ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: Pakistan will formally join the Cairns Group — a coalition of agriculture exporter countries — on December 13, in Hong Kong. An official told Dawn on Friday that Australia, which is leader of the group, has invited Pakistan to formally join their club in the meeting scheduled for Tuesday next.

The Cairns Group has 17 members, comprising Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Paraguay, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand and Uruguay.

Since its formation in 1986, the Cairns Group has been campaigning for substantial improvements in market access for its members’ farm products, big cuts in subsidies provided to farmers in USA and EU farmers, and the phasing out of subsidies on exports.