Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was hostile to the US during his election campaign, but his recent visit indicates that the foreign policy of Australia is much the same as before. The US president George Bush and Rudd met at the White House to reinforce their bilateral relations which was a bit strained when Rudd decided to withdraw Australia’s combat troops from Iraq.
But Rudd pointed out it had survived 12 US Presidents and 14 Australian Prime Ministers, under leaders of both political persuasions in each country. They also expressed concern over the prevailing human rights issues in Tibet and urged China’s leaders to engage in dialogue with the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader.
Incidentally, both the leaders promised to work together for the success of the Doha Round of world trade to be a grand success. Experts opined that both the countries have taken stock of the current economic climate and understood to make major concessions during the Doha Round.
In a news conference jointly held by both the leaders, Rudd said that it “takes more than two to tango”, clearly sending signals to China, Brazil and India to make similar reciprocations. Bush stated that his administration was optimistic and ready to make significant agricultural concessions to reach a new world trade deal, if other countries open their markets to more US exports.
The US and the European Union are expected to yield to the demands of making deep cuts in their agricultural subsidies and tariffs. But they expect countries including China and India to reciprocate in the same fashion by opening up their markets on manufacturing as well as services.
European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson told the reporters in Paris that he was encouraged by both the leaders’ remarks and looking forward to have a positive outcome in the Doha Round of talks to address the 21st century needs of international trade. Analysts averred that Rudd’s words should be given grave importance, because as he said “the global economy really needs a psychological injection of some confidence in the arm”.