Agriculture

Chairman produces report on the state of WTO agriculture talks

4 July, 2005
TWN Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Jul05/1)
The Chairperson of the WTO's agriculture negotiations, the former New ZealandAmbassador, Tim Groser, has issued a status report on his assessment of key issues to be addressed in the agriculture negotiations by 31 July 2005, which is apparently the date by which the General Council session to discuss 'first approximations' has to conclude. (M. Khor)

Geneva talks may result in much ado about nothing

3 July, 2005
Ashok B. Sharma, Financial Express
Attempts are being made to prepare

Assessment of Tim Groser on Agriculture Negotiations

30 June, 2005
IATP
An assessment of the current agriculture negotiations by Tim Groser

Trade: WTO members discuss 'tiered' tariff cuts in agriculture

24 June, 2005
TWN Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Jun05/8)
Agriculture negotiations resumed in the WTO from 30 May to 3 June, with members engaging since 30 May on issues relating to market access for the first time after an understanding was reached earlier this month among the major countries on the conversion of non ad valorem duties to ad valorem equivalents.

Key ?building blocks? for disciplines at the end of the implementation period

24 June, 2005
IATP
EC proposal on food aid presented at a Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) in Divonne on 18th June 2005

WTO members discuss 'tiered' tariff cuts in agriculture

13 June, 2005
TWN Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Jun05/1)
A session of mainly informal negotiations took place at the WTOon agriculture issues on 30 May to 3 June. One of the key issues discussed was market access, especially the nature of the 'tiered formula' for tariff reductions.(M.Khor)

G-33 Upbeat WTO Members Will Accept Special Treatment Offer

12 June, 2005
Zakki P. Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Group of 33 developing countries is upbeat about its chances that World Trade Organization members will accept its proposal on the implementation details of special and differential treatment in protecting staple farm products.

Statement and Demands From Indonesian Farmer Organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations to the Delegations of the G-33 Ministerial Conference

11 June, 2005
Bonnie Setiawan, IGJ
'NO countries will remain sovereign and advance if they keep depending on their food needs externally!

Food aid and state trading exercises

9 June, 2005
C. Smaller, IATP
Title

Divisions emerge as WTO members begin sensitive farm product talks

2 June, 2005
Inside US Trade
Significant differences emerged this week between the U.S. and other agricultural exporters and the EU and other importers of farm commodities as World Trade Organization members for the first time discussed how to treat...

Australia Notifies WTO Regarding Level Of Farm Subsidy Spending in 2003-2004

24 May, 2005
By Daniel Pruzin, International Trade Daily
Australia has notified the World Trade Organization of its farm subsidy spending for the 2003-2004 marketing year.

Groser Resignation Stuns WTO Ag Negotiators; Officials Warn of Consequences for Farm Trade Talks

23 May, 2005
Daniel Pruzin, International Trade Daily
Trade officials in Geneva May 23 were stunned by the news that the chairman of the WTO's agriculture negotiations, New Zealand ambassador Tim Groser, has resigned as New Zealand's ambassador to the WTO, calling into question his continued leadership at a sensitive stage in the farm trade negotiations.

RP farmers face more risks as new WTO commitment looms

3 May, 2005
IBON Foundation
Philippine negotiators agreed to increase the minimum access volume (MAV) of rice for the seven-year extension of the special treatment for rice.

Hundreds of farmers demand trade justice

1 May, 2005
owinfs webmaster
The Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (Farmer's Unity in Pakistan) commemorated Global Week of Action and Farmer's Struggle Day of 17th April with a rally and a press conference.

WTO Agriculture meeting suspended over 'misunderstanding' on AVEs

20 April, 2005
WTN Info
The agriculture negotiations at the WTO hit a snag lastweek when the formal meeting had to be suspended over a 'misunderstanding' on what seemed to have been an agreement on how to treat the issue of converting non-ad valorem duties into ad valorem equivalents (AVEs).(M. Khor)

Govt asked to ban farm comodity imports

19 April, 2005
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A group of non-governmental organizations staged a rally on Monday in front of the ministry of Trade and the State Palace to demand that the government ban the import of staple agricultural products and protect local farmers with subsidies and tariffs.

Govt asked to ban farm comodity imports

19 April, 2005
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A group of non-governmental organizations staged a rally on Monday in front of the ministry of Trade and the State Palace to demand that the government ban the import of staple agricultural products and protect local farmers with subsidies and tariffs.

WTO Agriculture Talks Encounter Obstacles But Continue

20 March, 2005
Jerry Hagstrom
Colombia and the United States Proposed 'Sectoral Initiatives'under which countries would eliminate almost all tariffs and subsidies for certain products.

G-20 Meet Creates Grand Alliance of the Third World Countries

20 March, 2005
Ashok B Sharma
The G-20 summit could strengthen the cord of unity.

G20 Ministerial Meeting Ends With Declaration

20 March, 2005
TWN Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Mar05/5)
The Declaration of the G-20 Ministers called for the elimination of all export subsidies in agriculture within five years.