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Speech by Hector Torres Argentine Mission to the WTO "AGRICULTURE IN THE NEXT SET OF MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS. A PERSPECTIVE FROM THE CAIRNS GROUP"

7 April 2000

I - Expected outcome

The CAIRNS Group is composed by 18 countries, out of which 15 are developing. Our expectations for the current negotiations are to definitely and fully integrate trade in agriculture within the general rules of the Multilateral Trading System.
As you know, the Agreement on Agriculture was envisaged as just the first step in the reform process that would establish a "fair and market oriented agricultural trading system". This achievement was characterised as a "long term objective" to be sustained over an agreed period of time. We began with a six-year "implementation period" that will expire by the end of this year. Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture prescribes that reform of the sector has to continue, as an ongoing process till the long-term objective is achieved.

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10/3/2000 Speech by Ambassador Malcolm Bailey New Zealand Special Agricultural Trade Envoy, Prospects for the WTO "Millennium" Round Trade Challenges and Objectives: Cairns Group Perspective