Brussels, 04/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - In addition to a trade facilitation agreement, several member countries are hoping to obtain a partial agreement on agriculture. The EU is keeping it's a close eye on things.
Three subjects are on the agenda of the ninth WTO ministerial conference on 3-6 December in Bali, Indonesia: trade facilitation (regulation and formalities, simplification of customs procedures), certain elements in the agricultural chapter and special and differentiated treatment, including the requirements of less developed countries. Possibilities for reaching compromises on these subjects will be assessed this summer.
Meeting up at the invitation of Switzerland and Federal Councillor, Johann Schneider-Amman, during the Davos world Forum on 26 January, ministers from around 20 member countries agreed to push forward discussions on these three key subjects, with a view to obtaining partial agreements during the Bali conference. WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy believes that this objective is “feasible”. Lamy, however, will be stepping down on 31 August. An initial intermediary balance sheet on the progress achieved, will be drawn up around Easter time.
Until then, there will be more work at the agricultural negotiating committee, chaired by the WTO Ambassador from New Zealand, John Adank. With a view to a partial agreement on agriculture, two proposals on issues in the overall agreement drawn up in July 2008, are currently on the table. The first was presented by emerging economies in the G20, led by Brazil, with support from agricultural exporters in the Cairns Group, represented by Australia. This suggests reaching a compromise on the administration of import quotas at reduced rates. The other proposal comes from developing countries in the G33, headed by Indonesia. They would like provisions adopted on introducing greater flexibility in areas involving internal support of the “green box” kind, to ensure food security for poor farmers.
The possibility of these partial agreements being reached has put several EU agricultural member states on a state of alert, including agriculture ministers, who expressed their concerns during their Council meeting on 28 January (see EUROPE 10774). Commissioner Dacian Ciolos attempted to reassure them, however, and said that it was “rather unlikely” that there would be a debate on market access and internal support during the Bali conference. (EH/transl.fl)