The Development Box

The document analyzes the 'Development Box' (DB), a proposed mechanism for developing countries to register exceptions to WTO agricultural liberalization. It outlines the goals of the DB—such as protecting food security and small farmers—and discusses the arguments from proponents like the Like-Minded Group and opponents such as the U.S. and certain Cairns Group members. The briefing also reviews an Oxford Policy Management study suggesting specific S&D instruments and highlights the potential impacts on Least-Developed Countries and middle-income nations.

• The Development Box is proposed as a mechanism for developing countries to register enhanced special and differential treatment (S&D) measures to mitigate negative outcomes of the WTO's Agreement on Agriculture (AoA), focusing on five areas: protecting domestic food production, sustaining rural livelihoods, providing flexibility for small farmers, protecting against subsidized imports, and promoting the sale of surplus production.
• Proponents of the DB argue for a fundamental shift in trade rules where food security and development needs are central, suggesting that S&D should be based on development benchmarks rather than arbitrary timetables and should be a permanent feature of WTO rules.
• Developing countries express frustration that the AoA's Green and Blue Boxes primarily benefit richer nations and that developed countries have failed to implement the Marrakech decision to assist poor food-importing countries.
• Opponents of the DB, including the U.S. and Latin American Cairns Group members like Chile and Argentina, argue that it creates a "two track AoA" and may be used to protect farm lobbies or negatively impact South-South trade and consumer prices.
• An Oxford Policy Management (OPM) study suggests several new S&D instruments for developing countries, including a safeguard for food security crops, slower tariff reductions for such crops, and allowing short-term stockpiling during periods of low world prices.
• The impact of the DB varies by economic status: Least-Developed Countries (LDCs) could raise tariffs and domestic support above bound rates; middle-income countries are seen as the main beneficiaries who can best use the flexibilities to protect small farmers; and transition economies would be ineligible as they joined the WTO with developed country status.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2003). The Development Box. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/investment_sdc_may_2003_5.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. The Development Box. 2003. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/investment_sdc_may_2003_5.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=The Development Box |date=2003 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/investment_sdc_may_2003_5.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2003development, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{The Development Box}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2003}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/investment_sdc_may_2003_5.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }