WTO MC 12: Ministers Agree On International Rules On Trade To Achieve Global Agenda – REPORT

The relationship between international rules on trade and the achievement of National and Global objectives in the area of food security has long been a subject of contention at the WTO. Over the years, this debate has matured considerably, moving from a rather simplistic discussion of whether market opening is intrinsically good or bad for food security, on the issue of how subsidies in certain developed countries might undermine food security in poorer parts of the world, and on the question of the extent to which developing countries should be granted exceptions from trade liberalisation commitments on food security and related ground.

WTO members have struggled to find ways in which to ensure that the rules of the multilateral trading system on agriculture respond effectively to the new challenges of today’s world, and to those of the future. The difficulties in doing so are arguably compounded by the continued inability of governments to conclude the long-running Doha Round of trade talks – in which agriculture is a central component.

For WTO, the success of this 12th Ministerial Conference means stepping up to the plate by providing political guidance for member states; To unilaterally agree on multilateral decisions that will be legally binding amongst member states.

During Plenary Session of 12th Ministerial Conference of the WTOIndia’s minister of commerce and industry, consumer affairs saysIndian country men’s live cannot be curtailed in any way but those nations responsible for depleting fish stock should assume responsibility in exploiting the ocean.

Public stockholding for food security purposes

Public stockholding programmes are used by some governments to purchase, stockpile and distribute food to people in need. While food security is a legitimate policy objective, some stockholding programmes are considered to distort trade when they involve purchases from farmers at prices fixed by the governments, known as “supported” or “administered” prices.

The issue of subsidized acquisition of food stocks for food security purposes has become a contentious issue at the World Trade Organization (WTO) due to their potential impact on international trade.

At the 2013 Bali Ministerial Conference, ministers agreed that, on an interim basis, public stockholding programmes in developing countries would not be challenged legally even if a country’s agreed limits for trade-distorting domestic support were breached. They also agreed to negotiate a permanent solution to this issue.

A decision on public stockholding taken at the 2015 Nairobi Ministerial Conference reaffirmed this commitment and encouraged WTO members to make all concerted efforts to agree on a permanent solution.

The results suggests that a permanent solution at the WTO might lie in exemptions for small high food security risk countries rather than a one size fits all rule applied to all developing countries. Trade policy makers have been charged with finding a permanent solution…that is also expected at the end of this mc 12 conference.

Soil and land degradation is what food security is all about for the FAO and WTO…but what does it really mean for the people.

Introducing the fisheries funding mechanism

Under AGENDA 2030…Sustainable Development Goal SDG 2b, leaders committed to “correct and prevent trade restrictions and distortions in world agricultural markets”. Trade ministers contributed to progress on this target when they adopted a historic decision abolishing agricultural export subsidies and setting new rules for other forms of farm export support at the WTO’s 2015 Nairobi Ministerial Conference.

Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on 14 June introduced the WTO Fisheries Funding Mechanism, which is envisioned to support developing and least-developed countries in implementing a prospective agreement to curb harmful fisheries subsidies. Interested donors and beneficiaries welcomed plans for the Fund, which the chair of the ongoing negotiations, Ambassador Santiago Wills of Colombia, said will help assure members about the availability of assistance.

“We all know that a healthy, productive, sustainable, blue economy is one where our oceans are replenished, where our fish stocks are also healthy, and where fishermen and fisherwomen who depend on such resources continue to earn a decent living,” DG Okonjo-Iweala said at the event at the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12). “Many members have told us that they need capacity building and technical assistance to better manage their fisheries and implement the disciplines that will be in the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. This Fund is something that will be incredibly important to help us help those who need it,” the DG said.

Prospective beneficiary countries and donor partners expressed strong support for the Fund.

The question will be, is it all about funding and aids for developing Nations who appear to be the major beneficiaries of the global community’s SDG work Policy.