WTO agrees elimination of export subsidies

“It is our duty to safeguard the legitimate interests of poor farmers and the food security of hundreds of millions in developing countries”, she said.

They have also agreed to conditions that will ensure worldwide food aid does not damage global trade or production in aid recipient countries. OWINFS is a global network of NGOs and social movements working for a sustainable, socially just, and democratic multilateral trading system. Its members include representatives from India, Brazil, US, UK, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. “The special & differential treatment shall also be carried on”, Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in Nairobi on Saturday.

WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo hails the historic result of the conference.

Australian trade minister Andrew Robb on Monday however told Australia’s national broadcaster the latest Doha negotiations are in need of overhaul as the agriculture deal is only one part of the trade pact.

The first draft text on agricultural issues is being circulated to all the members and has “poorly” mentioned the issues that are key to developing countries, including India, they said.

Farmers in countries like the United States, Japan and much of Europe receive direct government support in the form of export subsidies, which means their products can be sold cheaper on the domestic market than foreign imports.

“The reduction in the massive subsidization of the farm sector in developed countries, which was the clear-cut mandate of the DDA, is now not even a subject matter of discussion today, leave aside serious negotiations”, she added.

The 10th WTO Ministerial was originally scheduled to end last night but developed and developing countries failed to iron out differences on these issues. “Given the scale and significance of New Zealand’s agricultural export earnings, the removal of any instrument that can distort market forces and disadvantage our exporters is an important step forward”, says Federated Farmers National President Dr William Rolleston. Most of the remaining tariff lines will be completely phased out in four stages over three years, meaning that by 2019 nearly all imports of the relevant products will be duty-free, according to the WTO.