G33 submits proposal on indicators for special products

The Group of 33 developing countries that operates in the WTO's agriculture negotiations has formally submitted a proposal on indicators for the designation of special products.

The G33's paper has been long anticipated, as it is expected to catalyse discussions on the details of the treatment of special products (SPs) of developing countries in the agriculture negotiations.

The G33 and other developing countries have made the case that their "special products" (on which the countries and their farmers depend for food security, livelihood security or rural development) should be provided special treatment, such as exemption from tariff reduction under the present negotiations.

Although the concept of special products and their more flexible treatment has been accepted, there is yet no agreement on what this flexible treatment entails. The G33 agreed to come up with a paper on indicators that would help determine which products can be designated as SPs.

Speaking at the meeting of the WTO's Trade Negotiations Committee on 13 October, Ambassador Gusmardi Bustami of Indonesia, which coordinates the G33, said the indicators were as a contribution to move the negotiations in agriculture forward. They would provide guidelines for developing countries on how to approach the designation of products, as SPs, based on the agreed criteria. The Group of 33 developing countries that operates in the WTO's agriculture negotiations has formally submitted a proposal on indicators for the designation of special products.

The G33's paper has been long anticipated, as it is expected to catalyse discussions on the details of the treatment of special products (SPs) of developing countries in the agriculture negotiations.

The G33 and other developing countries have made the case that their "special products" (on which the countries and their farmers depend for food security, livelihood security or rural development) should be provided special treatment, such as exemption from tariff reduction under the present negotiations.

Although the concept of special products and their more flexible treatment has been accepted, there is yet no agreement on what this flexible treatment entails. The G33 agreed to come up with a paper on indicators that would help determine which products can be designated as SPs.

Speaking at the meeting of the WTO's Trade Negotiations Committee on 13 October, Ambassador Gusmardi Bustami of Indonesia, which coordinates the G33, said the indicators were as a contribution to move the negotiations in agriculture forward. They would provide guidelines for developing countries on how to approach the designation of products, as SPs, based on the agreed criteria.