The Rural Voice, 1992-01, Page 31NEWS
GATT UPDATE: CANADA PUSHES FOR SPECIAL STATUS
During the early part of December, the multi-
lateral trade talks on agriculture at GATT looked
more like bilateral talks between the U.S. and the
EC. Their differences superceded all other issues.
The Caims Group, of which Canada is a member,
met Dec. 9 and reaffirmed the need for substantial
cuts in trade -distorting agricultural supports, but
called for full participation by all members of the
GATT in the discussions.
The day before the Caims Group met, Euro-
pean Farm Commissioner Ray MacSharry flew to
Washington to meet with U.S. Agriculture Secre-
tary Edward Madigan. The meeting brought
forward no further apparent narrowing of the
differences, although "progress" was reported to
have been made. On the following Wednesday,
the European Farre Ministers were to meet to
review the Common Agricultural Policy and
touch on any outstanding GATT issues.
The pace of the negotiations moved into high
gear in early December. This move forward to a
tight deadline saw Canadian Agriculture Minister
McKnight and Finance Minister Wilson go to
Geneva. Their mission was followed by Ontario
Agriculture Minister Buchanan and a select group
of farm leaders. A four-day mission was also
spearheaded by the CFA, with delegates from the
supply -managed commodities making the rounds
at the same time as the federal Ministers were in
the Swiss capital.
The negotiations are supposed to wrap up the
major agreement — except for the legal text — by
Dec. 31, but the key date for agriculture was Dec.
20. By that time the major differences were to be
resolved and an agreement, in principle, set for
approval with all position papers completed.
The December working paper on agriculture,
drafted by GATT Director General Arthur Dun-
kel, did not meet Canada's primary objectives for
equitable rules of agricultural trade. The major
emphasis of that approach by Dunkel was the
U.S.-backed tariffication of all intemal and exter-
nal supports to be reduced over time. It made no
RURAL VOICE
WINS AWARD
At their annual meeting November 28, the
Huron County Soil and Crop Improvement Asso-
ciation honoured The Rural Voice with the Soil
and Crop Booster Award.
Brian Hall, farm management specialist with
Huron OMAF, said the award is presented annu-
ally to organizations or individuals who have
supported the association's events and principles.
This year, the association wished to recognize the
contribution of The Rural Voice through the lead-
ership of Jim Fitzgerald, editor of the magazine
until December 1991.
Hall praised Fitzgerald's coverage of agncul-
ture in The Rural Voice as "excellent," and ex-
pressed appreciation for the magazine's support
of the association's principles of sound soil man-
agement and crop production practices.
Since receiving the award on behalf of The
Rural Voice, Jim Fitzgerald has joined the On-
tario Milk Marketing Board as communications
speciali st.0
allowance for supply management and would, if
adopted, spell the end of such protection if not
exempted in some manner.
Canada is not the only country looking for
special status, such as the current waiver for much
of U.S. agricultural trade. The U.S. itself may
wish to protect its dairy industry, peanut, cotton
and sugar programs. Japan and South Korea are
also adamant over their protected rice markets, as
is the EEC over the direction of the Common Ag-
ricultural Policy which, up until now, has not been
subject to any GATT binding arbitration. There
was word on Dec. 9 that their call for "rebal-
ancing" losses in one sector against another had
been softened, so that rather than counting 60 min
tonnes of rebalancing they were down to about 10
min tonnes in the grain import trade.
As the trade negotiations moved down to
what appeared to be the final deadline in mid-
December, Canada was still pushing for an agree-
ment that would halt subsidies. Michael Wilson
said on his return from Geneva that Canada was
not in favour of tariffication because it would
slowly end marketing boards. It appeared at that
time that Article 11 might survive the negotia-
tions, but Canada might not get the improvements
it wanted to strengthen import controls.0
Robert Mercer
ROGER GEORGE HEADS OFA
Canada needs a national food security policy,
delegates to the Ontario Federation of Agricul-
ture's annual meeting were told recently by Roger
George, who was acclaimed to his second term as
president. George told the more than 400 dele-
gates from across the province that it's important
that farmers get a fair profit from the production
of food in. Canada.
"There is no price too high to pay for national
food security," he said. "But if we're going to
develop this new vision, we've got to get the
whole country behind us."
George predicted another tough year ahead
for farmers, but if farm organizations and leaders
can work together with the different levels of gov-
emment, consumers and industry, a domestic
food policy could be formed.
"Farming does not operate in isolation.
We're part of the economy and responsible for
jobs and economic activity and I really believe
that Canada needs its own food policy. A country
without its own food supply is a country without
a future," he told the delegates.
As well as George, Jack Wilkinson was ac-
claimed to a second year as first vice-president,
while second vice-president Bill Weaver of Kent
County beat back a challenge from I3rucc
County's Tony Moms for his second tens. Tony
was later elected to the four -person executive
committee, along with Dona Stcwardson of
Lambton, Gerry Carey of Prescott and Ed
Segsworth of Ilalton.°
NETWORK TO ENHANCE AG IMAGE
Commodity leaders have expressed concern
that there are too many groups giving too many
different messages about agriculture. They claim
no one group addresses the overall image of
agriculture. The George Moms Centre in Guelph
recently made a recommendation that farm
groups would be more effective if they net-
worked. Now the Agri -Food Network, at the Uni-
versity of Guelph Research Park, is ready to
handle the job.
Primarily an image -enhancing service for the
agri-food industry, the Agri -Food Network is a
unique communications partnership of the major
participants in the Ontario agri-food sector, says
network chair Dr. Larry Martin. "It will be
service-oriented with one message: to improve
consumer confidence that the partners of the agri-
food system use their professional competence to
produce and distribute an abundant, safe food
supply in an environmentally responsible man-
ner."
The Network is intended to enhance agricul-
ture's image in several ways:
1) The Agri -Food directory will provide listings
of individuals, organizations, associations, and
govemment departments involved in agri-food,
as well as a few facts about the sector.
2) A quarterly newsletter will address current
issues that affect the image of agriculture, and
keep the participants informed of each other's
efforts.
3) A quarterly, called "The Food Report," will
Jim Fitzgerald
be circulated to approximately one million homes
in urban centres. The tabloid will feature enter-
taining and factual information about modem
farming practices, as well as food -related articles
of interest to urban consumers.
4) The network will also develop an extensive
speakers' bureau of reliable, articulate represen-
tatives.
The network, co-chaired by Terry Boland of
the Ontario Agricultural Commodity Council and
Art Stirling of Pioneer Hi -Bred Ltd., represents
primary producers, the Ontano Commodity
Council, Ontario Farm Animal Council and some
input suppliers, as well as AG Care, Ontario
Federation of Agriculture, Agriculture Canada,
Ontario Ministry of Agnculturc and Food,
George Morris Centre and the Consumers Asso-
ciation of Canada. So far, there is no representa-
tion from the processing industry.
OFA president Roger George will also act as
honourary chair of the fund-raising committee.
Larry Martin says that, while it is most impor-
tant the network communicate with all agricul-
tural groups, it will not duplicate the efforts of
groups such as AG Care and the Farm Animal
Council. Factual information will be job one,
says Martin, adding, "Misleading information
has caused dumb things such as the Alar scare.
This misinformation, created by people steering
off on tangents, results in uncertainty and ulti-
mately hurts agriculture, because there is more
reluctance to invest. Investments don't pay off,
JANUARY 1992 27