05/05/2024 – 9:38
Brazil and Argentina asked on Saturday (4) the director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to guide the stalled negotiations in Geneva on agricultural subsidies, which they consider fundamental to guarantee global food security.
Okonjo-Iweala heard the proposal at the headquarters of the Latin American Integration Association (Aladi), in Montevideo, which he visited as part of the 30th anniversary of the Marrakech Declaration, with which the Uruguay Round of the GATT was concluded and the WTO was established.
“It is very important to advance the agricultural issue,” said the Brazilian ambassador to Aladi, Antonio Ferreira Simões. “Here, in South America, in the Southern Cone, 30% of the world’s food is produced. If we have a world with fewer agricultural subsidies, we will be able to produce even more.”
He added: “The best way to guarantee food security is to eliminate subsidies, or at least reduce them. Because it is a way of making those who produce without subsidies able to produce and export more.”
Previously, the Argentine representative to Aladi, Alan Beraud, had asked Okonjo-Iweala for his “personal involvement” and “leadership” so that, at the next meeting of the WTO General Council, on May 22 and 23, the issuance of the document presented by Brazil to advance negotiations on agriculture.
Beraud said this will allow us to have “a roadmap” for the 14th WTO ministerial conference, which should be held in 2026.
The 13th WTO Ministerial Conference concluded on March 2 in Abu Dhabi without progress on several sensitive issues, including agriculture. Although the WTO eliminated agricultural export subsidies in 2015, many members have called for addressing trade-distorting domestic measures within countries.
Questioned by journalists, Okonjo-Iweala promised to promote discussions that ensure there is no shortage of food in the world.
“We will work hard to advance the negotiation of internal support issues, that is, reducing subsidies, allowing competition, improving market access and making agriculture more sustainable. We expect great progress,” he said.
In her speech, Okonjo-Iweala opposed protectionism and called for “reimagining globalization”.
“We need to decentralize the supply of value chains to countries that did not benefit from the first wave of globalization”, he emphasized, highlighting that Latin America can take advantage of these new opportunities.
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