Cablegate: Peru to Join Cairns Group in 2007

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RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EAGR PGOV PE
SUBJECT: PERU TO JOIN CAIRNS GROUP IN 2007

REF: LIMA 3486

1. Upon returning from the APEC Ministerial in Hanoi, Peru's
Trade Minister Mercedes Araoz announced that Peru had been
formally invited to join the Cairns Group of agricultural
exporting countries and would become its nineteenth full
member during the ministerial meeting scheduled for April
2007 in Pakistan. From the Cairns Group Summit in Geneva,
Australian Trade Minister Warren Truss, the current chair,
confirmed on November 21 that the Cairns Group members had
immediately approved Peru's membership, citing Peru's "strong
commitment to the Doha negotiations and the need for
fundamental reform of trade in agriculture." Truss also said
that Peru had benefited from recently liberalizing its
agricultural sector and wanted to "help the Cairns Group
continue the fight to break down the barriers to world trade
in farm products."

2. COMMENT: GOP efforts to join the Cairns Group are part
of a broader Garcia Administration strategy to support global
free trade while diversifying Peru's export markets through
bilateral agreements. While awaiting U.S. Congressional
approval of the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA),
the GOP has signed or is discussing trade deals with Chile,
Canada, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, China, and New
Zealand. Under Garcia, Peru also joined the G-20 (reftel),
but has clearly positioned itself as one of the stronger free
market advocates in South America.
STRUBLE

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