Visit to Japan of Director General Mike Moore of the World Trade Organization (WTO) (Overview and Evaluation)

31 January 2001
First International Organizations Division

1. Schedule

Director General Mike Moore of the World Trade Organization (WTO) visited Japan from 30 to 31 January as a guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, conducting talks with Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono and other relevant ministers and officials. (Find attached Director General Moore's career summary and schedule.)

2. Main Outline of the Talks

(1) Talks with Foreign Minister Kono (evening of 30 January)

1. Foreign Minister Kono emphasized the necessity to launch a new round at the Fourth Ministerial Conference (to be held this autumn) in Qatar, pointing out that the agenda for the negotiations of a new round must be broad-based and appealing to developing countries. Furthermore, in addition to remarking that Japan would carry out a proactive role toward the launching of a new round, Foreign Minister Kono urged Director General Moore for his leadership in future coordination.
2. Director General Moore stated that in order to launch a new round within the year, it would be necessary to reach an agreement on the agenda of a new round by July with the outlook clear regarding the launch. To this end, he noted that it would be essential to take developing countries into consideration. Furthermore, he commented praising Japan's implementation of technical assistance and market access improvements directed at least developed countries.

(2) Exchange of views with Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Diet members involved in foreign affairs (31 January)
Director General Moore explained the present situation directed towards the launch of a new round. In addition to posing questions to Director General Moore on his outlook regarding China's accession to the WTO, the Diet members in attendance commented on the present situation and other conditions enveloping Japanese trade with respect to agricultural products and textiles, for example.

(3) Aside from the above-mentioned, Director General Moore also had talks with Minister of Finance Kiichi Miyazawa, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Yoshio Yatsu, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Takeo Hiranuma, LDP Diet members involved in agriculture, relevant officials from the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations, and others.

3. Evaluation

(1) During this visit, unity of recognition was achieved regarding the necessity to reach agreement on the agenda for a new round by summer, and take the interests of developing countries into consideration for the launching of a new round at the Fourth Ministerial Conference this autumn.

(2) As far as Japan is concerned, proactive approaches are already being implemented toward forming a consensus through the holding of the Frankfurt Meeting* on 24 January and other conferences. It is vital that coordination between the United States, the European Union, and major developing countries be vigorously advanced toward reaching an agreement on the agenda for a new round by the summer.

* Note: An informal meeting, held at the initiative of Japan (Chair: Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoshiji Nogami), attended by vice-ministerial level officials from major developing countries, including the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Federative Republic of Brazil, and the Republic of South Africa, and nine middle-sized members, including Australia and the Swiss Confederation.