Canadian Grain Leaders
Surprised and Alarmed After Day One in Geneva
(April 21, 2005, FFJ) A delegation
of western Canadian farm leaders arrived Monday in Geneva to make the case
for an aggressive stance re agriculture trade liberalization during World
Trade Organization (WTO) talks this week.
“We were surprised and alarmed to find that Canada is “on the outside
looking in” instead of driving the agenda,” remarked Randy Hoback, SK
farmer and Chair of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers. “Canada is the
third largest exporter of agriculture and food products, and the fifth
largest importer. We used to be in the Top Four or Quad Group of
Negotiators and now we’re not! Where is Canada?” Hoback queried.
Eugene Dextrase, Chairman Alberta Grains Commission, noted “ I am
alarmed to hear that New Zealand and Australia, two Members of the pro-
free trade Cairns Group, are questioning our commitment to freer trade.
They wonder about Canada’s credibility.”
Doug Robertson, Chair of Alberta Barley Commission, noted the Americans
and Europeans are saying that Canada is protecting the status quo.
“Everywhere we go, we hear Canadian negotiators are hamstrung by having
to protect certain products.”
Jeff Nielsen, Vice-President of the Western Barley Growers, was pleased to
note that the Barley Growers, Barley and Grain Commissions, as well as the
Wheat Growers, had all signed on today with the initiative spearheaded by
the Canadian Agricultural Free Trade Alliance. CAFTA today announced the
launch of the Global Alliance for Liberalized Trade in Food and
Agriculture (GALTFA). “We pride ourselves as four of the 39 founding
organizations (from 15 countries on 5 continents) which will aggressively
promote freer trade.
According to Grain Growers of Canada numbers Canada’s grain farmers are
losing $1.3 billion annually at the hands of European and American
subsidies. Tariff protection adds to losses by reducing market
opportunities.
The Geneva Delegation includes representatives from the Western Canadian
Wheat Growers Association, Western Barley Growers Association, and
Alberta’s Barley Commission & Grain Commission. The group grows
wheat, barley, canola, peas, oats – all of which are plagued by
distorting subsidies and punitive tariffs. |
