WTO agriculture talks will have no immediate impact

THE outcome of the WTO talks on agriculture in Geneva at the end of July is a framework agreement and will have no immediate impact on world agri-markets, the Agricultural Science Association annual conference was told in Waterford yesterday.

Tim Groser, chairman of the WTO agriculture negotiating committee, said the agri agreement must be seen as part of a broader process. A complete world trade agreement will be needed before changes are implemented.

Mr Groser had talks in Dublin the previous day with Agriculture and Food Minister Joe Walsh and John Malone, secretary-general, Department of Agriculture and Food, on how to move on to the next phase.

He said the consultations are about how to build this “half-way house” framework into a much more complete agreement.

Mr Groser told a press briefing that the EU decoupled farm payments, a key interest for Ireland, would not be touched in this round of the negotiations, nor for the next 10 years.

A future round will not start until 2015.

Minister Walsh told the conference the agreement secured in Geneva was a most successful outcome for the CAP and for Irish agriculture. It safeguards the benefits to farmers of the CAP reforms and protects the interests of European and Irish farmers.

“While the details have yet to be agreed, I am satisfied the reductions in the levels of protection and support can be accommodated within the parameters of the reformed CAP,” he said.

Minister Walsh said the EU’s overall negotiating strategy has been, and remains, to protect the European model of agriculture which is based on competitive, multifunctional and sustainable farming.

“We now have a CAP which has been fundamentally redrawn to adapt it to the politics, the economies and the public and consumer demands of modern society.

“Given the degree of upheaval and change, it gives me some satisfaction to say that I firmly believe that the CAP, and Irish agriculture, are now well prepared to face the future with confidence.”

Kerry Group chief executive Hugh Friel warned that Ireland must move to lead technical development of functional foods, nutritional foods and beverages and dairy ingredients with specific health benefits.