G-33 Advocates Progress on Agricultural Trade Ahead of WTO Ministerial Conference

The 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) is scheduled to take place from February 26 to 29, 2024, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. As trade ministers globally prepare for this crucial gathering, the G-33, a coalition of developing countries with India as a prominent member, has called on the WTO to prioritize advancements in agriculture trade negotiations.

Key Points of 13th Ministerial Conference:

• Conference Overview: Chaired by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, MC13 will bring together trade ministers to assess the performance of the multilateral trading system and set the future trajectory of the WTO. India will be represented by Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry.

• G-33 Concerns: The G-33 expressed concerns about the sluggish progress in agriculture trade negotiations, particularly in addressing food security challenges faced by developing nations. The urgency is underscored by the Food and Agriculture Organization's projection of nearly 600 million people facing chronic hunger by 2030.

• Call for Action: The group urged the WTO members to take decisive action and move towards a permanent solution on public stockholding for food security purposes. This aligns with their co-sponsored proposal, submitted alongside African and Caribbean groups, emphasizing the need for constructive engagement and adoption during MC13.

• Special Safeguard Mechanism: Emphasizing the importance of the Special Safeguard Mechanism for developing countries to protect against import surges and price declines, the G-33 urged members to reach a decision on this mechanism by the next Ministerial Conference.

• Preserving Special Treatment: The group highlighted the necessity to maintain special treatment for developing countries and emphasized the consideration of non-trade concerns in future negotiations.

Opportunity for Critical Issues:

The 13th WTO Ministerial Conference presents a crucial opportunity for members to address critical issues in the global trading system, with a particular focus on agriculture trade and food security. The G-33, comprising 47 countries and advocating for flexibility in limited market opening in agriculture, plays a pivotal role in shaping the discourse, with India, China, and Indonesia among its key members.

Key figures of 13th WTO Ministerial Conference:

• Date: February 26-29, 2024

• Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

• Chair: Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade

• Indian delegation leader: Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry

Public Stockholding and Special Safeguard Mechanism

The group specifically called for:

• A permanent solution on public stockholding for food security purposes. They emphasized the importance of their co-sponsored proposal, submitted alongside African and Caribbean groups, urging members to engage constructively and adopt it during the conference.

• Reaching a decision on the Special Safeguard Mechanism by the next Ministerial Conference. This mechanism allows developing countries to temporarily increase tariffs on agricultural imports to shield their farmers from sudden import surges and price declines.

Preserving Special Treatment and Considering Non-Trade Concerns

The G-33 emphasized the need to:

• Maintain special treatment for developing countries in trade agreements, acknowledging their unique development needs and challenges.

• Integrate non-trade concerns, such as environmental sustainability and rural development, into future trade negotiations.