World Trade Organization Agriculture Negotiations at MC13

This research paper by Facundo Calvo analyzes the agriculture negotiations for the WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13), arguing that success depends on moving beyond non-binding declarations toward binding commitments. The author focuses on the potential for an exemption from export restrictions for least developed countries (LDCs) and the deep divisions among WTO members regarding domestic support and public stockholding.

• WTO members are considering an exemption from export prohibitions or restrictions for least developed countries (LDCs) to ensure food availability during crises. This proposed 'LDC exemption' would allow LDCs to import food from members that have restricted exports to other countries, shielding them from global price rises. However, the author notes that while this ensures availability, it does not address the 'food access challenge' regarding the affordability of food for poor consumers in LDCs.
• There is a significant divide between WTO members on how to treat public stockholding. Developing countries, including China, India, the G-33, and the African Group, argue that public stockholding is a 'stand-alone issue' that should be negotiated separately from the reduction of trade-distorting domestic support. Conversely, the United States, the European Union, and the Cairns Group believe public stockholding at administered prices should be treated as any other form of trade-distorting domestic support and negotiated as part of broader modalities to cap and reduce such support.
• Developing countries are seeking the removal of aggregate measurement of support entitlements that allow 32 WTO members to provide higher levels of trade-distorting support than other members. Additionally, the African Group, Pakistan, and the C4 group of cotton-producing countries want to restrict 'green box' subsidies, particularly those for cotton farmers, which they claim undercut producers in developing countries.
• The author argues that non-binding declarations, such as the food security declaration from MC12, are insufficient because they lack incentives for behavioral change. Evidence cited includes a WTO report showing that 75 export restrictions on food, feed, and fertilizers remained in place as of October 2023, with the pace of new restrictions increasing since 2020 due to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

APA

Calvo, F. (2024). World Trade Organization Agriculture Negotiations at MC13. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/articles/policy-analysis/wto-food-security-agriculture-negotiations-mc13

Chicago

Calvo, Facundo. World Trade Organization Agriculture Negotiations at MC13. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2024. https://www.iisd.org/articles/policy-analysis/wto-food-security-agriculture-negotiations-mc13.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Calvo |first1=Facundo |title=World Trade Organization Agriculture Negotiations at MC13 |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=12 January 2024 |url=https://www.iisd.org/articles/policy-analysis/wto-food-security-agriculture-negotiations-mc13 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{calvo2024world, author = {Calvo, Facundo}, title = {{World Trade Organization Agriculture Negotiations at MC13}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2024}, month = jan, url = {https://www.iisd.org/articles/policy-analysis/wto-food-security-agriculture-negotiations-mc13}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }