For Immediate Release
February 11, 2008

The WTO and Agriculture

QUÉBEC AND ONTARIO URGE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
TO STAND UP FOR AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS AT THE WTO

QUÉBEC - Following the release of a revised agriculture modalities text by the chair of the Agriculture Negotiations Committee at the World Trade Organization (WTO), the provinces of Québec and Ontario urge the federal government to make changes to its agricultural negotiating strategy. The revised modalities text continues to fall far short of the necessary protections needed for Canada's supply-managed industries, which includes the dairy, poultry and egg sectors so vital to the farm economies of the two provinces.

The pace of the technical aspects of new subsidy and trade rules has picked up as part of the Doha Round, particularly with respect to agriculture and industrial goods, considered to be two essential pillars to the success of these international negotiations. With the revised text released on Friday of last week, it now seems obvious that technical negotiations will not offer Canada the flexibility necessary to accommodate supply management.

According to the Honourable Laurent Lessard, Québec Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, "It is becoming urgent that the federal government get tangible results from the WTO, as it has repeatedly promised it would to provincial governments and dairy, egg, and poultry producers."

"At this critical point in the WTO talks, federal leadership is required to ensure a fair and balanced outcome," noted the Honourable Leona Dombrowsky, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. "It is up to the federal government to vigorously defend our producers at the international negotiating table."

Supply management covers the dairy, chicken, turkey, and table and hatching egg sectors. About 67% of Canada's supply managed farm revenue - accounting for some $4.8 billion - comes from Québec and Ontario.

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Contacts:
Kelly Synnott
Office of the Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
(416) 326-6439

Jack Roy Press Officer
Office of the Quebec Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food,
Telephone: (418) 380-2525
www.mapaq.gouv.qc.ca