JOB/AG/194  
 
11 May 2021 
(21-3956) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Agriculture  
Special Session    
 
 
REPORT BY AMB. GLORIA ABRAHAM PERALTA,  CHAIR OF THE COA SPECIAL SESSION,  
TO THE FORMAL TNC AND INFORMAL HODS MEETING  
3 MAY 2021  
1. As on previous occasions, I would like to focus on process and then on substance in my report 
today.  
 
2. Since our last meeting, the CoA Special Session held two meetings on 10 March and more 
recently on 23 April followed by the dedicated sessions on PSH and SSM on 28 April.  
 
3. As you know, the topic -by-topic Facilitators -led process has been going on for half a year now. 
The work by Facilitators has intensified significantly in recent months and they have made five 
monthly reports on their activities to the full Membership.  
 
4. In addition to their bilateral consultations, the Facilitators have convened several me etings in 
various formats, including open -ended meetings and small groups consultations. Several additional 
meetings are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.  
 
5. This Facilitators -led process is technical in nature and intended to prepare the ground f or an 
outcome on agriculture at MC12. Let me take this opportunity to commend here the group of 
Facilitators for their outstanding work.  
 
6. We all know this was not going to be an easy task. In my view, they have made the best 
possible use of the time available to delve deeper into the different technical issues, improve the 
understanding of each other's positions and concerns, and explore pragmatic ways to narrow gaps 
and identify options to make progress.  
 
7. As foreseen, now that we are approaching the Ministerial Conference with fast speed, it is time 
to change gear and I confirmed my intention to wrap up this process at the end of May.  
 
8. I have asked the Facilitators to prepare their final summary reports by early June. These 
reports will be circulated to all Members. I expect the reports to contain factual information on the 
state-of-play on different negotiating topics, as well as some views on the way forward, where 
possible.   
 
9. Based on these reports, my aim is to circulate subsequently my own state of play consolidated 
report, prepared under my own responsibility, highlighting the potential elements for an agricultural 
outcome at MC12. These reports will be discussed at the June CoA  Special Session  meeting.  
 
10. We will thus move to a comprehensive, int egrated high -level negotiating phase and engage 
in a more holistic discussion on all issues. The purpose would be to work on a first draft text for a 
possible outcome at MC12 with the  appropriate balance and level of ambition across the various 
topics. My objective is to be in a position to circulate a first draft text before the summer recess.  
 
11. On substance, Domestic Support remains the focus and priority for the Membership. Several 
Members, such as Costa Rica and Brazil,  have used the Facilitators -led pro cess to present their work 
on Domestic Support, and one more Member is expected to do so shortly. However, divisions remain 
regarding how to reduce  trade -distorting support, what should be included, and where to start from. 
A group of Members has therefore proposed an agreement at MC12 on an overall objective with JOB/AG/194  
 
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  some parameters for a future reduction to be included. No single idea has , however, been attra cting 
consensus so far.  
 
12. Many Members have also stressed the critical importance of Food Security, notably due to the 
on-going pandemic context, which according to some Members make the search for a Permanent 
Solution on PSH by MC12 even more urgent.  Active discussions have taken place in the Facilitator -
led meetings, however more efforts and political will be needed to narrow the gaps.  
 
13. Food Security is also the main underlying goal in the discussions on Export Restrictions, both 
in relation to a draft Decision not to impose export restrictions on foodstuff purchased by the World 
Food Programme , as well as on related transparency and clarification elements. As you are aware, 
a consensus could not be reached at the end of December last year on the text of th e WFP Decision 
and more work is still required.  
 
14. Food Security has also been mentioned by some Members on other topics such as the Special 
Safeguard Mechanism and Cotton.  
 
15. Some Members consider that in view of the remaining divergences on some fundamental 
issues, in particular on Domestic Support, it is difficult to envisage an outcome going beyond 
incremental steps. In their view, these steps should be mainly focused on transparency -related 
components or outcomes by MC12, together with few additional deliv erables and guidelines for the 
work after MC12.  
 
16. Discussions have taken place on such transparency -related deliverables in Market Access with 
issues such as change in applied duties and goods en route and tariff simplification, as well as in 
Export Competi tion, Cotton and Export Restrictions as already mentioned.  
 
17. In short, we are reaching a stage where it is imperative that we build on the technical work 
to identify the elements and options likeliest to attract consensus.  
 
18. To this end, we need to come as s oon as possible to a shared understanding on what would 
constitute the appropriate level of ambition and what is required to reach balance across  the various 
topics.  
 
19. It is now time for political impetus and leadership, including engagement at Ambassadors' 
level.  
 
20. I intend to intensify in the coming weeks my consultations with Heads of Delegations to 
prepare the ground for this next phase . I will continue working in close cooperation with you, 
Dr. Ngozi, and let me take this opportunity to thank  for your support and engagement.  
 
21. Agriculture is key to the lives of millions of people all over the world. The vital importance of 
an outcome on agriculture at MC12 beneficial for poor rural and urban population, global Food 
Security and a well -functioni ng less distorted multilateral trading system has been emphasized on 
many occasions by Members. It is now time to turn words into deeds.  
 
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