Cairns Group meets on agriculture, Doha trade round

Monday, 08 June 2009 10:13

NUSA DUA: Nineteen leading agricultural exporting nations, including Australia, Brazil and South Africa, kicked off talks in Bali on Sunday aimed at pushing forward troubled world trade negotiations.

As well as seeking to move forward the stalled Doha trade round, the Cairns Group of nations - accounting for more than 25 percent of the world's agricultural exports - is also expected to take aim at US and European dairy export subsidies.

Despite the global economic crisis sharpening pressures for protectionism, there are also hopes political conditions for a world trade deal are improving. US Trade Representative Ron Kirk is due to attend the three-day meeting in the resort of Bali, as well as officials from the European Union and India. WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy is also scheduled to attend.

"We can't conclude (the Doha round) unless we have the combination of technical work being done to conclude the very difficult and outstanding issues and the political will to drive it," Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean told reporters.

"I hope this meeting ... will reinsert that political will," added Crean, who is chairing the meeting. The new Obama administration is conducting a review of US trade policy including efforts to reach a deal on Doha and some of America's trading partners have been impressed by Kirk's conciliatory style, though they are still waiting to see the substance.

According to a draft document obtained by Reuters, the talks would include "How can the Cairns Group best exert influence to reinvigorate the negotiations and finish the (Doha) Round."

The protection of farmers from price swings or market implosions, such as subsidies for agricultural products, has emerged as one of the trickiest topics in the Doha round.



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