The way forward
Circulated on behalf of the following Cairns Group
Members: Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala,
New Zealand, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Thailand, Uruguay and Viet Nam
The following communication,
dated 16 May 2018, is being circulated at the request of the aforementioned
supporting Members.
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The following comments are
provided by Members of the Cairns Group on the way forward in the agricultural
negotiations in 2018 and beyond. This statement is without prejudice to the
individual views expressed by Cairns Group Members in their consultations with
the Chair.
Processes
1. The Cairns Group was disappointed with the lack of an outcome at
MC11; however, we are committed to working towards achieving progress and
outcomes at MC12 and beyond. We believe improvements can be made to the
negotiating process, to give ourselves the best possible chance at achieving
these outcomes.
2. Firstly, it is clear that we need to "restart"
negotiations. We believe priority should be placed on technical engagements,
and on Chair-driven consultations on specific topics to build understanding,
consensus, and momentum. It should be ensured that the process is inclusive and
open to all Members. Members should be encouraged to submit detailed technical
papers to allow for in-depth discussions at the Committee on Agriculture in Special
Session.
3. Seminars and workshops can help deepen the technical engagement
between Members on agriculture. However, while seminars and workshops can be
useful to advance negotiations, they can never be seen as a substitute for
negotiations. To be effective, educational activities should remain focused on
how improvements to WTO rules, and particularly the Agreement on Agriculture,
can help tackle the challenges affecting farmers, traders, and consumers. We
need to make sure that we are constantly reviewing – and negotiating – how we
can address the challenges identified in seminars through the continuation of the
reform process.