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Cairns Group Farm Leaders disappointed at new US agricultural subsidies

27 July 2018

The Cairns Group Farm Leaders are deeply concerned by the United States (US) Administration's announcement that the US Government will provide US$12 billion to support US farmers impacted by tariffs imposed on US agricultural exports.

These new subsidies will further distort global agricultural markets and hurt agricultural producers that receive little to no government support. Instead of additional subsidies, Cairns Group Farm Leaders call on the US Administration to follow the advice of US farm organisations to restore market access for US agricultural goods and to end the trade war that has triggered the retaliatory tariffs that now negatively impact on American agriculture.

This spiraling trade war resolves nothing and hurts farmers and consumers alike.

It is the Cairns Group Farm Leaders' vision to create a world with an equitable and enforceable rules-based trading system in agriculture. We want to create the opportunity for our farmers to benefit from a sustainable agriculture sector and to contribute to the socio-economic development of our countries.

Signed by:
Australia: Fiona Simson, President, National Farmers' Federation
Argentina: Daniel G. Pelegrina, President, Sociedad Rural Argentina
Brasil: Pedro de Camargo Neto, Vice President, Sociedada Rural Brasileira
Canada: Claire Citeau, Executive Director, Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance
Chile: Ricardo Ariztía de Castro, President, Sociedad Nacional de Agricultura de Chile
Colombia: Alejandro Velez Goyenche, Vice President, Sociedad de Agricultores de Colombia
New Zealand: Katie Milne, President, Federated Farmers of New Zealand
Uruguay: Dr Pablo Zerbino Vanrell, President, Asociación Rural del Uruguay
Philippines: Raul Montemayor, National Manager, Federation of Free Farmers
South Africa: John Purchase (Ph.D), Chief Executive, Agricultural Business Chamber

About the Cairns Group Farm Leaders
The Cairns Group Farm Leaders, were established in 1998 by the Australian National Farmers' Federation (NFF). CGFL is made up of farm organisations from Cairns Group countries, a coalition of agricultural exporting countries. Together, the Group represents farmers that grow and produce more than one third of the world's agricultural exports. Their vision to create a world with an equitable and enforceable rules-based trading system in agriculture.

Media contact:
Laureta Wallace (National Farmers' Federation)
E: P: +61 408 448 250


Next Media Releas:
3/6/2020 Cairns Group Farm Leaders Reaffirm the Importance of The Open, Fair and Rules-Based Trade of Agricultural Goods to Food Security During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Previous Media Releas:
9/10/2017 Cairns Group Farm Leaders call for action at MC11