(GENEVA) – The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), which represents through its members over 200,000 Canadian producers in every province and commodity sector, continues to represent all Canadian agricultural interests – both exporters and supply managed – in international trade talks.  This week in Geneva CFA has been working hard to build international partnerships and promote Canada’s credible, balanced trade position calling for greater market access, elimination of export subsidies and the right of nations to maintain domestic marketing systems for sensitive commodities.  The CFA continues to support the Canadian position which was developed in close consultation with the farmers.

“The position of the CFA is this: there will have to be significant cuts to actual spending of highly subsidized countries like the United States.  The success of much of agriculture is also contingent on significant improvements in profitable market access expansion and the ability to maintain orderly marketing structures including the Canadian Wheat Board, agricultural co-ops and supply management,” said Bob Friesen, CFA President, from Geneva. “Canadian agriculture is currently going through its worst income crisis in history.  A successful round that achieves our objectives is absolutely imperative.  A balanced approach is the only path to a successful outcome that will benefit all producers, export or domestic, equally.”

Representatives of CFA member organizations joined the CFA delegation in Geneva, lending their support to CFA’s position.

“We must ensure that we maintain supply management in its current form to insure predictability and stability in the future,” said David Fuller, Chairman of Chicken Farmers of Canada.  “But we also must make sure that our exporters are well served through market access improvements, the Canadian position ensures this result.”

“We appreciated the opportunity to work with our negotiators to promote a freer and more open trade environment for Canadian exporters through the WTO,” said Clare Schlegel, President of the Canadian Pork Council.  Schlegel added that a significant portion of Canadian producer’s income and their future depend on profitable international trade.

This week in Geneva CFA hosted an international public symposium on the global farm income crisis in the context of WTO negotiations. The symposium included a panel session with representatives of farm organizations from Norway, the U.S., Australia, Africa and Canada. CFA also participated in a panel discussion hosted by the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP), responding to presentations by ambassadors from Bangladesh, United States, Australia, Switzerland and the EU Commission. Through these meetings CFA continued to build on its successes over the past two years, generating more international support for Canada’s negotiating position.

“It is clear farmers around the world are determined that the Doha Round must benefit the primary production sector, including developing countries. We look to the WTO negotiators to achieve equitable and fair trading rules as indicated in the framework text agreed upon in July 2004,” said Friesen. “The CFA is committed to continue to work with ministers and negotiators to include as many Canadian ideas in the agreement as possible, to the benefit of Canadian farmers.”

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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.