World Trade Organisation (WTO) countries scrambled for a last attempt at a negotiated deal to reach the deadline of 31 March for an agreement on the blueprint for the agricultural negotiations.
The talks on farm trade liberalisation have three main objectives: to improve market access through tariff reductions, cut export subsidies, as well as to slash domestic support. Importing and exporting nations differ on the size of tariff cuts as well as over formulas of farm trade liberalisation.
The latest text proposed by WTO agriculture negotiations chairman Stuart Harbinsonon 18 March on ’modalities’ was rejected by Commissioners Lamy and Fischler.
In particular they stated that the proposal does not incentivise countries that have made process in reducing their subsidies (eg EU) nor does it support the position of least developed countries.
Europa Server, "WTO agriculture talks: Harbinson 2 does not bring WTO members closer".
