The Cairns Group agricultural leaders hope to raise awareness among the European public about the environmental deterioration caused worldwide by protectionist agricultural policies. The rural entrepreneurs also wield the argument of illegal immigration in an attempt to convince the Europeans. Due to the fall in farm incomes, countries with agriculture-based economies, such as Argentina and Uruguay, have begun to see a wave of people emigrating to Europe, where they often enter the bloc illegally, Coda said. In a meeting with the rural leaders, WTO Director-General Michael Moore acknowledged that agricultural negotiations are going slowly but assured them they are following the correct course. The talks are underway in special sessions of the WTO Agriculture Committee, which established a timeframe, ending next March, for countries or regional blocs to present their proposals.
Substantive negotiations are to begin thereafter.
The Cairns Group presented an initiative to eliminate export subsidies, such as those applied by the United States and Europe. Another Cairns Group proposal attempts to obtain reductions leading to the elimination of domestic subsidies, which are currently implemented by the same two agricultural powers as well as Japan, South Korea, Switzerland and Norway. The group also announced that in November it would present a proposal to the WTO on market access for farm products. The Cairns Group is made up of Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Fiji, Guatemala, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Paraguay, the Philippines, South Africa, Thailand and Uruguay. . This limitation includes incorporation into a database, distribution via Usenet News, bulletin board systems, mailing lists, print media or broadcast.