WTO Public Forum: What Kind of Trade Policy Framework is needed to support Food Security Goals?
“The Forces Shaping World Trade” Session 24: Sub-theme III: Coherence between the WTO and other areas of global governance
17th September 2010 • Co-organised with FAO and WTO
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This session sought to explore the extent to which trade policy-makers and negotiators may be able to use concrete options to mitigate the impacts of short-term disruptions and enhance food security in the long term.
Participants noted that food insecurity and malnutrition have remained persistent challenges in many developing countries, and have been exacerbated by the recent global economic downturn and large swings in international food prices. They also examined and discussed the extent to which there is scope to address food-security concerns under the ongoing Doha Round of trade negotiations, and in domestic policy-making.
Amongst other things, participants observed that, although poor countries have some flexibility to pursue food security goals under the existing WTO Agreement on Agriculture, and under draft new rules proposed as part of the Doha Round negotiations, there is relatively little constraint on rich countries’ domestic support payments. These can compromise food security by undermining the incentives for investment in agriculture in the developing world, leading in turn to lower productivity.
Many smallholder farmers remain only weakly integrated into domestic, regional and international markets, participants noted. However, if aid and investment do lead to productivity enhancements in the future, trade policies are likely to have a more significant impact on their food security and livelihoods.
The session was chaired by Ricardo MELÉNDEZ-ORTIZ, ICTSD’s Chief Executive. Speakers included Eugenio DIAZ-BONILLA, Executive Director for Haiti and Argentina at the Inter-American Development Bank; Prabhu PINGALI, Deputy Director, Agriculture Development Division, Gates Foundation; Ambassador Roberto CARVALHO DE AZEVEDO, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the WTO; and ZHANG Xiangchen, Deputy Permanent Representative, Mission of China to the WTO.
Following the presentations, the chair opened the discussion to questions from the floor. Over sixty participants attended the event, from both developed and developing countries, and from a cross-section of different organisations and groups.
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Still I am not confident enough to say that WTO is doing on the benefits of the LDC countries, for instant look the ideas listed in the DOHA ajendas they are facinating on the paper but still wilchered on the shefs of WTO.
It says free trade for who? do you believe that countries with fragieled industries has to compute with the strong what a rationality is it. Which theories are you going to implement. For instant Agrariance trade is price sentive while you are forcing them to free what about the subsidies of the giants on their farmer, I know that it looks an illusion to dream fairness but I think sometime it is good to advocate applicable isues than propaganda.