(OTTAWA) – The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) held a well-attended public forum in Geneva, Switzerland, to consult with other nations and look for solutions to regain momentum in the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations and ensure a successful outcome for Canadian farmers.

“CFA has met with representatives from around the world this week to discuss WTO issues and explore how we can help the Doha Round find its legs again,” said Bob Friesen, CFA President.

“Although Canada must be looking at bilateral agreements and other non-WTO trade solutions for the time being, it would be irresponsible if we did not keep up the pressure for a successful WTO agreement,” added Martin Rice, Executive Director of the Canadian Pork Council. “Canada’s agricultural exporters still need a fair and equitable general global trade agreement that ends trade-distorting subsidies and creates greater global market access.”

The CFA Public Forum was moderated by Laurent Pellerin, CFA First Vice president and President of the Union des producteurs agricoles and included a number of presentations. Noted trade consultant Peter Clark, President of Grey, Clark, Shih and Associates Ltd., spoke on some of the myths surrounding domestic support provisions, particularly the decoupling of income support in countries like the EU. Martin Rice discussed how WTO rules might best be changed to ease some of the challenges facing Canadian agricultural exporters. Bob Friesen identified the progress that needs to be made in WTO talks in order to achieve a result that will benefit Canadian farmers.

“The WTO needs to refocus on fair and equitable rules that benefit our exporters but also ensures that our supply managed industries will not be undermined.  There also needs to be a greater emphasis on economic sustainability for farmers,” said Laurent Pellerin.

The CFA Public Forum built on work done by CFA representatives who attended The Cairns Group farm leaders’ meeting last week. At that meeting CFA representatives gained important support for Canadian ideas at the WTO.

“CFA continues to be committed to representing the interests of Canadian farmers on the international stage,” said Friesen. “We will be moving forward with the ideas discussed today, working with our government, our negotiators and with other countries to move WTO negotiations forward.”

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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.