WTO Ag Committee Meetings Report Released
Several members admit exceeding limits of domestic farm support.
Compiled by staff
Published: Nov 24, 2010
During "regular" Agriculture Committee meetings by World Trade Organization members last week, a growing number of members reported that their domestic support for farmers has exceeded limits committed to in the WTO. Some of the breaches were attributed to high world prices and tighter supply, partly blamed on export restrictions. The Cairns Group and the G-20 said the violations run counter to the objective that all WTO members have agreed on continuing agricultural trade reform through the Doha Round negotiations.
The World Food Program reports the number of people experiencing hunger around the glove has declined from 1.2 billion in 2009 to 925 million in 2010. And when it comes to food security, the program reminded the committee of two points: The world needs sustained commitment to food security through both development and humanitarian action; and Global economic recovery through growth will be essential but will not be enough to eliminate hunger within "an acceptable period of time".
Also, during the meetings, the Secretariat presented a new paper on countries' shares in agricultural exports of 22 products. The Secretariat said that broadly, the main findings it reported to the committee in November 2009 remain unchanged, particularly for total world exports of all agricultural products, rice, oilseeds, butter and butter oil, skim milk powder, cheese, other milk products, bovine meat, pig meat, poultry meat.
World exports of wheat and wheat flour increased by 30% in volume terms since the base period, while similarly, world exports of coarse grains increased by 39% over the same period.
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Tagged: wheat, food security, hunger, agricultural trade
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