Food prices still causing problems for importers, committee hears
4 Dec 2008
Agricultural prices remain high despite recent falls and these are likely to continue to pose nutritional and broader economic problems for poorer importing countries, a meeting of the regular Agriculture Committee heard on 4 December 2008.
The assessment came from international organizations and followed a statement from least-developed countries on the problems they face and how they assess the relationship between WTO rules and their food security.
This took place in an annual discussion on the situation facing net-food-importing developing and least-developed countries. The organizations said the solution lies in increasing their own assistance, improving farmers’ productivity, and reforming disciplines on tariffs, subsidies and food aid in the WTO’s Doha Round negotiations.
The meeting also briefly heard members’ questions and answers about how they are implementing the Agriculture Agreement — a core function of the committee. The questions were based partly on information in 41 notifications received from members since the committee last met in September this year.
The “regular” Agriculture Committee meetings deal with routine WTO work, and not the current negotiations, which take place in separate “special sessions”.
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Source: WTO
This took place in an annual discussion on the situation facing net-food-importing developing and least-developed countries. The organizations said the solution lies in increasing their own assistance, improving farmers’ productivity, and reforming disciplines on tariffs, subsidies and food aid in the WTO’s Doha Round negotiations.
The meeting also briefly heard members’ questions and answers about how they are implementing the Agriculture Agreement — a core function of the committee. The questions were based partly on information in 41 notifications received from members since the committee last met in September this year.
The “regular” Agriculture Committee meetings deal with routine WTO work, and not the current negotiations, which take place in separate “special sessions”.
Read More...
Source: WTO
