December 11, 2013
Canada''s agriculture to benefit from WTO''s trade agreement
Canada''s farmers and agricultural exporters will benefit from the new trade facilitation agreement (TFA) which was recently concluded by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) with member countries at the Ninth Ministerial Conference in Bali, Indonesia.
The TFA represents the WTO''s first multilateral trade agreement to be concluded since the WTO began in 1995.
"This agreement builds on our government''s continued advocacy for a fair and more efficient system of international trade based on predictable rules and sound science," Canadian Agriculture Minister, Gerry Ritz said. "This agreement will help Canadian farmers and agricultural exporters maximise opportunities in international markets where we have achieved unprecedented access this year."
In addition to the TFA, ministers re-affirmed the call for eliminating export subsidies and reducing maximum repayment periods for export credits. Continued reforms in this area will help level the playing field on world markets for Canada''s agricultural exporters benefiting all Canadian agricultural exports, including beef and pork, Canada relays. The agreement also carries new and stronger disciplines for the administration of tariff quotaswhich will create new opportunities for Canadian agricultural exporters.
Agricultureoutcomes also address the need for improving food security, which Canada supports as an approach that is sustainable as well as onewhich minimises trade distortions. Canada also believes unfettered trade in agricultural products is one of a number of tools available to increase food security.
The conference in Bali is expected to re-invigorate negotiations on meaningful agriculture reform across all three pillars of the Agreement on Agriculture - domestic support, market access and export competition.