Considerations on COM(2017)668 - EU position in the Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization as regards public stockholding for food security purposes, and various other subjects - Main contents
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This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2017)668 - EU position in the Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization as regards public stockholding for food security ... |
|---|---|
| document | COM(2017)668  |
| date | November 16, 2017 |
(2) Pursuant to Articles IV:1 and IX:1 of the WTO Agreement, the Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (‘WTO’) may adopt decisions by consensus.
(3) The WTO Ministerial Conference, during its 11th meeting on 10-13 December 2017, may adopt decisions on public stockholdings for food security purposes (PSH), trade-distorting domestic support, including for cotton; export restrictions in agriculture; fisheries subsidies, domestic regulation in services, and Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)/Transparency of Regulatory Measures for Trade in Goods.
(4) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union's behalf in the WTO Ministerial Conference, to the extent that these decisions may have legal effects.
(5) The 11th WTO Ministerial Conference is considered by WTO Members as the deadline for adopting a permanent solution on the issue of public stockholdings for food security purposes. This goal was stipulated in the Bali Ministerial Decision of 7 December 2013 on Public Stockholding for Food Security Purposes (WT/MIN(13)/38-WT/L/913), as interpreted and reconfirmed by subsequent decisions. In this respect, the Union should support a permanent solution on the issue of public stockholding for food security purposes to the extent it is reached.
(6) Negotiations on trade-distorting domestic support are embedded in Article 20 of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture and, together with cotton, are part of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA). In this respect the EU together with Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Uruguay submitted a proposal (JOB/AG/99) on trade-distorting domestic support (including trade-distorting domestic support for cotton as well as on public stockholding) in 2017. Given the importance of the issue and the fact that the Union has been one of the proponents, the Union should support an outcome on trade-distorting domestic support, including for cotton, to the extent it is reached.
(7) Negotiations on strengthening the disciplines on export prohibitions and restrictions in Article 12.1 of the Agreement on Agriculture are embedded in Article 20 of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture and form part of DDA negotiations. Given the importance of the issue for the agricultural reform process and for moving towards a fair and market-oriented agricultural trading system, the Union should support an outcome on export restrictions to the extent it is reached.
(8) Negotiations on fisheries subsidies are part of the DDA and the elimination of certain fisheries subsidies was identified as a priority in UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 Target 6 ("SDG 14.6") agreed by Heads of States in 2015. Given the importance of the issue for trade and sustainable development, and the fact that the Union has been one of the proponents, the Union should support an outcome to the extent it is reached.
(9) Negotiations on domestic regulation in services were foreseen in Article VI:4 of the WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and form part of the DDA. An outcome could cover administration of measures, independence, transparency, technical standards, development of measures and Special and Differential Treatment. Given the maturity of the discussions and the systemic importance for reaching a decision on the issue, the Union, being also one of the proponents, should support an outcome to the extent it is reached.
(10) Negotiations on market access for non-agricultural products are part of the DDA mandate and include non-tariff barriers (NTBs). The EU submitted to the WTO in 2017 a proposal for a 'Ministerial Decision on Facilitating SME Trade: Transparency of Regulatory Measures for Trade in Goods' (TN/MA/W/144/Rev.3). This decision, in its entirety or with a narrower or broader scope could be adopted at MC11. Given the importance of the issue and the fact that the Union has been one of the proponents, the Union should support an outcome on the basis of the EU proposal to the extent it is reached.
(11) In the WTO Ministerial Conference, the Union is to be represented by the Commission in accordance with Article 17(1) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU).