Doha Ministerial Draft

Doha Ministerial Draft: Agriculture

Draft Declaration

26th September (1)

Reactions to the Draft

Draft Declaration

27th October

Comments

Alternative Formulations Proposed

11.1 We recognize the work already in the negotiations initiated in early 2000 under Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture, including the large number of negotiating proposals submitted on behalf of a total of 121 Members. We recall the long-term objective referred to in the Agreement to establish a fair and market-oriented trading system through a programme of fundamental reform compassing strengthened rules and specific commitments on support and protection in order to correct and prevent restrictions and distortions in world agricultural markets. We reconfirm our commitments to this programme. Building on the work carried out to date, we commit ourselves to comprehensive negotiations aimed at: substantial improvements in market access; reductions of, with a view to phasing out, all forms of export subsidies; and substantial reductions in trade-distorting domestic support. We agree that special and differential treatment of developing countries shall be an integral part of all elements of the negotiations and shall be embodied in the Schedules of concessions and commitments and as appropriate in the rules and disciplines to be negotiated, so as to be operationally effective and to enable developing countries to effectively take account of their development needs, including food security and rural development. We take note of the non-trade concerns reflected in the negotiation proposals submitted by Members and confirm that non-trade concerns will be taken into account in the negotiations.

Cairn’s Group and the US wanted to further strengthen the Draft by making specific mention of the objectives to be achieved at the end of the negotiations.

On the other hand EC+ felt that the Draft was already too specific and wanted for instance the reference to phasing out of exports subsidies to be left out.

Developing Countries wanted a mention of the development Box as well as a reference to the elimination of tariff peaks and tariff escalation, along with a reference to the concerns of NFIDC’s.

The Cairn’s Group and EC+ probably neutralised each other but nothing that the developing countries proposed was included in the revised text.

13. We recognize the work already undertaken in the negotiations initiated in early 2000 under Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture, including the large number of negotiating proposals submitted on behalf of a total of 121 Members. We recall the long-term objective referred to in the Agreement to establish a fair and market-oriented trading system through a programme of fundamental reform encompassing strengthened rules and specific commitments on support and protection in order to correct and prevent restrictions and distortions in world agricultural markets. We reconfirm our commitment to this programme. Building on the work carried out to date, we commit ourselves to comprehensive negotiations aimed at: substantial improvements in market access; reductions of, with a view to phasing out, all forms of export subsidies; and substantial reductions in trade-distorting domestic support. We agree that special and differential treatment for developing countries shall be an integral part of all elements of the negotiations and shall be embodied in the Schedules of concessions and commitments and as appropriate in the rules and disciplines to be negotiated, so as to be operationally effective and to enable developing countries to effectively take account of their development needs, including food security and rural development. We take note of the non-trade concerns reflected in the negotiating proposals submitted by Members and confirm that non-trade concerns will be taken into account in the negotiations as provided for in the Agreement on Agriculture.

The para on agriculture is not as bad as some of the other paragraphs. However, it is conspicuous by the absence of any mention of the ‘development box’ an issue on which a very large number of developing countries had expressed support. Moreover there should have also been a reference to the need for the elimination or substantial reduction of tariff peaks, tariff escalation and non-tariff barriers and the section on special and differential treatment should at least recognise the vulnerability of the agriculture sector in developing countries. It is also extremely unfortunate that the concerns of NFIDC’s have been totally overlooked. Accordingly, some changes, as suggested in the next column, can be proposed.

13. We recognise the work already undertaken in the negotiations initiated in early 2000 under Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture, including the large number of negotiating proposals submitted on behalf of a total of 121 Members. We recall the long-term objective referred to in the Agreement to establish a fair and market-oriented trading system through a programme of fundamental reform encompassing strengthened rules and specific commitments on support and protection in order to correct and prevent restrictions and distortions in world agricultural markets. We reconfirm our commitment to this programme. Building on the work carried out to date, we commit ourselves to comprehensive negotiations aimed at: substantial improvements in market access, including through the elimination or substantial reduction of tariff peaks, tariff escalation and non-tariff barriers; reductions of, with a view to phasing out, all forms of export subsidies; and substantial reductions in trade-distorting domestic support. Recognising the vulnerability of the agriculture sector in developing countries we agree that special and differential treatment for developing countries shall be an integral part of all elements of the negotiations and shall be embodied in the Schedules of concessions and commitments and as appropriate in the rules and disciplines to be negotiated, so as to be operationally effective and to enable developing countries to effectively take account of their development needs, including food security and rural development, through the provisions of an appropriate ‘development box’. The concerns and specific problems of NFIDC’s shall also be effectively addressed. We take note of the non-trade concerns reflected in the negotiating proposals submitted by Members and confirm that non-trade concerns will be taken into account in the negotiations as provided for in the Agreement on Agriculture.

11.2 Modalities for the further commitments, including provisions for special and differential treatment, shall be established no later than …. Participants shall submit their comprehensive draft Schedules based on these modalities no later than …. The negotiations, including with respect to rules and disciplines and related legal texts shall be concluded as part and at the date of conclusion of the negotiating agenda as a whole (paragraph 36 below refers).1

14. Modalities for the further commitments, including provisions for special and differential treatment, shall be established no later than … . Participants shall submit their comprehensive draft Schedules based on these modalities no later than … . The negotiations, including with respect to rules and disciplines and related legal texts, shall be concluded as part and at the date of conclusion of the negotiating agenda as a whole.

14. No changes proposed.