February 29, 2024

Thailand pledges collaboration with Cairns Group for agricultural reform

Thailand has affirmed its commitment to collaborate with the Cairns, a coalition of 19 major agricultural exporting nations, to enact concrete measures aimed at reforming agriculture for the preservation of global food security, Asia News Network reported.

Comprising 20 agricultural fair-trade nations, including Thailand, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, and others, the Cairns Group collectively represents nearly 30% of the world's agricultural exports.

Thailand, through its representative Pimchanok Vonkorpon, reiterated its dedication to partnering with Cairns members to lead negotiations on both immediate and long-term agricultural trade issues. The objective is to foster a fair and market-oriented agricultural trading system while bolstering global food security and supporting sustainable development initiatives.

The statement from the 43rd Cairns Meeting, presented at the 13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), urged member nations worldwide to establish clear guidelines for agricultural trade reform. These guidelines include progressively opening free-trade markets, reducing trade-distorting agricultural subsidies, and strictly adhering to the resolution to eliminate export subsidies.

Additionally, the Cairns statement called for concrete measures to prohibit or restrict the export of agricultural products transparently to ensure food security in numerous countries.

This collective stance aligns with the WTO's commitment to continue reviewing trade regulations, particularly in fishing, agriculture, and electronic commerce. Recent WTO discussions have faced challenges amidst various economic and political uncertainties globally.

Thailand, represented by Pimchanok Vonkorpon as the newly appointed vice-chairman of The Cairns, pledged to utilise her one-year term to advocate for free and fair international agricultural trade. This includes building alliances with other members and international organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).

Established in August 1986, the Cairns Group's mission is to advocate for genuine free and fair trade in the global agricultural goods market, benefiting developing countries in the long term. In 2023, the group's agricultural exports amounted to US$587.6 billion, with Thailand ranking as the sixth-largest exporter within the group, with a total export value of US$41.20 billion.

-      Asia News Network