OECD Ministerial Council Meeting

This week I will ViceChair the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris.

The OECD promotespro-growth economic and trade policies that create jobs.

Ministers from the 35OECD member states and a number of key partner countries will attend thisyear's meeting.

Ministers will focustheir discussions on harnessing the benefits of global trade.

I will advocate thecase for economic openness and ambitious trade liberalisation, noting Australiais in its 26th year of uninterrupted economic growth due in large part to ouropenness to international trade and investment.

Australia's freetrade agreements have set a high benchmark in terms of ambition and comprehensiveness,and are delivering real outcomes and creating new jobs.

While in Paris I willalso co-chair an informal meeting of World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministersto discuss priorities and prospects for the WTO's 11th Ministerial Meeting(MC11) to be held in Buenos Aires in December. Australia seeks ministers atMC11 to agree on outcomes that promote trade liberalisation and strengthen theglobal trade system.

I will also meet witha number of my ministerial counterparts to advance Australia's trade, tourismand investment interests.