As
the city of Bali hosts the 9th World Trade Organisation (WTO’s)
ministerial conference, the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) has urged the political
leaders of trade to give new momentum to the multilateral trading system, in
order to throw-up new balance of trade that is transparent, reports NaijaAgroNet.
“Farmers from
throughout the world today called on leaders attending the WTO ministerial in
Bali this week to give new momentum to trade talks by reaching a balanced
agreement and a clear work programme to ensure a fair, predictable and
transparent trading system” says the Marco Marzano, executive director, WFO.
This was the
main message of the WFO at their side event held in Bali, Tuesday, during the
Trade and Development Symposium, which is being held in parallel with the 9th
WTO Ministerial Conference.
The panel of the
session featured: Bruce Wills, President of Federated Farmers of New Zealand,
Henri Brichart, Vice-President, National Federation of Agricultural Holders’
Unions (FNSEA), Ron Bonnett, President-Canadian Federation of Agriculture.
For Bonnett, the
international trade is one important way of evening out supply and demand
imbalances, but more work is needed if farmers are to meet future demand for
food around the world. The World Farmers’ Organisation believes that an
agreement on terms of trade at a multilateral level is the best way to ensure
the greatest benefits for the widest population and strongly supports the World
Trade Organization.
According to
him, it is not only important that the Ministerial tackles some long-standing
trade problems but also look for solutions to new challenges, such as the
increasing concern about food security, in ways which do not result in trade
distortions.”
“The WFO's trade
policy position was adopted by farmers’ organizations from Africa, Asia, North
America, Latin America, Europe and Oceania in April 2013 – added World Farmers’
Organisation - . The WFO is committed to the pursuit of ambitious trade policy
objectives guided by basic principles which ensure that farmers throughout the
world can fulfil their wider economic, social and environmental role and that
the special needs of the least developing countries are taken into account.
WFO
is also calling for action to reinforce the global trading systems by
strengthening international standards, reducing protectionist measures,
encouraging capacity building, increased transparency and predictability of
agricultural markets, and ensure farmers benefit from the opening of markets.
The WFO calls on world leaders in Bali to set out a clear work program for 2014
which will ensure concrete progress in this direction”.
“We welcome the
conclusion of the agreement, a clear sign of another step forward in ensuring a
more balanced and transparent trade system also for farmers," the group
emphasised.
Isaac Oyimah/GEE:
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