulties among major participants which are diverting us
from the objectives to which we all committed our governments
at Punta del Este and in Montreal, and which are holding back
the work all participants must do to complete the
negotiations. The benefits of the Round will Cover all sectors
agriculture, market access, services and improved rules. All
participants will gain. The world trading system cannot risk
a failure of the Uruguay Round with all that would entail. A
successful result is needed to promote global economic growth
and to prevent a deterioration of the world trading system.
it is crucial as well to the development aspirations of many
developing and least developed countries and economies in
transition. The remaining differences in our view are
certainly bridgeable given the necessary commitment,
flexibility and goodwill on all sides.
The economic and trade interests at stake in these
negotiations are not those of the G7 alone, but those of the
entire international community. We all need the benefits that
will flow from the Round package. Moreover the restructuring
and liberalisation underway in many parts of the world could
be seriously threatened if these processes are denied the
encouragement provided by a strengthened GATT system. Delay
in concluding the negotiations is already denying the benefits
of the Round to the world economy and damaging the credibility
of the multilateral system.
we urge the leaders of the G7 countries to intervene now.
Three successive communiques have confirmed G7 commitment to
the Round. it is vital that immediate progress be made if the
goal which was set at Munich of bringing the Bound to a
successful conclusion by the end of 1992 is to be achieved.