WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/L/559
23 December 2003
(03-6754)
Original:  English
G-20 MINISTERIAL COMMUNIQUÉ
Communication from Brazil
The following communication, dated 15 December 2003, from the Delegation of Brazil is
being circulated to Members.
_______________
G-20 MINISTERIAL COMMUNIQUÉ
The G-20 Ministerial Meeting was held in Brasília on 11 and 12 December in order to
exchange views and coordinate positions on how to proceed with agricultural negotiations and on how
to achieve progress in the Doha Round. Delegation s from the following countries attended the
meeting hosted by Brazil: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, China, Cuba, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico,
Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Sout h Africa, Tanzania, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.  A
representative from Ecuador also attended the meeting. CARICOM was also represented in the
meeting.
WTO Director-General Supachai Panitchpakdi and European Union’s Trade Commissioner
Pascal Lamy met with the G-20 Ministers, as special guests.
The G-20 engaged in a constructive dialogue with the WTO Director-General Supachai on
how to move forward the negotiations in the light of the discussions in Geneva and that the DG has
maintained with several major players.  The G-20 also had a positive and open dialogue with Trade
Commissioner Pascal Lamy, of the European Union, on  the respective positions on agriculture with a
view to consider new possible approaches to make progress in the negotiations.
Ministers reiterated the importance they attach to the WTO and to the multilateral rules-based
trading system.  In particular, they reaffirmed their commitment to the successful and timely
completion of the Doha Development Agenda based on the fulfilment of the mandate agreed to duringthe IV WTO Ministerial Conference. A successful conclusion of the negotiations will promote growth
in world trade and a more positive integration of developing countries in the multilateral trading
system.
G-20 Ministers called on all WTO Members to approach upcoming negotiations with an open
spirit and readiness to reach consensus that will pave the way for an effective liberalization of
agricultural trade capable of reflecting the needs and sensitivities of developing countries and the
interests of the international community as a whole.
The negotiations on agriculture are central to move the Doha Round to a successful and
timely conclusion.  Trade in agricultural products continues to be hindered by all sorts of barriers and
distortions.  True liberalization in agricultural trade and reform that address these barriers andWT/L/559
Page 2
distortions would be a major contribution to the development objectives of the Round.  Furthermore,
this will assist in dealing with the deterioration of commodity prices.  The elimination of barriers and
distortions in agricultural trade could also cont ribute to the economic transformation, reduction of
poverty and the promotion of social and political stability in developing countries.
Ministers highlighted that, by bringing toge ther developing countries from Africa, the
Americas and Asia, with different agricultural structures and orientations within a common
negotiating platform, the G-20 has substantially contributed to making the WTO process more
inclusive.  The G-20 is prepared to continue to play an important role in that respect and to extend its
cooperation with other groups.  The Ministers also called on WTO Members to give effective and
substantive consideration to the concerns of LDCs – as expressed before and since Cancún.
Ministers recognized the situation faced by countries dependent on preferences and, under
conditions to be determined in the negotiation, are open to consider approaches to deal with this
matter.
Ministers took note of the Cairo Declaration adopted at the Mini-Ministerial Meeting of
African countries which recognizes the large area s of convergence between the African Group and the
G-20.  They felt that closer cooperation between the two groups should be pursued.  Ministers
underlined the economic, social and political importance of cotton for a large number of African
countries.  They called upon WTO Members to think in innovative ways to address this problem
within the Doha mandate.
The G-20 is a coalition of countries, which has been formed to address the concerns of its
members that are also common to most developing countries relating to:
- the elimination of practices that distort agricultural trade and production;- the search for substantial improvement in market access; and- the rural development, food security and/or livelihood security needs.Note was taken of the Chairman of the General Council’s consultations in line with the
Ministerial Conference instructions.  The prospect for an agreement, however, continues to eludeWTO Members.  In agriculture, in particular, Ministers underlined that the only way for a successful
outcome of the discussions is to achieve a fair basis for the negotiations, which neither pre-determines
their outcome, nor implies a reduction in the level of ambition of the Doha mandate.
Ministers reiterated the need to preserve the integrity of the Doha Development Agenda and
emphasized that any reinterpretation or dilution of the mandate would affect the delicate balance
among the various negotiating fronts and would jeopardize the development focus of the work
programme.
The G-20 took note that the text contained in  document JOB (03)/150/Rev. 2 was the subject
of extensive consultations and concerns expressed by many delegations, especially from this Group.
The G-20 insists that, in the process of reaching agreement on a final set of modalities, the level of
ambition of the Doha mandate remains the guiding principle of the negotiations.  In such a process,
any framework in order to be viable should be co nsistent with the Doha mandate, and lead to the
establishment of modalities capable of ensuring th at negotiations in agriculture would result in
substantial reductions in domestic support, substantial increase in market access, phasing-out of all
forms of export subsidies and operational and effective special and differential treatment that takes
into account rural development and food security concerns of developing countries.  Moreover, the
particular concerns of recently acceded Members should also be effectively addressed in this context.WT/L/559
Page 3
The G-20 is ready to contribute to the success of the Doha Round in general and, in the area
of agriculture, in particular.  The biggest trading countries, which are responsible for the main
distortions in agricultural trade, should set the ex ample, as to permit further strides in the attainment
of the long-term objective of a fair and market-oriented agricultural trading system.
Reaffirming their engagement in the trade ne gotiations and pledging their support to the
efforts undertaken by the Chairman of the General Council and by the WTO Director General,
Ministers emphasized their willingness to contribut e to the prompt resumption of the talks in the
negotiating bodies so as to permit progress to be achieved during 2004, with a view to completing the
Round within its original timeframe, as any delay will  come to the detriment of developing countries,
LDCs and all WTO membership.  It is the view of the Group that this will require intensification of
the negotiations as of early 2004.
Ministers instructed their representatives in Geneva to develop a work programme for the
Group based on the discussions held in Brasília and on this communiqué.
Ministers agreed to meet again whenever necessary to consider progress in the agriculture
negotiations and to coordinate the G-20 positions.  They considered that the next meeting could be
held on the occasion of UNCTAD XI in June 2004, or at an earlier date, should progress in the
negotiations so warranted.
Brasília, 12 December 2003.
__________