Trade Leaders Support TLN Launch

Trade leaders will lend their support - by video conference and in person to the launch of the New Zealand Trade Liberalisation Network tonight

The Network is a new advocacy group for freer trade, supported by large and small New Zealand private enterprise export interests, including the meat and dairy industries, wine, fisheries, the services sector and other major export groups.

Trade Minister Jim Sutton will speak at the launch. He says the establishment of the Network is timely as New Zealand has much to benefit from coming initiatives to gain more access to world markets.

WTO Director General Mike Moore will address the launch from Geneva, calling for an end to trade barriers in order to head off an anticipated global recession. Mr Moore says the world's economies would all be greatly boosted by the successful launch of a new WTO round in Doha in early November.

Trade Liberalisation Network Chairman Brian Lynch says the Network fulfils an important role. He says the case for trade liberalisation has too often been left to the government to carry, in the face of negative argument that is often sincerely held but relies more on ideology and misunderstanding than rigorous analysis.

At tonight's launch Mr Lynch will introduce the Trade Liberalisation Network's Executive Director, former diplomat and trade negotiator Stephen Jacobi. Mr Jacobi will be business adviser to the official delegation representing New Zealand at next week's WTO meeting in Doha.

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