News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 28, 2004

(GENEVA) - Canada's farm leaders are expressing cautious optimism for progress in the world trade talks, after meeting WTO ambassadors and delegates to the WTO Symposium, Multilateralism at the Crossroads in Geneva.

Bob Friesen, President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) feels creative ideas will be needed to achieve a framework by the end of July and that Canada has an important role to play. 'Canadian farmers support the three pillars of the Doha Declaration', said Friesen, 'and we are working with our government and negotiators to present progressive modalities - ideas and methods - that achieve the Doha goals. It is important for Canadian farmers to improve rules governing agricultural trade.'

'The Canadian position strikes a balance that respects the needs of all farmers' said Laurent Pellerin, Vice President of CFA. 'It can help these negotiations move forward to correct the inequities of the Uruguay Round and to start to improve farmers' incomes around the world.'

The Canadian position, supported by the CFA on behalf of Canada's 250,000 farmers, specifically addresses the contentious issues of export subsidies, market access and domestic support. It provides ways to strike a balance between divergent interests while addressing the goals of member countries.

'Canada's position is under consideration by many WTO members' said Friesen. 'We have the potential to provide real solutions to the competing interests at the negotiations.'

After meeting with Ambassador Tim Groser, Chair of the Special Session on Agriculture, the Canadian farm leaders' delegation felt that a framework agreement in July was achievable. Friesen went on to say that, although there is no doubt that much work remains to be done, the Canadian negotiating team is more confident than ever that the Canadian position addresses the needs of WTO members' export-oriented commodities and sensitive agricultural sectors.

The Canadian delegation, led by Friesen and Pellerin, includes representatives of Canada's poultry, egg, livestock, horticulture, grain and sugar beets producers.

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Founded in 1935 to provide Canada's farmers with a single voice in Ottawa, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture is the country's largest farmers' organization. Its members include provincial general farm organizations as well as national and inter-provincial commodity organizations from every province. Through its members, CFA represents over 200,000 Canadian farmers and farm families.