This briefing document explains current agricultural issues raised before and in the current negotiations. It has been prepared by the Information and Media Relations Division of the WTO Secretariat to help public understanding about the agriculture negotiations. It is not an official record of the negotiations.
Phase 1 (23-24 March 2000 to 26-27 March 2001)back to top
7 meetings
45 proposals
4 documents described as notes, submissions, technical submissions,
discussion papers
proposals from 121 countries (counting
the EU as 16, i.e. the 15 countries plus the EU as a group) or
85% of the WTO’s membership; or, including technical submissions,
from 126 countries, 89% of the WTO’s membership
Proposals
Discussion papers /submissions
Comprehensive
(or covering several topics)
US, EU, Japan, Switzerland, Mauritius, small island developing states, Rep of Korea, Mali, Norway, India, Poland, Morocco, Turkey, Egypt, Nigeria, Congo (Dem Rep), Kenya, Senegal, Mexico, Jordan, African Group, Namibia, Burkina Faso
Croatia
Export competition
Cairns Group, EU
MERCOSUR+
Export restrictions, taxes
Cairns Group
Export credits
MERCOSUR, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Guatemala, India and Malaysia
Domestic support
Cairns Group, US, Canada
Blue box
EU
Green box
Developing countries group (2)
Transition issues
Transition economies
Market access
Canada, Cairns Group, developing countries group (3), transition group, Caricom
Food quality
EU
Tariff-rate quotas
US
… and S&D for small developing countries
Swaziland
Non-trade concerns
38 countries, Argentina
Animal welfare
EU
Development, S&D
Developing countries group (1), ASEAN
Other:
State trading enterprises
MERCOSUR+
“Developing countries group” = sponsored some or all of (1)G/AG/NG/W/13 (S&D and development box), (2)G/AG/NG/W/14 (Green Box), (3)G/AG/NG/W/37 + Corr.1 (market access)
23-25 July 2001 informal meeting (export subsidies, export credits, state
trading enterprises, export taxes and restrictions, food security,
food safety)
24-26 September 2001 informal meeting (rural development, geographical indications,
Green Box, Blue Box, agricultural safeguards); 28 September formal
meeting
3-4 December 2001 informal meeting (environment, trade preferences, food aid,
consumer information and labelling, sectoral initiatives); 7 December
formal meeting
4-6 February 2002 informal meeting: the development box, single commodity producers, special and differential treatment, small island developing countries, and “other issues”. 7 February formal meeting, to end Phase 2.
The Doha mandate (from the Doha Ministerial Conference, November 2001)back to top
Deadlines
31 March 2003: formulas and other “modalities” for countries’ commitments
1 January 2005: Deadline for concluding negotiations, part of single undertaking
Preparations for ‘modalities’ and Cancún (26 March 2002 to September 2003)back to top
Meetings and timetable
2002
June meeting: export subsidies and restrictions (“intersessional” preparatory
consultations 3-4 June 2002, informal 17-19 June, formal 20 June)
Early September meeting: market access
(“intersessional” preparatory consultations 29-30 July 2002,
informal 2-3 September, formal 6 September)
Late September meeting: domestic support (informal
23-25 September, formal 27 September)
November meeting: follow-up (“intersessional”
preparatory consultations 4-5 September 2002, informal 18-20 November,
formal 22 November)
18 December: overview paper drafted by Chairperson Harbinson, based on discussions so far.
2003
January meeting: comprehensive review
based on overview paper (informal/formal 22-24 January)
Drafting: first draft of modalities document
February meeting: comments on first draft (informal/formal
24-28 February)
Redrafting: second draft of modalities document
March meeting: consideration of final text (informal/formal
25-31 March)
31 March: deadline
April-June 2003 numerous technical consultations
26-27 June 2003 informal meeting, 1 July 2003 formal meeting
16-17 July 2003 informal meeting, 18 July 2003 formal meeting
July–August 2003: preparations for the Cancún Ministerial Conference
10–14 September 2003: the Cancún Ministerial Conference
The July 2004 package (September 2003 to 1 August 2004)back to top
Meetings and timetable
March, April and June 2004 agriculture negotiations meetings
July 2004 “July package” meetings under General Council and Trade Negotiations Committee, including a session on agriculture, 21 July
1 August 2004 framework agreed
The post-framework “modalities” phase (September 2004–)back to top
Meetings and timetable
6–8 October 2004. First reading: Green Box domestic support, export credit/guarantees/insurance; exporting state trading enterprises; food aid, ad valorem equivalents of specific duties; special safeguard mechanism for developing countries
15–19 November 2004. First reading: tariff quota administration; base for tariff quota expansion; tropical products and goods produced as substitutes for narcotics; methodology for product-specific AMS (Amber Box) caps; base period for domestic support commitments. More details: ad valorem equivalents of specific duties; exporting state trading enterprises; food aid; export credit/guarantees/insurance; Green Box domestic support. Specialist group consultation: ad valorem equivalents of specific duties
13–17 December 2004
7–11 February 2005
14–18 March 2005
13–19 April 2005
30 May–3 June 2005
11–15 July 2005
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