Comments by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on the WTO Ministerial Meeting

July 30, 2008
Japanese

1. Japan considers it regrettable that agreement on the modalities was not achieved despite serious efforts made by Ministers at the WTO Ministerial Meeting which lasted for more than a week.
2. While it has become less likely for the Doha Round negotiations to be concluded within this year, Japan intends to examine seriously, together with other member countries, how to proceed with future negotiations on the basis of the progress made during the past negotiations.
3. At a time when there are various causes for concern in the outlook of the world economy, Japan, as the chair of the G8 Summit this year, will undertake its foreign and domestic economic policies, in cooperation with other countries, based on the agreement reached at the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit. In particular, Japan will make persistent efforts towards a conclusion of the WTO negotiations which will contribute to the sound development of the global economy. In respect of agriculture, on which various discussions were held at this Ministerial Meeting, Japan intends to further strengthen its domestic agricultural sector.