With WTO members unable to agree on how to move ahead in the long-running talks on agriculture at the organization’s 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) this February in Abu Dhabi, trade officials have recently been informally exploring options for restarting the talks.
Reporting on his recent consultations with members, the Chair concluded that future work would be shaped by the outcomes of discussions led by Brazil around its proposed General Council Decision (WT/GC/W/931), and by deliberations on a separate proposal (JOB/AG/260) by the African Group. Since April, Brazil has spearheaded an informal process aimed at garnering support for a roadmap to be adopted at the General Council meeting scheduled for 22-23 July. On 1 July, the African Group circulated a proposal outlining its position on agriculture negotiations.
The Chair also expressed the view that “intensive preliminary work among different groups of members” is needed to ensure efficient and productive discussions aimed at narrowing gaps and identifying potential areas of convergence. He encouraged members to come up with new ideas and proposals to spur meaningful discussions.
Following a call by the Cotton-4 countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali), the Chair also expressed his readiness to resume talks on cotton sector reform after the summer break in the “Quad-Plus” format. This brings together West African countries that have advocated reform — the Cotton-4 countries — alongside other major players, including Australia, Brazil, China, the European Union, India, Pakistan, and the United States.
At the meeting, the African Group presented its submission highlighting its priorities for negotiations. The Group stressed in particular maintaining flexibilities that would enable vulnerable countries to strengthen food and livelihood security and preserving special treatment for developing members.
Members provided preliminary feedback on the African Group’s paper. Many welcomed the contribution, with several emphasizing finding common ground between this proposal and Brazil's one as they were also supportive of Brazil's General Council process. Several members also stressed aiming at a balanced outcome in July that would not prejudge future negotiation outcomes. Brazil outlined its engagement with the African Group to incorporate key elements of their new submission into its proposed roadmap for talks.
Australia informed delegates that substantial work has been conducted through informal weekly discussions between Cairns Group agricultural exporting countries and the African Group since April. Brazil added that these discussions delved into technical details related to subsidy reduction formulas; limits on product-specific support; “green box” programs (deemed under current rules to cause no more than minimal trade distortion); and procurement of food at administered prices under developing countries’ public stockholding programs.
Addressing new challenges: Agriculture Workshop
The Chair heard members' key takeaways from a workshop held on 2-3 July exploring new challenges related to sustainability, food security, poverty reduction, and potential new avenues for ongoing negotiations on agricultural trade rules at WTO.
Members welcomed what they described as an insightful workshop organized by WTO Secretariat. Many considered it useful food for thought with some suggesting further such discussions in future.
“The discussion confirmed that all members are committed to updating multilateral trading system so it can ensure food security sustainably now and in future considering economic social environmental dimensions,” said Chair adding challenge now is transforming shared objectives into disciplines.
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WTO’s agriculture negotiations encompass various topics including domestic support market access export competition export restrictions cotton public stockholding for food security purposes special safeguard mechanism cross-cutting issue transparency.
More on WTO agriculture negotiations: WTO | Agriculture — negotiations
A glossary of WTO agriculture negotiations terms can be found at this link: WTO | Glossary by Subject
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