Reforming global trade in agriculture: a developing-country perspective

This paper recommends changes to the WTO's Agreement on Agriculture (AOA). It concentrates on broader policy issues that need to be addressed, primarily by industrial countries, in light of the enhanced measures for special and differential treatment that developing countries have proposed for a “development box” in the AOA.This paper argues for two changes in the current AOA disciplinesthe provisions of a new agreement must provide the requisite flexibility to enable developing countries to enhance domestic production and protect the livelihoods of theirpoor citizens. In particular, the rules should enable such countries to promote domestic production and distribution of “food security” crops, those that are either staple foods or the main sources of income for low-income or resource-poor farmers.industrial countries must keep their promise to open up their markets. Nontariff barriers, most often domestic subsidies or food safety standards, should not be used to protect wealthyeconomies from developing-country imports.The proposed "development box" would provide developing countrieswith the flexibility they need to enhance domestic production for domestic consumption and to take other necessary measures to protect the livelihood of their farmers. It would: protect and enhance the efficiency of developing countries’ domestic food production capacity, particularly in key staples provide and sustain existing employment opportunities for the rural poorpromote improved in-country movement ofsurplus productionIn relation to food security, thedevelopment box would allow developing countries, including net food-importing developing countries, to further their food security by having the flexibility to support their agriculture sectors and to protect the livelihoods of their rural poor if imports surge.The box would also seek to exempt their food security crops from WTO rules on market access and tariff reductions so that they could take steps to increase their production for domesticconsumption and become more self-reliant.