MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Bang the G8 door”

Uruguayan president Jorge Batlle proposed that the Cairns Group “bang the doors of the G 8 group” to try and obtain a political commitment for the coming World Trade Organization, WTO, meeting to be held in Doha, Qatar.

The Cairns Group that includes the world's 18 main non subsidized agriculture exporting countries, is holding this week its 22nd. meeting in Punta del Este in anticipation of the November Qatar round when they will insist that agriculture be officially included in the agenda in the event of a new world multilateral trade round.

"If we keep talking among ourselves, we won't get very far", said President Batlle, adding that since the Cairns group is so diverse, but with an only objective, "it's time we make an organized political action at another level".

Mr. Battle underlined that the G8, that includes the seven main industrial powers of the world plus Russia, have the "political capacity to make decisions". "If we don't bang on the G8 door, we'll never make it to dinner, and even if we don't get a political reply, it will also be a political reply, albeit negative".

The Punta del Este is considered quiet vital since on this occasion two top US delegates are present at the Cairns Group deliberations: trade representative Robert Zoellick and Secretary of Agriculture Anne Veneman.

Rich industrial countries invest an estimated 360 billion US dollars annually in subsidizing agriculture, which according to the Cairns Group is equivalent to a daily loss of two billion US dollars in world trade.

Farming organizations from the 18 Cairns countries have proposed their governments not to participate in the Qatar summit unless agriculture and subsidies are included in the agenda.