(Headline abbreviated, original headline: Canada,
Australia, Chile, Brunei and Myanmar join NZ and Singapore
in committing to keeping supply and trade links
open)
Canada, Australia, Chile, Brunei and
Myanmar have joined forces with New Zealand and Singapore by
committing to keep supply chains open and remove any
existing trade restrictive measures on essential goods,
especially medical supplies, in the face of the Covid-19
crisis.
Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker
today welcomed the announcement.
“I welcome the
commitment made by Canada, Australia, Chile, Brunei and
Myanmar in joining New Zealand and Singapore to help ensure
our citizens can access the important goods and medical
supplies we need in this time of global crisis,” David
Parker said.
“It is important we have assurance from
some of our key partners that trade lines between us will
remain open, including via air and sea freight, to
facilitate the flow of goods including essential
supplies.
“Trade policy on its own can’t solve the
problems and challenges we face, but it can and must be part
of the solution. We are thinking about next steps to give
practical and swift effect to our shared commitment to
address the global pandemic through global
cooperation.”
JOINT MINISTERIAL STATEMENT BY
AUSTRALIA, BRUNEI DARUSSALAM, CANADA, CHILE, THE REPUBLIC OF
THE UNION OF MYANMAR, NEW ZEALAND AND
SINGAPORE
The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious
global crisis. As part of our collective response to combat
COVID-19, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, the
Republic of the Union of Myanmar, New Zealand and Singapore
are committed to maintaining open and connected supply
chains. We will also work closely to identify and address
trade disruptions with ramifications on the flow of
necessities.
We recognise that it is in our mutual
interest to ensure that trade lines remain open, including
via air and sea freight, to facilitate the flow of goods
including essential supplies.
We affirm the importance
of refraining from the imposition of export controls or
tariffs and non-tariff barriers and of removing any existing
trade restrictive measures on essential goods, especially
medical supplies, at this time.
We are committed to
working with all like-minded countries to ensure that trade
continues to flow unimpeded, and that critical
infrastructure such as our air and seaports remain open to
support the viability and integrity of supply chains
globally.
Minister for Trade, Tourism and
Investment, Australia, Senator the Hon Simon
Birmingham
Minister at the Prime
Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II,
Brunei Darussalam, Hon Dato Dr Amin Liew
Abdullah
Minister of Small Business,
Export Promotion and International Trade, Canada, Hon Mary
Ng
Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Chile, Teodoro Ribera
Union Minister
for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, The Republic
of the Union of Myanmar,
ThaungTun
Minister for Trade and
Export Growth, New Zealand, Hon David
Parker
Minister for Trade and
Industry, Singapore, Hon Chan Chun
Sing
