Australia welcomes Ukraine to the Cairns Group

Cairns Group Ministers have welcomed Ukraine as a full member of the Cairns Group and look forward to continuing to work with the country to progress agricultural trade reform.

Chaired by Australia, the Cairns Group is a coalition of 20 agricultural fair-trading countries, which together account for almost a third of global agricultural exports.

Ahead of the 13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (MC13) in Abu Dhabi, the Cairns Group discussed agriculture reform priorities that will level the playing field in agricultural trade and bolster long-term global food security.

Ministers also welcomed the appointment of Thailand as the Group's first rotating Vice Chair.

At the MC13, the Cairns Group will push for a concrete and equitable outcome that will improve global agricultural trade, including in ways that will support the food security needs of the most vulnerable countries.

Farmers and consumers throughout the world stand to benefit from more open agricultural markets, particularly Australian farmers, who are among the most productive and globally competitive.