Window shut on early agriculture talks<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (JP): Agriculture exporting countries have run into
\nhurdles at the World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial
\nconference here which have closed a path to early preparations
\nfor agriculture negotiations.<\/p>\n
The Cairns group of 14 agriculture exporting countries, led by
\nAustralia, have failed to include in the WTO ministerial draft
\ndeclaration a firm commitment to start preparations for
\nnegotiations next year.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Minister of Industry and Trade Tunky Ariwibowo said
\nagriculture would not appear in a separate paragraph in the
\ndeclaration, but would be mentioned in a paragraph on the built-
\nin agenda.<\/p>\n
Sources at the conference said South Korea, Japan and some
\nEuropean countries had vehemently blocked efforts to start
\npreparing agriculture negotiations before 1999, as stated in the
\nWTO agreement on agriculture.<\/p>\n
These countries seem unprepared for trade liberalization in
\nagriculture.<\/p>\n
South Korean Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Jae Yoon
\nPark said on the third-day of the week-long WTO conference
\nyesterday that his country's position on agriculture had not
\nchanged.<\/p>\n
\"The agenda embodied in the agreement on agriculture should
\nbe strictly observed as agreed upon, since it represents a
\ndelicate balance reflecting the political sensitivities of the
\nnegotiating members,\" Park said.<\/p>\n
The WTO's reform program for trade in agriculture comprises a
\nvast range of rule-based commitments on market access, export
\nsubsidies and domestic support.<\/p>\n
Progress in implementing these commitments, which began on
\nJan. 1, 1995, is subject to multilateral review by the WTO
\ncommittee on agriculture.<\/p>\n
In its report for the Singapore conference, the committee on
\nagriculture, working closely with the Cairns group, suggested the
\nWTO ministerial conference mandate the committee to start
\nreviewing existing commitments by 1997.<\/p>\n
But the committee's recommendations have met strong opposition
\nfrom countries sensitive to trade liberalization in agriculture.<\/p>\n
The Cairns group comprises Australia, New Zealand, Argentina,
\nBrazil, Colombia, Chile, Uruguay, Fiji, Canada, Thailand,
\nMalaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Hungary.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Food Ibrahim Hassan, who led the Indonesian
\ndelegation at the Cairns group meetings, said the group had
\nagreed to soften its stand as long as agriculture was included in
\nthe declaration.<\/p>\n
But Cairns group members have different views on trade
\nliberalization in agriculture.<\/p>\n
Ibrahim said liberalization of processed agricultural products
\nwould surely benefit the country.<\/p>\n
But Indonesia has said it would continue to protect
\nunprocessed farm products through managed-trading mechanisms.<\/p>\n
Minister Tunky contended that the liberalization of
\nunprocessed agricultural products would affect millions of
\nfarmers, the majority of Indonesians.<\/p>\n
Australian Trade Minister Tim Fischer said at yesterday's WTO
\nplenary session that his country wanted the trade of processed
\nfood to be liberalized; an area where Australia has strong
\ncompetitive advantage.<\/p>\n
At the same session, Indian Commerce Minister B.B. Ramaiah
\nsaid there should be a clear distinction between countries that
\nwere major exporters of agricultural products and those primarily
\ncatering for their own domestic markets, like India.<\/p>\n
The treatment given to those countries should also be
\ndifferent, Ramaiah said.<\/p>\n
He said countries with few agricultural exports should be free
\nto retain their internal subsidy regimes to protect their farmers
\nand achieve greater food self-sufficiency. (rid)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/window-shut-on-early-agriculture-talks-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}