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New Zealand's new trade minister to make WTO debut in Kenya

Xinhua, December 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

Incoming New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay will be seeking to secure market access, particularly for agriculture, at next week's World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks in Nairobi.

The 10th WTO Ministerial Conference will be McClay's first duty as Trade Minister after he officially takes over the post from Tim Groser, who is to be New Zealand's next ambassador to Washington, on Monday.

"Key issues for trade and development will be in the spotlight at Nairobi, including in the important area of agriculture," McClay said in a statement Friday.

"WTO members will be trying to agree a package of measures from the Doha Round agenda, which has been stalled since 2008," he said.

"While no negotiation with more than 160 participants could be described as easy, we hope that all players come to the table prepared to play their best hand."

While New Zealand had been successful in securing a network of high quality free trade agreements, the government believed they should complement and contribute to the WTO system.

"When it comes to trade issues, global solutions are the most effective ones."

The WTO Ministerial Conferences take place every two years. Endit