Prosperity
Through Trade
NEWS RELEASE
CAFTA
Joins Global Alliance
for
Liberalized Trade
Geneva,
Tuesday April 19, 2005 –
The Canadian
Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) has joined with 37 other organizations
from 15
different countries to form the Global Alliance for
Liberalized
Trade in Food and Agriculture.
Membership
in the Global Alliance, launched today in Geneva, crosses all
sectors of the agriculture and food industry in five continents. “We are pleased and encouraged that farmers,
processors, retailers, food services and consumers have joined together
to
advocate global liberalization of international trade in agriculture
and food,”
said CAFTA President Liam McCreery. “This
is not just a farmer issue, nor solely a food
industry issue. More open trade in food
and agriculture is
important to millions of people around the world in both developed and
developing countries.”
The
Global Alliance issued a declaration, signed by
all of its members and supporters, calling for WTO members to reach a
comprehensive
agreement on agriculture for the 6th WTO Ministerial meeting
in Hong Kong in December. The declaration supports last year’s
framework for
negotiations as a
foundation for an agreement that will eliminate export subsidies; make
substantial reductions in trade distorting support and real and
meaningful
increases in market access.
“Agriculture
and food accounts for 9% of world trade,”
said Mr. McCreery. “That’s greater than
mining products, automotive products, chemicals, textiles and clothing. Trade in agriculture and food is
critical
for many countries, including the poorest developing nations. Yet, we still face an average tariff of
60%,
and compete against subsidies of over $US 300 billion annually. WTO members have a responsibility to
farmers, the businesses built on farming, and to consumers to
aggressively
attack these severe market distortions. The current round of WTO
negotiations
is a once in a lifetime chance to do so.”
CAFTA
and the other participants in the Global
Alliance will work together throughout the WTO negotiations to keep the
call
for liberalization in the front of the minds of governments, policy
makers and
negotiators, at home and around the world.
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For
Information: Patty
Townsend,
Executive Director
Between April 19 and April
24 Swiss
Cell Phone 011- 41 79 622 2173
After April 24
(613) 560-0500
The
Canadian Agri-Food Trade represents producers,
processors and exporters of agriculture and agri-food products, as well
as
suppliers of agricultural inputs. Accounting
for over 80% of Canada’s
agriculture and food exports, and more than 60% of farm cash receipts,
CAFTA’s
members are united in their dependence on trade, and in their need for
a
liberalized international trading environment.
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