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Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Mar26/07) Geneva, 6 Mar (D. Ravi Kanth) — A revised “draft declaration on agriculture, trade and global food security” issued by the chair of the Doha agriculture negotiations at the World Trade Organization on 5 March appears to accommodate specific elements raised by many members, barring the United States and India on their two “make-or-break” demands, said people familiar with the development. The revised draft text is expected to be discussed at the Doha agriculture negotiating body – also referred to as the Committee on Agriculture in Special Session (CoA-SS) – on 6 Mach. The chair of the Doha agriculture negotiating body, Ambassador Ali Sarfraz Hussain of Pakistan, appears to have navigated safely amid conflicting positions, while apparently adopting balanced positions, said a South American farm trade negotiator. Yet, the revised draft text (Job/AG/273/Rev.1) could face a backlash from two diametrically opposing countries on farm trade issues at the WTO – namely, the United States and India – said the official, who asked not to be quoted. To recall, the US on 3 March rejected the draft text issued by the chair on grounds that it aims to continue with negotiations despite sharp divergences and a resulting stalemate. The US also inveighed against the draft text on grounds that it mentions previous negotiations and ministerial decisions and declarations. For example, the earlier draft text (Job/AG/273) states: “Commits to continuing the agriculture negotiations pursuant to the reform process set out in Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture, and subsequent Ministerial Decisions and Declarations.” The US appears to have opposed “subsequent Ministerial Decisions and Declarations” while continuing the agriculture negotiations. Washington did not want negotiations, according to its stated position at the meeting on 3 March. In a similar vein, India sought explicit mention of the much-delayed and mandated issue of a permanent solution for public stockholding (PSH) programs for food security, said people familiar with the development. Against this backdrop, the revised draft text (Job/AG/273/Rev.1) chose to adhere to its proposal with minor tweaking here and there, said people familiar with the development. For example, members of the Cairns Group of farm-exporting countries objected to excessive focus on food security while the real goal ought to have been negotiating market-oriented farm trade policies, said people familiar with the development. The revised text appears to focus on the goals to be achieved in a balanced way, said another farm trade negotiator, who asked not to be quoted. Given the continued divergences on the PSH issue – which, according to the US, was a mistake committed at the WTO’s ninth ministerial conference in Bali, Indonesia, in December 2013, in reference to the interim solution – the revised draft text also draws reference to divergences as well as the stalemate in the negotiations, the negotiator said. The chair also seems to have accommodated the US demand for new approaches in the text, though it is doubtful that this will change Washington’s overall “rejectionist” stance, the negotiator said. REVISED DRAFT TEXT The revised draft text is as follows: Preamble The Ministerial Conference, Recognizing the role that the WTO Agreement on Agriculture has played since 1995, and continues to play, in supporting global trade in agricultural products and food security; Recalling the long-term objective of establishing a fair and market-oriented agricultural trading system and of providing for substantial progressive reductions in agricultural support and protection, in line with Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture; Recalling previous Ministerial Decisions and Declarations; Recalling that special and differential treatment for developing country Members, including Least Developed Countries, is an integral part of the agriculture negotiations; Recognizing the urgent need to strengthen global food security, particularly for developing country Members, including Least Developed Countries and net food-importing developing countries; and the role that the reform of agricultural trade can play in responding to the challenges facing agricultural production and trade, including price volatility, extreme weather events and exposure to global shocks and crises; Noting the heightened vulnerabilities of farmers, particularly smallholder farmers, and rural communities, requiring urgent, balanced, and development-oriented responses; Noting with concern the limited progress achieved to date on several negotiating issues, and acknowledging the significant divergences on negotiating approaches and on possible outcomes across areas of the negotiations, and the need to address the existing stalemate in these negotiations; Considering the above, the Ministerial Conference: 1. Commits to engaging constructively, transparently and inclusively to fulfil the objective of establishing a fair and market-oriented agricultural trading system and to deliver outcomes that, inter alia, strengthen global food security. 2. Commits to revitalizing the agriculture negotiations pursuant to Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture, and subsequent Ministerial Decisions and Declarations. 3. Agrees that the negotiations shall continue on the basis of Members’ existing and future contributions, including proposals on possible new approaches to advance the negotiations. 4. Requests the CoA-SS Chair, in consultation with Members, to promptly establish following this Conference a calendar of meetings and milestones in the negotiations, and invites senior officials to meet periodically after MC14 to review progress and provide guidance on the way forward, as needed. 5. Invites Members and the relevant international organizations to continue supporting the participation of developing country Members, including Least Developed Countries, in the negotiations, including through technical assistance and capacity-building initiatives. +
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