Minister and Delegation Prepare for WTO Negotiations in Hong Kong

The province's agriculture industry will be well represented when a delegation heads to Hong Kong in December to participate in World Trade Organization (WTO) talks that could affect Nova Scotia.

Premier John Hamm and Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Chris d'Entremont met with several producers today, Nov. 18 to talk about the importance of the negotiations -- the outcome of which could have a negative impact on supply-managed industries in Nova Scotia. Supply-managed industries in Nova Scotia include dairy, poultry and eggs.

"The World Trade Organization ministerial meetings are extremely important for Nova Scotia's supply-managed sectors," said Mr. d'Entremont. "I am very pleased that four leaders in our provincial agriculture industry will join me in Hong Kong."

The WTO discussions will include the issue of reducing provincial production, which would eventually make supply-management systems ineffective or inoperable.

"Our supply-managed sectors of dairy, poultry and eggs will see about $200 million in farm receipts this year and that represents almost half of provincial farm production," said Mr. d'Entremont.

The Nova Scotia delegation will include four producers, some of whom will also be carrying national farm organization responsibilities. The delegates are:

• Barron Blois, a Kennetcook dairyman and a former national president of the Dairy Farmers of Canada;
• David Fuller of Blomidon, national president of the Chicken Farmers of Canada;
• Willy Versteeg of Hardwoodlands, Nova Scotia director of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture;
• Mark Davies of Centreville, vice-chairman of the Nova Scotia Turkey Producers' Marketing Board.

Regular briefings and consultations are planned for provinces and industry representatives giving them timely access to the negotiators and to federal decision-makers, such as federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Andy Mitchell and International Trade Minister Jim Peterson.

Nova Scotia's agriculture industry includes a larger share of supply-managed production than most other provinces. Only in the cases of the smaller Newfoundland and Labrador industry and the very large Quebec industry, is supply management as important at the provincial level.

Provincial agricultural ministers, including Mr. d'Entremont, will meet in Regina on Friday, Nov. 25, to review the federal negotiating strategy. Most of the ministers are also planning to be in Hong Kong for the WTO negotiations.