(OTTAWA) – The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) is welcoming two federal government announcements late last week that advance the interests of Canadian agricultural export producers and all Canadian agriculture. Trade Minister David Emerson indicated the federal government will move forward to the next stage in challenging U.S. farm subsidies at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Emerson also announced Canada is beginning bilateral free trade negotiations with Colombia, Peru and the Dominican Republic.

“The key to the future prosperity of Canada’s agricultural exporters is still a successful outcome at the WTO. But there is still a long road ahead of us there,” said Bob Friesen, CFA President. “While Canada must remain committed to following that road, we have to explore other avenues along the way for advancing our interests. CFA is pleased that is clearly what the federal government is doing.”

In January the federal government announced it was calling for consultations with the U.S. at the WTO over its massive corn subsidies. The latest announcement, a request for the establishment of a WTO dispute settlement panel, shows the government remains committed to seeing the process through.

“CFA continues to support this process of challenging the U.S. subsidies which run so clearly against the spirit of fairer and more equitable global trade. But we must also ensure this process produces a positive result for both Canadian corn growers and livestock producers,” said Friesen.

Over the past few years the U.S. has signed a series of bilateral free trade deals outside of the WTO with other countries and regions. CFA has been concerned that, in the absence of a WTO agreement, these deals may leave Canadian producers frozen out of key markets. CFA has repeatedly urged the federal government to pursue bilateral trade agreements alongside its ongoing work towards a WTO agreement. CFA therefore applauds the conclusion of a bilateral agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries of Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein and the opening of free trade negotiations with Colombia and Peru and with the Dominican Republic.

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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.