Brussels, 14/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - Long opposed to this request, the United States is now ready to look at ways to reform the WTO's agricultural rules in order to strengthen food security.
US Ambassador Michael Punke announced that Washington was open to a work programme on food security and commitments, to be agreed at the ministerial conference in Bali, end December. The United States agrees with India and other member nations on the fact that strengthening food security in developing countries is of major importance, Punke hinted in Geneva, end April. The work programme envisaged should analyse how global food security can be improved through further liberalisation of agricultural trade, reductions in internal support that distorts trade, the abolition of export restrictions and greater transparency. It should also examine the efficiency of public storage and of regulated prices in order to face concerns linked to food security, the American ambassador said.
The WTO committee on agricultural negotiations has for several months been examining a proposal from the developing countries of the G33, headed by India and Indonesia, that want to adopt provisions for easing discipline in respect to internal support within the “green box” in order to ensure food security for poor farmers. At the seat of the multilateral organisation, negotiators are, with a view to the Bali conference, focusing on three subjects on the meeting's agenda: trade facilitation, special and differential treatment, including the needs of LDC, and certain elements of the agricultural chapter including food security but also other issues, if sufficiently prepared, such as export competition (a suggestion from Brazil and Australia), export restrictions (importing countries of the G10), and cotton (Brazil and four African countries). (EH/transl.jl)