Negotiations on WTO Agreement on Agreement - Agriculture Business - Lecture Slides, Slides of Botany and Agronomy

Download Negotiations on WTO Agreement on Agreement - Agriculture Business - Lecture Slides and more Slides Botany and Agronomy in PDF only on Docsity! PART II Negotiations on WTO Agreement On Agriculture 1 Uruguay Round Agricultural Negotiations • Prompted by surpluses in post-war period and consequent disarray in world agriculture. • Disciplines with regard to all measures affecting trade in Agriculture envisaged. • Including not only import access but also domestic policies, export subsidies , sanitary and phytosanitary measures. 2 Two Fold Approach • Experience in the implementation of the Agreement leads us to conclude that basically the problems can be tackled on two planes, namely; a) Through positive efforts and binding commitments by Developed Countries in Undertaking substantive reductions in tariff levels, tariff escalation, trade distortive domestic support and elimination of export subsidies and tariff peaks,etc 5 Two Fold Approach b. Through specific and targeted S&D provisions within the existing framework of AOA , which would go beyond longer transition periods and reduced rates of reduction, keeping in view the developmental objectives in developing countries 6 India’s Priorities / Recommendations in Negotiations Domestic Support • Remove ambiguities in the calculation of AMS • Empty Blue Box and put a ceiling on all forms of direct payments and include these in AMS • Negative product specific support figures should be allowed to be adjusted against the positive non-product-specific AMS support figures 7 India’s Priorities / Recommendations in Negotiations • All measures taken by developing countries for poverty alleviation from rural development, rural employment and diversification of agriculture should be exempted from any reduction commitments Market Access • Appropriate level of tariff bindings to be allowed to be maintained by developing countries as a Special & Differential Measure , keeping in mind their developmental needs and high distortions prevalent in international markets 10 India’s Priorities / Recommendations in Negotiations • Developing country members should be exempt from any obligation to provide any minimum market access. • A special safeguard mechanism including a provision for imposition of quantitative restrictions under specified circumstances to be made available to all developing countries in case of search in imports or decline in prices etc. 11 India’s Priorities / Recommendations in Negotiations • Low tariff bindings in developing countries as could not be rationalized in earlier negotiations should be allowed to be raised to the ceiling bindings for similar category of products, committed during the Uruguay Round 12 Status of Negotiations • The second phase began in May 2001 and has concluded with the Special Session meeting of February 2002 • Country positions fairly well defined during this phase of negotiations • A non paper on S&D presented by India in the Special Session held in February 2002 15 Developed Country Positions • EU against fast track approach to liberalization • Nordic Countries and Japan for continuation of subsidy regimes in agriculture • Australia , New Zealand and Canada (of Cairns Group) favor a totally market oriented approach and oppose trade distorting subsidies and protectionist regimes of EU and Japan • US , opposing EU, but not completely with Cairns Group either, aggressively seeks market access in other WTO member countries 16 Cairns Group Position • Demands elimination of export subsidies and domestic subsidies as goals of on going agricultural negotiations • Calls for better information and analysis of tariff rates tariff quota administration • Supports transparent and targeted S&D for developing countries 17 India’s Objectives / Strategy in the Negotiations • Flexibility to pursue our domestic support policies for agriculture to protect our food security and livelihood concerns • Retaining appropriate level of bound tariffs for protecting our farmers • Seek additional opportunities for increasing our exports 20 Doha Ministerial Declaration • The long term objective of establishing a fair and market oriented trading system reaffirmed • Need for fundamental reform through strengthened rules and specific commitments on support and protection reiterated • Comprehensive negotiations sought for affecting: substantial improvements in market access Reductions leading to eventual phasing out of all forms of export subsidies 21 Doha Ministerial Declaration • Substantial reduction in trade distorting domestic support • Special & Differential treatment to be an integral part of the negotiations • Modalities for further commitments to be finalised by 31March 2003 • Comprehensive draft schedules to be submitted by the 5th Session of the Ministerial Conference 22