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1.
Ministers recognize
that the progressive implementation of the results of the Uruguay
Round as a whole will generate increasing opportunities for trade
expansion and economic growth to the benefit of all participants.
2.
Ministers recognize
that during the reform programme leading to greater liberalization of
trade in agriculture least-developed and net food-importing developing
countries may experience negative effects in terms of the availability
of adequate supplies of basic foodstuffs from external sources on
reasonable terms and conditions, including short-term difficulties in
financing normal levels of commercial imports of basic foodstuffs.
3.
Ministers accordingly agree to establish
appropriate mechanisms to ensure that the implementation of the
results of the Uruguay Round on trade in agriculture does not
adversely affect the availability of food aid at a level which is
sufficient to continue to provide assistance in meeting the food needs
of developing countries, especially least-developed and net
food-importing developing countries. To this end Ministers agree:
(i)
to review the level of food aid established periodically by the
Committee on Food Aid under the Food Aid Convention 1986 and to
initiate negotiations in the appropriate forum to establish a level of
food aid commitments sufficient to meet the legitimate needs of
developing countries during the reform programme;
(ii) to adopt guidelines to ensure that an increasing proportion of
basic foodstuffs is provided to least-developed and net food-importing
developing countries in fully grant form and/or on appropriate
concessional terms in line with Article IV of the Food Aid
Convention 1986;
(iii) to give full consideration in the context of their aid
programmes to requests for the provision of technical and financial
assistance to least-developed and net food-importing developing
countries to improve their agricultural productivity and
infrastructure.
4.
Ministers further agree
to ensure that any agreement relating to agricultural export credits
makes appropriate provision for differential treatment in favour of
least-developed and net food-importing developing countries.
5.
Ministers recognize
that as a result of the Uruguay Round certain developing countries may
experience short-term difficulties in financing normal levels of
commercial imports and that these countries may be eligible to draw on
the resources of international financial institutions under existing
facilities, or such facilities as may be established, in the context
of adjustment programmes, in order to address such financing
difficulties. In this regard Ministers
take note of paragraph 37 of the report of the Director-General
to the CONTRACTING PARTIES to GATT 1947 on his consultations with the
Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund and the President
of the World Bank (MTN.GNG/NG14/W/35).
6.
The provisions of this Decision will be subject to regular
review by the Ministerial Conference, and the follow-up to this
Decision shall be monitored, as appropriate, by the Committee on
Agriculture.
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