DOHA, Qatar – The 142 members of the World Trade Organization agreed on Nov. 14 to launch a new comprehensive round of world trade talks, beginning in January.
A key item for Canada during those talks will be agricultural negotiations.
The text that was finalized on Nov. 14 will to a large extent set the tone for the issues that negotiators will emphasize at the trade table.
Following are the key instructions in the agricultural text:
“Building on the work carried out to date and without prejudging the outcome of the negotiations, we commit ourselves to comprehensive negotiations aimed at:
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- Substantial improvements in market access;
- reductions of, with a view to phasing out, all forms of export subsidies; and
- substantial reductions in trade-distorting domestic support.
“We agree that special and differential treatment for developing countries shall be an integral part of all the elements of the negotiations and shall be embodied in the schedules of concessions and commitments and as appropriate in the rules and disciplines to be negotiated, so as to be operationally effective and to enable developing countries to effectively take account of their development needs, including food security and rural development.
“We take note of the non-trade concerns reflected in the negotiating proposals submitted by members and confirm that non-trade concerns will be taken into account in the negotiations.”
