The Tasman Transparency Group was formed to explore ways of strengthening the ability of the World Trade Organisation to open world markets. It is now clear that the power of protected domestic interests over national decision-making on trade policy has seriously limited the market opening offers governments were able to bring to the negotiating table in the Doha Round. The domestic transparency initiative proposed by the Group is a response to those pressures. This website explains the basis for that initiative, who we are (about us) and activities of the Group (news , conferences and publications).

A TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE TO STRENGTHEN THE WTO

Why has the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations been able to deliver so little market opening action? The question has obvious relevance for national prosperity and for the future of the multilateral system. Australian and New Zealand industry and business organisations have formed the Tasman Transparency Group to explore ways of improving outcomes from multilateral trade negotiations, and to strengthen the WTO system. The WTO is an intergovernmental organisation. So it is governments who will need to sponsor an international initiative to introduce greater domestic transparency of trade policy within the WTO system. The prize would be a reduction in the power protected domestic interests now exert over trade negotiations that has limited progress to freer trade and constrained prosperity.

TRANSPARENCY AND THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS

The global economic crisis has increased pressure for protection. This has heightened the need for transparent review of trade measures and other government responses to the present economic turmoil.  The Tasman Transparency Group will support efforts to meet that need — in any way it can — in the hope that, both during the crisis itself and after, domestic policy settings will encourage those economic activities that can contribute to future prosperity rather than continue to artificially sustain those that cannot.