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Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Dec25/12) Geneva, 8 Dec (D. Ravi Kanth) — In a strategic move, Brazil has tabled a strong proposal on agriculture at the World Trade Organisation, directly challenging alleged attempts to sideline developing country concerns from the “top-down” WTO reform agenda. Brazil cautioned that “trade negotiations on agriculture cannot be considered in isolation from the broader work of the WTO, including the ongoing reform process.” In a draft decision (Job/AG/271) circulated on 5 December, Brazil strongly reminded members that the core WTO principle of fairness originated in the agriculture talks. The proposal states: “the call to level the playing field, which is one of the driving goals of the reform process on industrial subsidies, emerged within the agriculture negotiations context, where significant asymmetries persist – in rights and obligations, in tariff structures, in the employment of NTM [non-tariff measures], and in Members’ treaty-based allowance and capacity to provide support.” Brazil asserted that “addressing these structural imbalances is essential to ensure that agriculture contributes more fully to a fair and equitable multilateral trading system.” “This discussion,” Brazil reminded the industrialized nations, “unfolds at a moment when two parallel dynamics shape multilateralism.” First, it said “the foundational principles of the WTO – notably non-discrimination and the objective of trade liberalization – are being tested by the proliferation of bilateral agreements outside the Organization, challenging the coherence of the multilateral system.” Second, it said that “renewed global attention to food security and poverty reduction has underscored the need for effective, inclusive and development-oriented responses.” Brazil highlighted that “initiatives such as the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, launched by President Lula as the flagship initiative of Brazil’s G20 presidency and now operational, reflect the recognition that food-security challenges are multidimensional and require diversified policy tools.” Critically, Brazil argued that these “dynamics are not in contradiction: a strengthened multilateral trading system leading to more trade and enhanced global action on food security evidently can be mutually reinforcing objectives.” While acknowledging that “discussions on the AoA pillars, mandated issues and related negotiating areas, no matter their importance for all Members, continue to challenge our collective capacity to deliver,” Brazil noted that they have “also generated a substantial body of knowledge that positions Members to consider a next stage of negotiations – one that merits Ministerial deliberation and guidance.” Against this backdrop, Brazil presented a decisive opportunity: “Members now have an opportunity to revitalize negotiations on agricultural trade and chart a path toward a more balanced agricultural framework that reduces trade distortions and unfair competition, reflects development needs, strengthens the system’s integrity and restores credibility to the multilateral process.” DRAFT DECISION To seize this opportunity, Brazil’s draft decision mandates a clear, structured path forward: 1. Members commit to revitalize the agriculture negotiations. 2. Members acknowledge the role of the Special Session of the Committee on Agriculture (CoA-SS), the work undertaken thus far, discussions among Members, and their existing and future submissions. 3. Members instruct the CoA-SS Chairperson to provide, based on Members’ contributions, negotiating schedules to discuss all aspects, supported by balanced textual proposals, to achieve tangible progress toward Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) objectives. 4. The Chairperson is guided by specific criteria to ensure ambition, transparency, effective participation, and structured interaction with stakeholders, while actively identifying areas for cross-pillar trade-offs. 5. Senior Officials will meet one year after MC14 to recommend a way forward and will review progress six months before MC15. 6. Members will work towards adopting a comprehensive agricultural framework and balanced modalities. 7. The framework will consider key elements: a. Modalities for reducing all forms of domestic support, weighted by Members’ share in market distortions. b. An assessment of the Green Box to prevent trade distortion while considering food security, livelihoods, and environment. c. Improved market access conditions to foster resilient agrifood systems. d. A transparent and effective Special Safeguard Mechanism for developing countries. e. Effective special and differential treatment for developing and least-developed countries. f. A more level regulatory framework, considering all Members’ sensitivities. Through its proposal, Brazil has forcefully bridged the gap between principle and action, insisting that a truly equitable WTO reform must be built upon a fairer foundation for agricultural trade, said people familiar with the development. +
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