Statement of Canada - Trade Negotiations Committee – October 10, 2024

Thank you, Director General.

• We all know that it is critically important for us to collectively deliver a result on agriculture at MC14. We also know that the road to get there will not be an easy one.
• But the only way we have any chance of reaching the destination is if we start the journey. And we need a process to do that.
• Unfortunately, we’ve seen a discussion on what we might negotiate degrade into a discussion of how we might organize ourselves before we start negotiating.
• We understand how sensitive agriculture is, and how divergent positions are. But we can’t find common ground or pursue a pragmatic outcome unless we have honest conversations with one another. Agreeing to discuss a topic is not an endorsement of any particular outcome.
• Canada’s position is clear: We are here in Geneva to negotiate, and we will do so in any forum or format. We are happy to be guided by you, Director General, by the Chair of the CoA SS and of course, by our own initiative.
• We are supportive of having thematic discussion groups under the guidance of the CoA SS Chair – and we’re happy to contribute to these in any way the Chair and the Membership sees fit.
• We will also continue text-based negotiations in other configurations. Our work with the Cairns Group and African Group, though it isn’t always easy, is a good example of what we should all be doing.
• We’d like to take this opportunity to thank our Cairns Group and African Group partners for their good faith approach to these discussions.
• As we said in CoA SS, we believe the Chair has already been fully empowered by the membership to structure the negotiations in a manner he deems appropriate.
• Nevertheless, we heard objections on the floor of CoA SS.
• If we are not able to agree to move into thematic groups, rest assured that Canada will be among the Members willing to do this anyway.