. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/L/411
31 August 2001
(01-4176)
Original:  English/
French
SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE
INTERNATIONAL PARLIAMENTARIANS' ASSOCIATION
FOR AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES (IPAAF)
Seoul, Republic of Korea
11-13 June 2001
Communication from Korea
The following Joint Communiqué has been received from the Permanent Mission of the
Republic of Korea, with the request that it be circulated to Members.
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JOINT COMMUNIQUE
The Second General Assembly of the International Parliamentarians' Association for
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (IPAAF) was held in Seoul, Republic of Korea, from 11 to 13
June 2001, with delegates from 35 delegations attending (including 8 observing delegations).∗
The IPAAF, conscious that the World Trade Or ganization (WTO) negotiations on agriculture
greatly influence global agriculture, stressing that the current WTO negotiations should be
constructive, unanimously adopted the following Joint Communiqué regarding the basic direction ofthe WTO negotiations on agriculture.
1. The International Parliamentarians' Association for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
(IPAAF) endeavors to establish an equitable trading order among all member countries of the WTO,
and particularly makes efforts to harmoniously coordinate the various different views amongexporters and importers of agricultural products.
2. The WTO negotiations should contribute to the sustainable development of the various types
of agriculture.  Because the policy objectives and agriculture production conditions are different in
each country, rather than a uniform solution that can be applied to all countries, it would be more
desirable to seek for a practical solution that can be flexibly applied according to the circumstances of
each country.
                                                     
∗ Participating countries:  Argentina, Belgium,  Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Congo, Costa Rica, El
Salvador, Gabon, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Keny a, Korea, Mexico, Morocco , Netherlands, Papua New
Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland and Turkey.  Observers:
Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Hungary, Pakistan, Russia, Thailand and Tunisia.WT/L/411
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3. Agricultural reform is recognized to be a co mmon goal that should be accomplished through
an on-going process.  In this context, the current negotiations should seek to establish relevant
measures that make it possible to practically and gradually implement reforms, rather than attempt to
eliminate all the existing problems of agricultural trade at once.
4. In the ongoing negotiations, the experiences of each country in implementing the Uruguay
Round Agreement should be taken fully into consideration.
5. The results of the WTO negotiations should achieve a balance between trade concerns and
non-trade concerns that reflect social objectives.  In particular, the negotiations should devise concrete
measures within the framework of sustainable development to deal with such non-trade concerns as
food security and safety, consumer information, environment preservation and rural development,
which are common issues to humankind and are of concern to both developed and developing
countries.
6. Further liberalization of agricultural trade should contribute to the economic growth of both
developed and developing countries.  In particular, it must be recognized that agriculture in
developing countries is a life industry that is essential for food security, poverty alleviation and
employment creation.
7. International cooperation such as financial and technical assistance should be strengthened to
assist developing countries in improving food security and promoting rural and agricultural
development and the ecology.
8. The WTO should reflect the interests of civil society, and governments participating in the
negotiations should consult with the civil society.
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