COLLAPSE OF WTO TALKS - A THREAT TO OUR FARM COMMUNITY: EASTER
HUNTER RIVER, P.E.I. - Agriculture Critic for the Official
Opposition Wayne Easter expressed his deep concern over the impact today's
collapse of theWorld Trade Organization (WTO) talks will have on Canadian
farmers.
"The collapse of the talks is a lost opportunity to realizing the
hopes and
desires of Canadian farmers for fairer trade rules and a level trading
field
based on our balanced position," said Mr. Easter.
In a release from Geneva, Switzerland, today, WTO Chief Pascal Lamy
announced the suspension of the Doha Development Agenda negotiations
because the gaps were too wide among the G6 members, which include
Australia, Brazil, the European Union, India, Japan and the United States.
"Although one of the most dependant nations on trade, Canada is not a
member of the G6," said Mr. Easter. "But we have traditionally
used the influence of our negotiators and Ministers to move discussions
forward."
Mr. Easter was critical of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative
government for failing to do this during the current round of talks.
"The new Canadian government has failed to build on the progress made
at WTO talks in Hong Kong last December and therefore opportunities for
our farmers are in jeopardy," he said.
Mr. Easter also pointed out that both the US and the EU needed to
exercise the flexibility being shown by other participating
countries at the talks on the issue of agriculture.
"Having participated in recent WTO negotiations at which the previous
Liberal government defended our supply management system and the state
trading success that is the Canadian Wheat Board, while at the same time
working to achieve consensus, I fully appreciate the frustration being
expressed from Geneva today."
Mr. Easter said the Harper government needs to get its priorities
straight.
"The Conservative government's focus should be on working vigorously
with our trading partners at the WTO to find solutions instead of holding
closed
door meetings in Canada to dismantle the Canadian Wheat Board," he
said.
