Prime Minister Julia Gillard has promised Australia will lead the way in ensuring the world's poorest countries have fair access to global markets, saying other developed nations should do the same because world trade needs to be fixed.
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Addressing the Commonwealth Business Forum in Perth last night, Ms Gillard said the world could not wait for the Doha Round of free trade talks to be finalised before taking decisive action.
The Prime Minister said the global economy needed a ''shot in the arm'' to stimulate greater openness and increased trade. ''New sources of economic growth need to be activated. And millions of the world's poorest citizens can be liberated from poverty, while creating more jobs and growth worldwide, through trade,'' Ms Gillard said.
''So, simply put: we need to fix world trade. The Doha Round of the World Trade Organisation has to be part of the solution. Yet global trade talks under the Doha Round have been going on for a decade now, with no sign of a breakthrough.
''Worse, there are disturbing early signs that the world is retreating towards closed-door policies. A new way for global trade negotiations needs to be found. If we keep doing what we're doing, we'll keep getting what we're getting.''
Ms Gillard outlined a three-point plan which includes breaking the Doha Round into more manageable parts to facilitate a quicker conclusion; a commitment to refrain from increased protection along the way to completion of Doha; and making a down-payment this year to the world's least developed countries.
Since 2003, Australia has voluntarily given access to its market for least developed countries free of tariffs and quotas. Most other developed countries have not.
Last night, the Prime Minister committed Australia to further leading the way in opening doors for developing countries.
''Tonight I pledge that the world's least developed countries will have access to Australia's market free of tariffs and quotas for 100 per cent of the goods they export to our country,'' she said.
''That is, Australia will continue the strongest possible commitment to market access for the world's poorest countries - irrespective of the settlement of other issues in the Doha Round.
''In making this pledge, I am calling on other countries to make similar ambitious commitments ... Australia is also willing to play a leading part in the global fight against protectionism.''
The Prime Minister's strong message followed her earlier speech yesterday when opening the business forum, in which she called on European leaders to do more to fix the global economy.
Ms Gillard is hosting a week of meetings in Perth culminating in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting on the weekend.
