Hard criticism of agriculture ministers of G-20 to protectionism

Hard criticism of the agriculture ministers of G-20 for protectionism

They differed from the USA by supporting the Paris agreements against climate change.

30/07/2018

After two days of deliberations, the push of the German delegation and the work "ant" of the Argentines to achieve a consensus document that "is not washed", yesterday concluded the meeting of agriculture ministers of the G20 with a very strong statement.

The so-called declaration of Buenos Aires emphasizes two crucial issues, climate change and a harsh critique of protectionist policies.

Thus, making clear the divergent position of the United States. They noted: "The leaders of other G20 members declare that the Paris Agreement is irreversible."

In another paragraph they reiterate "The importance of respecting the commitment assumed by developed countries with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in order to provide the necessary means of implementation, including financial resources, to assist emerging countries in their mitigation and adaptation actions in accordance with the results of the Agreement of Paris, and we take note of the OECD report 'Investing in climate, investing in growth'.

And on trade and its criticisms of protectionism, they remarked: "We recognize the importance of have a transparent multilateral trading system and open based on the rules agreed upon by the members of the WTO (World Trade Organization).”

They emphasize that "it is vital that producers have profitability and that together with consumers they have access to national, regional and international markets".

They also pointed out: "We are concerned about the increasing use of protectionist non-tariff measures, inconsistent with the rules of the WTO. "We will avoid any unnecessary obstacle that may hinder international trade."

The document that according to the experts is of greater definition until now of the different groups that make up the G-20, was presented this Saturday at a press conference by the head of Agroindustria de Argentina, Luis Miguel Etchevehere with his peers, the minister of Germany, Julia Klöckner, and Deputy Minister of Japan Atsushi Nonaka.

These are the representatives of the countries that exercised and will exercise, respectively, the presidency of this forum that Argentina has today.

This document will be presented to the presidents who meet in Buenos Aires next November 30.

The G-20 Agro-industry ministers will meet again in Japan at 2019.

Before the press, Klöckner said that the G-20 is currently the largest multilateral body with the capacity to define policies.

In passing, it marked the importance of free trade. In what seemed like a message to Donald Trump, he released: "Trade is synonymous with peace and free trade is the way to safeguard the interests of all countries by playing equal and equal rules for all. " And he expanded: "US farmers they suffer the consequences of protectionism due to falling prices and although the government helps them, they do not want the help, they want to compete freely. "

The countries that make up the G-20 represent the 60% of total agricultural land and are responsible for almost 80% of the world food trade.

Other paragraphs of the document speak of commitment in the fight against hunger, of promoting the prudent and responsible use of antimicrobials and the commitment to healthy soils congruent in the role of agriculture.

Source

Clarin