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Japan's Basic Policy on WTO Doha Development Agenda Negotiations

October 6, 2005

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

At a meeting on the WTO Doha Development Agenda (DDA) negotiations held on October 6 by the ministers concerned: the Chief Cabinet Secretary, and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs; Finance (Senior Vice Minister); Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; and Economy, Trade and Industry, the basic stance of the Government of Japan was confirmed as follows:

  1. The success of the DDA negotiations is one of Japan's important priorities in terms of supporting and expanding this country's economic profits as well as for maintaining and strengthening the credibility of the multilateral trading system. It is inseparably linked with strengthening competitiveness through domestic structural reform. It is also important that more developing countries enjoy the benefits of trade.
  2. The WTO members aim to reach a substantive achievement, at the 6th Ministerial Conference to be held from December 13 to 18 in Hong Kong, with a view to completing the DDA, by the end of 2006.
  3. The negotiations are now facing an important phase where negotiations in the agriculture area, one of the keys to the progress of the DDA, have begun discussion with concrete numbers.
  4. Japan needs to ensure its interests through proactive engagement in negotiations and keeping pace with the moves of other members. It is important that Japan presents a concrete proposal in each area of the negotiations.
  5. It is important for Japan to attain the maximum national interests by obtaining results that will contribute to its economic interest in each area as well as reaching realistic agreements.
  6. To achieve these goals, the Government of Japan will conduct closer cooperation and coordination among ministries and agencies concerned and participate even more proactively in the negotiations.

*The original press release was issued on October 6.
** In the area of agriculture, G10, including Japan, already tabled its proposal in October.

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