Link: http://www.usda.gov/2005/08/0314.xml Release No. 0314.05 Ed Loyd (202) 720-4623 Mary Rekas (202) 720-3415 JOHANNS ANNOUNCES TRAVEL TO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2005 - Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns will travel to Australia and New Zealand August 17-23 to attend the 6th Quint Ministerial Meeting hosted by Australia and then continue on to Auckland, New Zealand for bilateral talks. "Trade reform through the WTO Doha negotiations is one of our top priorities and the Quint countries have a historic opportunity to reinvigorate and lead the negotiations," said Johanns. "I look forward to meeting with the my counterparts from the Quint countries, visiting New Zealand and promoting new economic opportunities for America's farmers and ranchers" Johanns will arrive in Brisbane, Australia Aug. 19 to participate in the Quint Ministerial Meeting. The Quint trade group, formed in 1989, is composed of agricultural ministers from the United States, the European Union, Japan, Canada and Australia who meet periodically to discuss international trade and other issues of mutual interest. Johanns will also hold bilateral meetings with each Quint counterpart on the sidelines of the meeting, including Minister Andy Mitchell of Canada, Minister Peter McGauran of Australia, Commissioner Mariann Fisher Boel of the European Union and Minister Mineichi Iwanaga of Japan. Quint meetings were instrumental in establishing the World Trade Organization that came out of the Uruguay Round Agreement. They provide an opportunity for agriculture ministers to set forth their country's trade issues and work toward compromises. Ministers often use the venue to vet ideas before presentation to the larger global community of nations. Following the Quint meeting, Johanns will visit New Zealand for bilateral talks about future trade opportunities with New Zealand, between Aug. 21 and 23. While there, Johanns will meet with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton, National Party agriculture spokesman David Carter and other ministers and trade representatives. Johanns will also visit several beef, dairy and sheep farms. # USDA News oc.news@xxxxxxxx 202 720-4623 ---------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to oc.news@xxxxxxxx and reference your email address.
