The international community is facing considerable challenges today.
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In the context of climate change the world faces growing environmental pressures described as planetary boundaries including air and water pollution, land degradation, natural resources depletion and extinctions of species among other environmenta
Some thoughts and proposals for a way forward
The WTO XII Ministerial Conference (MC12) will be a different and singular event for the organization and also for the participating member countries.
In December 2017 the WTO Ministerial Conference was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. They were difficult times both in terms of economic and political uncertainties.
Despite significant reforms over the past 25 years, the agricultural sector remains highly subsidized. Agricultural producer support is projected to reach almost USD 1.8 trillion in 2030 (FAO/UNDP/UNEP 2021).
New disciplines for domestic support
One of the hallmark accomplishments of the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) was the inclusion of agriculture in a system of multilateral rules and disciplines, including disciplines governing domestic support.
After 50 years of success, multilateral trade liberalization, conducted under the umbrella of the World Trade Organization (WTO), is in a deadlock, as illustrated by the impasse in which the Doha Round is for almost 20 years.
WTO dispute settlement cases involving Latin American countries and the agreement on agriculture, 1995-2019
Latin America, as a lead exporter of agricultural products, has a significant interest in open global markets. The region’s agriculture trade surplus has increased to U$54 billion in 2016-2018 from US$12 billion in 1996-1998.
The context of international food trade has changed considerably since the last Ministerial Conference (MC11) in 2017. Significant progress has not been achieved in many important issues that are still pending on the organization’s agenda.