News Release
November
7, 2001
For Immediate Release
“Both
countries must work together to reduce trade distorting subsidies”
OTTAWA
– Today Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville, along with the Senior
Canadian Alliance Critics of International Trade, Agriculture, and International
Co-operation released a letter sent to United States Trade Representative
Ambassador Robert B. Zoelick outlining concerns over the continuing trade and
production distorting agriculture subsidies in the United States.
The
letter to Ambassador Zoelick makes it clear that subsidies are harmful not only
to countries outside of the subsidizing nations, but in the long run in the
domestic market where they exist. They
also hinder innovation, technological advancement, and encourage production
where it should not occur. The
letter urges the United States to reconsider the proposed U.S. farm bill that
would increase the levels of farm subsidies instead of starting along a course
to reduce them.
“Farm
subsidies hurt not only the development of free trade and economic growth, but
also Third World countries who are trying to develop new markets and boost their
own economies,” said Breitkreuz. “Both
of our countries, Canada and the United States, have seen how beneficial free
trade is to our people and the economic growth that comes with it, but these
farm subsidies are killing our Canadian farmers,” explained Breitkreuz.
“The same is true for all countries.
Reducing subsidies in developed countries will do more to assist
underdeveloped countries than any foreign aid payments.
It’s the old principle of “Teaching a man to fish is much better than
giving him a fish.” This summer I
had the opportunity to discuss agricultural issues with many representatives
from Third World countries. They
continually emphasized the fact that subsidies in wealthy nations prevent their
agricultural sector from developing,’ said Breitkreuz.
The
letter also included a proposal for a rapid action dispute resolution process to
combat frequent and costly agriculture trade disputes between Canada and the
United States.
“The
Canadian Alliance is offering positive solutions that would deal with costly
trade disruptions before they occur. This
is the opposite approach to the Liberal government that only deals with
bilateral trade concerns after a crisis erupts. We encourage the federal government to take a more proactive
approach. That will, in the end,
protect Canadian jobs and promote increased trade,” said Breitkreuz.
“Our
farmers are suffering -- drought,
low prices, soaring input costs – all of these combined with foreign subsidies
have put the most productive and innovative farmers in the world at a huge
disadvantage. We must start to put
pressure on the United States to live up to their free trade commitments and
start on the path to reducing subsidies,” implored Breitkreuz.
“Preparing
now for the WTO talks is important or they will go the same way as they did in
Seattle. Canada’s farmers have a
lot at stake in these discussions. Without
a successful initiative on the part of our negotiating team the future of
agriculture will not be very bright. We
need to partner with our American neighbours – without their support we’re
just whistling in the wind,” concluded Breitkreuz.
For
copies of the letter please call 1-800-667-6606 or click
here.
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