WT/MIN(24)/20   
27 February 2024  
(24-1769) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February 2024  Original: Spanish  
 
  
STATEMENT ON THE REFORM OF THE MULTILATERAL RULES  
ON AGRICULTURAL TRADE  
The following communication, dated 25 February 2024, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegations of Argentina, Plurinational State of Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa  Rica, Ecuador, 
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.  
 
_______________  
 
 
We, the Ministers of Argentina, Plurinational State of Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa  Rica, 
Ecuador, El  Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay, met in 
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on 2 5 February 2024, at the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference 
(MC13) of the World Trade Organization (WTO):  
 
1. Reaffirm  the "Statement on the Reform of the Multilateral Rules on Agricultural Trade" 
endorsed by our countries at the Twelfth Ministerial Conferen ce of the WTO 
(WT/MIN(22)/17 -JOB/AG/236 ), and recall  the communication submitted to the General Council on 
Food Security through Agricultural Reform ( WT/GC/W/893 ). 
 
2. Welcome  the recent Ministerial meeting of Latin American countries held in Santiago de Chi le 
and the strengthening of coordination among our delegations in Geneva, and reiterate  our 
commitment to work together, with a view to furthering the reform of the multilateral rules on 
agricultural trade at the WTO.  
 
3. Stress  that, in order to address t he international trade challenges we face, it is essential to 
abide by WTO Agreements and strengthen the rules -based multilateral trading system, with the 
WTO at its core.  
 
4. Recall  that one fifth of all the food consumed globally is imported, and that ad dressing food 
insecurity through a balanced and healthy diet is a challenge for all Members.  
 
5. Underscore  that, over the last two decades, the Latin American and Caribbean region, 
composed of developing countries and where the  agricultural sector plays a vital role in sustainable 
development, has accounted for 40% of all net food exports globally, making it t he main supplier of 
safe, nutritious, high -quality and sustainably  produced food for the rest of the world.  
 
6. Express our concern  about the restrictive and potentially discriminatory effect on trade of 
trade -related environmental measures adopted recentl y by some WTO Members. The adoption of a 
unilateral approach to address global issues should be avoided, as should the implementation of 
measures that create unjustified and unnecessary barriers to international trade, and that deepen 
the global food secur ity and nutrition crisis. We agree multilateral cooperation is important in a 
context of multiple global environmental challenges.  
 
7. Regret  the lack of clearer progress, which should be commensurate with the importance of 
agriculture for developing and l east-developed countries, before the opening of MC13. Reform 
pursuant to Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture is imperative for any effective and pragmatic 
WTO response to sustainable development challenges, including global food insecurity.  
 WT/MIN(24)/20  
 
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  8. Emph asize that our countries, especially the smallest and most vulnerable ones, are now 
facing the consequences of agricultural market distortions created by other Members We note the 
opportunity to discuss alternatives to address imports of subsidized products in the context of the 
agriculture negotiations.  
 
9. Recognize  the complexity of the agriculture negotiations and the importance of continuing to 
address these issues as part of the reform stipulated in Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture, 
through ambit ious, holistic and balanced negotiations, taking into account the interests of all 
Members.  
 
10. Call for a decision at MC13 that provides political guidance, technical parameters and 
guidelines for the negotiation process in order to move forward on domes tic support, market access, 
public stockholding for food security purposes, and the Special Safeguard Mechanism for Developing 
Countries.  
 
11. In order to arrive at modalities for the Fourteenth Ministerial Conference (MC14), the following 
elements should be considered:  
 
a. Modalities for a substantial, progressive and gradual reduction in all forms of domestic 
support, including support that allows the concentration of trade -distorting subsidies. 
Efforts  should be proportionate and take into account Members' responsibility for 
distortions in international markets.  
b. Analysis of the Green Box and its criteria, in order to prevent production - and 
trade -distorting effects, bearing in mind the objectives of food security, rural livelihood 
security and environmental protection.  
c. Better market access conditions for food and other agricultural products, with a view to 
creating new and better opportunities in order to produce safe and nutritious food, and to 
foster sustainable and resilient argi -food production systems.  
d. A transparent and effective special safeguard mechanism that takes into account the 
specific needs of developing country Members.  
e. Effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed counties 
that takes into account each Member's realities, needs, capacities and level of 
development.  
f. Alignment of the regulatory framework, bearing in mind the interests and sensitivities of 
all Members, as well as the situation of Members from the region that made wide -ranging 
reduction commitments u pon accession to the WTO.  
12. Recognize  the region's hard work in and contribution to the negotiations in the run -up to 
MC13, and reaffirm  the willingness of the Latin American countries that have endorse d this statement 
to bridge the gaps between the inte rests of all Members, especially developing and least -developed 
countries, in order to adopt comprehensive agriculture modalities at MC14.  
 
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