Hello. I am very pleased that you are all with us here today to answer our questions and present to us the trade situation in your respective countries, which, in passing, are all very beautiful.
I have three main questions. The first concerns agriculture. I was in Geneva, Switzerland, last July. The Doha round currently blocks agricultural subsidies. Yet, the European Community heavily subsidizes its agriculture.
My question is for all the witnesses. How do you think we can reverse the Doha round and encourage the European Community to reduce its subsidies?
My second question has to do with the importance of protecting supply management for Quebec and Canada, especially for our dairy and poultry producers, for instance. Some countries are wondering about our desire to protect these areas of activity, which we consider fragile sectors of our agricultural industry. I would like to know what you think about this. Our farmers feel threatened. We have some major players in the agricultural field and we want to protect certain cultures that are not subsidized. As you know, we have a quota system.
Some 20 years ago, Australia, and particularly New Zealand, shifted more to the right, if I may say so. You significantly restructured your social programs and health care policies. The phenomenon of globalization is growing and some statistics show that free trade and other such policies have increased poverty around the world. As they say, the rich are getting richer as the poor get poorer.
Is globalization having the same impact in New Zealand? Do you have any statistics in this area? What changes have you made to your social programs? Have these changes improved access to services for the entire population? Is the quality of life the same? Has the phenomenon of exclusion become more pronounced?
I will let you each answer these questions individually.