Keep faith in the WTO, DFAT secretary says

THE World Trade Organization remains a vital component of Australian prosperity, a senior public servant has argued.

Speaking to the 2026 Australia and New Zealand Shipping and Logistics Conference in Sydney, DFAT assistant secretary for agriculture, Simon Clayton, said it had “become fashionable” to talk off the end of the WTO during the current global environment.

Mr Clayton said the WTO remained “central to global trading regime” and was especially important for a “middle size economy” such as Australia, helping us “hold others to account when trade rules are not being upheld”.

He said the Australian government was working hard to reform the WTO and that ships were 30-year asset, not one built for “a lawless environment”.

Describing the global trade environment, Mr Clayton noted Australia’s position “at the end of some of the longest supply chains” and every disruption eroded its ability to compete.

“Australia’s prosperity is closely linked with international trade and investment," he said.

“We are a country of 27 million people and we produce far more food, fibre and energy than we could ever consume.

“That means our businesses and exporters need reliable access to overseas markets.”

Mr Clayton spoke about the importance of free trade agreements, highlighting the latest deal with the European Union that is soon to come into force.

It was important that businesses used and took advantage of FTAs, however.

Talking about tariffs, he noted that despite recent tumult, they were still significantly reduced from the 1990s.

For exporters, significant issues remained beyond borders, notably in the form of non-tariff barriers or “regulations that go too far”.

Mr Clayton’s speech was preceded by a video presentation by federal trade minister Don Farrell, who spoke on several themes including about trade ties between Australia and New Zealand.