Fran O'Sullivan: Praise for Groser over Doha

Trade Negotiations Minister Tim Groser has been heralded by the influential Washington Trade Daily as the "honest broker" at the recent Delhi ministerial meeting aimed at getting the Doha Development Round concluded.

In an article entitled "Mr Groser and the DDA", the US trade journal credits him with clarifying that the World Trade Organisation negotiation is now at the point where it is technically and politically feasible to conclude the round.

Groser's prowess in the international negotiating sphere affirms Prime Minister John Key's decision to also make him responsible for New Zealand's Climate Change negotiations.

But Key will have to decide whether to send him as sole ministerial representative at the December Copenhagen talks to stake out the country's position for the post-2012 commitment period, or whether he should also send Climate Change Minister Nick Smith, who is the senior minister, to the event.

Smith - who this week unveiled an emissions trading deal between the National Government and its Maori Party support partner will no doubt want to herald New Zealand's prowess at introducing an "all gases all sectors" regime.

But Cabinet seniority must not be the determinant factor in this arena. The next step in the Doha round is for senior officials to elaborate the roadmaps to reflect the high level of consensus achieved in Delhi; and then world leaders at the forthcoming G20 meeting in Pittsburgh must give their political affirmation and a clear signal they are determined to complete the round.