Outgoing Trade Minister Phil Goff has warned farmers that the world is likely to become more protectionist as the global recession bites deeper.
In his last speech as trade minister to the national council of Federated Farmers on Wednesday morning, he said the financial crisis should provide some impetus to reactivating the Doha world trade round and reaching an agreement. Negotiators collapsed in July.
However, Mr Goff warned the current economic climate could work against trade reform.
He described the situation as the most serious crisis since the Great Depression, which he said, was worsened by trade barriers.
