Tough job for top NZ diplomat

By FRAN O'SULLIVAN assistant editor

New Zealand diplomat Tim Groser will need all the artful skills at his command to put the "guys with the money" and the "guys with the people" together and break the deadlock on agricultural liberalisation.

Groser overcame initial resistance from protectionist nations, such as France, to secure the chairmanship of the World Trade Organisation's high-powered agriculture negotiating committee this week.

Long recognised internationally as one of the world's most accomplished trade diplomats, Groser is charged with getting the agenda moving after talks failed in Cancun, Mexico, last September.

The Groser appointment is a coup for New Zealand, which has been at the forefront of the Cairns Group of agricultural exporting nations and a vocal player on trade liberalisation.

Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton said the appointment reflected the high regard for New Zealand among fellow WTO members.

"We are seen as a committed multilateralist with integrity and fairness. Chairs are appointed in their individual capacities and I know that Tim Groser will carry out his duties as chair of the committee on agriculture with true professionalism and neutrality."

Last year, Groser laid out his philosophy in a interview with the Herald in Geneva: "It's about intimidation - manipulation towards good ends, of course - and building consensus and getting people to see the wood for the trees.

"At the end of the day you've got two big groups here - you've got the guys with the money and the guys with the people.

"The guys with the money are the EU and the US. They are the guys that are stuffing up the world agricultural market with their massive US$300-billion-a-year subsidies. We can't do a deal that they can't accept.

"The guys with the people - this unique developing-country coalition that has been forged with China, Brazil, India plus 17 other developing nations - they've got all the people but they haven't got the money."

Groser's elevation came after considerable politicking at the WTO's Geneva HQ. The US backed his nomination ("tremendous, well-schooled and trained in the arts of Geneva politics", according to top US official Grant Aldonas) but it took some time to build a consensus.