Developing a Comprehensive IBSA Strategy on WTO Agriculture Negotiations

The report details South Africa's (SA) strategic approach to WTO agricultural negotiations, focusing on the three pillars of market access, domestic support, and export competition. It examines the domestic consultation processes involving stakeholders like Agri SA and NEDLAC, and analyzes SA's role within international coalitions including the G20, the Cairns Group, and the African Group. The document highlights SA's preference for the elimination of export subsidies, substantial reductions in trade-distorting domestic support in developed countries, and a move away from long-term preference regimes toward broad-based market liberalization.

• South Africa's trade policy is characterized by a liberal rather than protectionist approach, driven by the belief that free trade can foster Africa's economic development and a desire to open market access for domestic companies.
• South Africa maintains a complex role in international coalitions, acting as a 'glue' within the G20 to maintain group cohesion and serving as a 'powerhouse of Africa' within the African Group, where it must balance its own commercial interests with African solidarity.
• On market access, South Africa supports 'proportionality,' arguing that developing countries should make smaller reduction commitments than developed countries, and strongly opposes the use of 'sensitive products' as a means to avoid tariff reductions.
• Domestic support is identified as the most critical issue for South Africa; the government advocates for substantial reductions in trade-distorting support in developed nations and opposes 'box-shifting' to circumvent these reductions.
• South Africa strongly advocates for the rapid elimination of all export subsidies, supporting a G20 proposal for a deadline of 2010, though it eventually joined the consensus for a 2013 deadline.
• South Africa disagrees with other African Group members on the long-term utility of preference regimes, arguing that liberalization and capacity-building are more effective for economic development than the continuation of preferences.
• Domestic consultation processes in South Africa are viewed as limited; while the Agricultural Trade Forum is seen as useful, civil society organizations report a lack of openness and feel that government policy is often established before consultations occur.
• The report recommends that South Africa improve transparency by releasing more information on its WTO positions via the DTI website and conduct more detailed internal analysis to identify specific offensive and defensive domestic interests by sector or product.

APA

Grant, C. (2006). Developing a Comprehensive IBSA Strategy on WTO Agriculture Negotiations. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/11-Trade-Report-No-11.pdf

Chicago

Grant, Catherine. Developing a Comprehensive IBSA Strategy on WTO Agriculture Negotiations. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2006. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/11-Trade-Report-No-11.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Grant |first1=Catherine |title=Developing a Comprehensive IBSA Strategy on WTO Agriculture Negotiations |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=May 2006 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/11-Trade-Report-No-11.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{grant2006developing, author = {Grant, Catherine}, title = {{Developing a Comprehensive IBSA Strategy on WTO Agriculture Negotiations}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2006}, month = may, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/11-Trade-Report-No-11.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }