Encouraged by the positive feedback received on the recent exercise of monthly thematic sessions held from September to December, the Chair proposed a new process for farm trade negotiations in an effort to "intensify and deepen the discussions" and to move the agriculture talks to a "problem-solving" phase.

While the discussions based on members' submissions and presentations will continue in the Agriculture Committee's Special Session meeting on a monthly basis, seven working groups will be set up to tackle priority issues regarding agriculture reform, i.e. domestic support, public stockholding (PSH) for food security purposes, cotton, market access, the special safeguard mechanism (SSM), export competition and export restrictions.

These working groups will be open to all members. They will work at a technical level and will seek to make progress on each of the negotiating issues. Two co-coordinators will be selected to lead each working group to reflect divergent views. Alternatively, neutral coordinators with no interest at stake may be appointed. The trial period for the new process is set for January to April 2019 and could be continued or modified in response to members' views on this initiative following a review at the Special Session meeting of the Agriculture Committee in April.

The Chair outlined the following schedule for the launch of these working groups: in January, the working groups on domestic support and PSH; in February, the working groups on market access and the SSM; and in March, the working group on export competition and export restriction. These working groups will report to the monthly committee meeting. Cotton will be addressed on a separate track.

This suggested way forward was generally welcomed by members. Several delegations showed firm support for the initiative and called on others not to be afraid of trying new formats in order to unlock the negotiations.  

However, some members voiced concerns, in particular with the frequency of the meetings. They flagged the difficulties it will pose for smaller delegations and the potential distraction from the existing thematic sessions as well as the preparation time needed to ensure the effectiveness of the meetings. Questions were also raised regarding the reports to be made by working groups to committee meetings.

A new paper by some members of the  Cairns Group (JOB/AG/151) pitching ideas on the way forward was also presented at the meeting.

In response, the Chair emphasized that he has listened carefully to members' concerns and said this confidence-building process would be fully balanced, inclusive, fair and transparent. He noted he would prepare a new communication on the basic principles and working procedures for this process.  

The Chair invited delegations wishing to be designated as a coordinator to communicate their interest to him. He reaffirmed that consideration shall be given to fair representation and diversity in the selection of the co-coordinators. He also confirmed that the working groups will be open to all members and that the frequency of meetings will ultimately depend on the members themselves.

The working groups will complement the open-ended special session meetings of the Agriculture Committee and will make comprehensive informal reports to these meetings, the Chair noted, emphasizing that the two processes are expected to complement each other. 

 In conclusion, the Chair said: "The biggest risk for the committee is that I do not take risks."

Thematic discussions

On the first day of the two-day meeting, members examined a new submission by Cairns Group members (a group of agriculture exporting countries) (JOB/AG/150), which delves deeper into the  trade-distorting domestic support pillar by analysing product-specific support under Article 6.3 and 6.4 of the Agreement on Agriculture. Members commended the technical work done but some said the real situation might be different from that described in the paper, which drew on data available from 2001-2010 notifications.

Indonesia, on behalf of the G33 Group (a coalition of developing countries), gave a presentation on the need to address urgently the PSH issue, highlighting concerns about the increasingly severe food security situation and rural development needs. Other members acknowledged the concerns of the G33. However, several members said they failed to see how relaxing domestic support disciplines would help to solve the problem. One member insisted that there is already enough political space under Article 6 of the Agreement on Agriculture and that allowing for more unlimited subsidies in agriculture will create more trade distortion for other members.

Commending the high level of engagement seen in the thematic sessions, the Chair encouraged members to submit more papers for technical analysis. Many members shared this view and strongly supported the continuation of this practice in the coming year. One member said this process should carry on at least in the first half of 2019.

Timeline of Agriculture Committee special sessions

Three open-ended special sessions of the Agriculture Committee have been scheduled for the following dates:

• 14-15 February 2019
• 14-15 March 2019
• 11-12 April 2019