UPDATED 2 OCTOBER 2001

Contents
> In a nutshell
> Proposals received in Phase 1
> Alliances table
> INTRODUCTION
Phase 1
> Export subsidies, competition and restrictions
> Market access
> Domestic support: amber, blue and green boxes
> Developing countries
> Transition economies
> Non-trade concerns and ‘multifunctionality’
> Animal welfare and food quality
> The peace clause
Phase 2
> tariffs and quotas
> domestic support: amber, blue and green boxes
> export subsidies and restrictions
> state trading
> food security
> food safety
> rural development
> geographical indications
> safeguards
Data
> Statistics

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.

For domestic support, these countries are calling for extra flexibility in providing certain subsidies (for example for debt and interest payments) and in general allow them higher ceilings on amounts of support that are considered small enough (“de minimis”) not to be counted in reduction commitments. Under market access they want to continue protecting some of their own products with existing tariff levels — without having to reduce them further — including those that already have low tariffs. They also want to negotiate the removal of non-tariff barriers in their export markets.

These countries stress that the flexibility would be temporary — so long as the problems of transition persist — and would not lead to additional distortions in agricultural trade.

 
 
Proposals on transition economies submitted in Phase 1  back to top

• 12 transition economies: domestic support — additional flexibility for transition economies G/AG/NG/W/56
• 11 transition economies: market access G/AG/NG/W/57

 
 
< Previous    Next >