The Committee Chair, Ms. Anna Leung of Hong Kong, China, facilitated the discussions.
Updates on agricultural market developments and meals safety
Members heard updates from the Meals and Agriculture Group of the United Nations (FAO), the World Meals Program (WFP) and the Worldwide Grains Council (IGC) on current market developments and meals insecurity. Worldwide organizations have been invited to the Committee to share experiences within the follow-up to the Marrakesh Ministerial Determination on Least Developed International locations (LDCs) and NFIDCs, the MC12 declaration on the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the report and the suggestions of the work program undertaken in accordance with the MC12 declaration on meals insecurity.
FAO warned of worsening meals insecurity, as highlighted in its joint “Starvation Hotspots Report” with WFP, which predicts a rise in acute meals insecurity in 22 international locations and territories between November 2024 and Could 2025. He emphasised the challenges confronted by web meals importers. growing international locations (PNIDE), together with adversarial climates, conflicts and financial crises. FAO known as for better meals market transparency via initiatives such because the Agricultural Market Info System and the World Info and Early Warning System, whereas emphasizing the necessity to keep away from trade-distorting measures and enhance commerce infrastructure. and advertising and marketing.
The WFP reported that 343 million individuals worldwide confronted acute meals insecurity in 2024, together with 44 million in pressing want and a pair of million in famine-like circumstances, notably in Gaza and Sudan. He urged fast and long-term options, corresponding to elevated funding, improved humanitarian entry and native meals sourcing. As of October 2024, WFP had procured 1.7 million tonnes of meals (57% regionally sourced) and had superior efforts in money transfers, meals safety and local weather adaptation in additional than 60 international locations.
The IGC introduced its two key initiatives to hitch world efforts to enhance meals safety: the Meals Help Conference (FAC) and the Grains Commerce Conference (GTC). The FAC has moved from meals support to a broader vary of eligible actions, together with money help, and can assist 281 million individuals in 29 international locations in 2023, together with Sudan, Ethiopia, Ukraine and Yemen. The GTC focuses on selling clear and equitable grain commerce and stopping market disruptions by encouraging collaboration between grain exporting and importing international locations to keep away from market disruptions.
Members additionally reviewed the WTO Secretariat's background paper, G/AG/W/42/Rev.24, which summarizes 30 years of follow-up to the Marrakesh Ministerial Determination on Least Developed International locations (LDCs) and NFIDCs . The doc incorporates updates to the MC12 work program and offers info on meals worth actions, financing providers and commerce profiles of meals and agricultural merchandise amongst members.
As a part of the follow-up work on the Work Program on Meals Safety for LDCs and NFIDCs, members reviewed Egypt's presentation (RD/AG/119) on enhancing the transparency of technical and monetary help for these teams. Members welcomed the proposal and expressed their willingness to proceed discussions on the subject.
Agricultural Coverage Evaluate
Through the Committee assembly, members raised a complete of 243 questions on particular person notifications and particular implementation points. This peer evaluate course of permits members to deal with points associated to the implementation of the commitments outlined within the Settlement on Agriculture. Of those, 22 points have been raised for the primary time, whereas 25 have been recurring points from earlier Committee conferences.
The 22 new matters addressed the next matters: Angola's poultry and pork import insurance policies, Australia's new sensible farming initiative, Bangladesh's meat import insurance policies, multi-farm help insurance policies in Brazil, Canada's meals safety fund, China's monetary and technical help mission, European Union agriculture help to some member states, France's support bundle for natural farms, public meals buying mechanism of the EU, restrictions on exports of Ghanaian soybeans, India's subsidies for cotton and soybeans, Myanmar's worth help applications for rice, Nigeria's market entry insurance policies, the UK's agricultural know-how and tools fund and the assorted applications and agricultural insurance policies of the USA.
For the reason that earlier assembly in September 2024, as much as 49 particular person notifications associated to market entry, home help, export competitors, in addition to notifications within the context of the NFIDC Determination, have been submitted to the Committee.
All questions submitted for the assembly can be found in doc G/AG/W/251. All questions and solutions obtained can be found within the WTO Agricultural Info Administration System (AG IMS).
Counter notification
On the assembly, the USA, on behalf of a number of international locations (together with Argentina, Australia, Canada and Ukraine), submitted a counter-notification (G/AG/W/250) concerning India's market worth help (MPS). for rice and wheat throughout 2021/22 and 2022/23. He stated the group's information indicated that India's MPS ranges (which exceed 87% for rice and 67-75% for wheat) far exceed the 10% restrict for growing economies underneath the requirements. of the WTO, citing discrepancies in India's reporting methodology and inconsistencies with WTO necessities.
A number of members expressed help for counter-notification as a useful gizmo to deal with systemic points in India's agricultural insurance policies and guarantee compliance with WTO guidelines. Some additionally expressed concern concerning the detrimental results of India's insurance policies on rice farmers in growing international locations, given India's vital function in world rice and wheat markets.
India rejected the counter-notification as an unfounded allegation, defending its compliance with WTO obligations and highlighting unclear or lacking definitions within the Settlement on Agriculture concerning sure components of the notification calculations. He additionally criticized using out of date reference costs and highlighted the necessity to replace them. He additional urged co-sponsors to prioritize the submission of late notifications reasonably than conducting counter-notification workouts.
Triennial evaluate of the Nairobi choice, transparency of the Bali choice
Concerning the third triennial evaluate of the Nairobi Determination on Export Competitors in 2024, members thought of the draft evaluate report (RD/AG/135 and Rev.1) and the newest draft choice on necessities and codecs of export competitors notification (RD/AG /118/Rev.5). On the request of members who wanted extra consultations with their capitals, the Committee agreed to a two-step written process to finalize the report and choice. A revised draft reflecting the assembly's discussions was distributed on November 27. This process goals to conclude the evaluate earlier than December 13, 2024, except objections are raised by members.
The Chair additionally up to date members on discussions on the evaluate of market entry notification codecs, specializing in together with particulars associated to the Bali Determination on the administration of tariff quotas (TRQ). A draft textual content (RD/AG/135/Rev.1) was informally mentioned on November 26. Divergence stays amongst members concerning the proposed notification necessities to enhance monitoring of the Bali TRQ Determination, and the Chairman requires better participation.
As well as, members held annual consultations on their participation within the development of world commerce in agricultural merchandise inside the framework of export subsidy commitments. Additionally they reviewed the Secretariat's revised background be aware (G/AG/W/32/Rev.23), which incorporates information on export volumes and values of chosen agricultural merchandise. . Solutions have been made to maintain it as a residing doc and proceed to adapt it to the wants of members.
Switch of know-how
The President summarized the fruitful discussions of the third thematic session on know-how switch held on 25 November. Through the session, the Consultative Group on Worldwide Agricultural Analysis (CGIAR) introduced improvements in agricultural know-how and several other WTO members shared experiences with agricultural resilience and know-how switch initiatives. The displays made within the third thematic session can be found right here.
Members praised the dear insights gained from the three thematic classes on know-how switch held in 2024. Some proposed extra particular discussions inside the WTO framework, together with sharing of experiences amongst members. The Chairperson famous that the subsequent casual assembly would supply members the chance to debate the plan for subsequent 12 months in additional element.
Subsequent assembly
The following assembly of the Committee on Agriculture is scheduled for March 24 and 25, 2025.
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