./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(03)/W/101
5 September 2003
(03-4654)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Fifth Session
Cancún, 10-14 September 2003Original:  English
JOINT TEXT BY DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, HONDURAS,
NICARAGUA AND PANAMA
Agriculture
Communication from Honduras, Nicar agua, Panama and Dominican Republic
The following communication, dated 3 September 2003, has been received by the Chairman
of the General Council from the Permanent Mission of Honduras.
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On behalf of the Delegations of Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Dominican Republic, I
hereby request that the document Job(03)/164, dated 20 August 2003, be submitted as an official
document at the Fifth Ministerial Conference to be held in Cancún from 10 to 14 September 2003.
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We propose the following approach on market access to guide negotiations on modalities,
including provisions on special and differential treatment as required by paragraph 14 of the DMD.
We reserve our right to further elaborate on the areas of domestic support and export competition at a
latter stage.
1. MARKET ACCESS
The Doha Declaration calls for "substantial improvements in market access".  Negotiations
should therefore provide increased access opportunities, in particular for the developing countries
most in need and take account of the importance of existing and future preferential access for
developing countries.
To achieve this, commitments shall be based on the following parameters:
1.1 The formula applicable for tariff reduction in developed countries shall be a blended formula
under which each element will contribute to substantial improvement in market access.  Theformula shall be as follows:
(i) []% of tariff lines subject to a []% average tariff cut and a minimum of []%;  for these
import-sensitive tariff lines market access increase will result from a combination of
tariff cuts and TRQs;
(ii) []% of tariff lines subject to a Swiss formula coefficient [];
                                                     
1 The text reproduced below was previously circulated as JOB(03)/164.WT/MIN(03)/W/10
Page 2
(iii) []% of tariff lines shall be duty-free.
1.2 For the tariff lines that exceed a maximum of []% Members shall either reduce them to that
maximum, or ensure effective additional market access through a request : offer process that couldinclude TRQs.
1.3 In applying tariff reduction commitments, where the tariff on a processed product is higher
than the tariff for the product in its primary form, the rate of reduction for the processed product shall
be equivalent to that for the product in its primary form multiplied, at a minimum, by a factor of [].
1.4 The use of the special agricultural safeguard (SSG) remains under negotiation.1.5 All developed countries will seek to provide duty-free access for at least []% of imports from
developing countries through a combination of MFN and preferential access.
Special and differential treatment1.6 The formula applicable for tariff reduction in developing countries shall be as follows:
(i) []% average cut and a minimum cut of []%
 per tariff line substantially lower and in no
case more than half the reduction targets specified in 1.1(i);
(ii) developing countries shall not be required to expand tariff quota volumes.  Neither
will they be required to reduce the intra-quota tariff.
1.7 Having regard to their development, food/livelihood security and rural development concerns,
developing countries shall have the flexibility to self-designate a []% of tariff lines as
Strategic/Special products, which shall be exempt from tariff reductions.
1.8 A Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM) shall be established for use by all developing
countries.
2. OTHER SPECIAL AND DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT PROVISIONS
Provisions on special and differential treatment for developing countries shall be established
as an integral part of all elements of the negotiations on the basis of the Chairman's Overview Paper
(TN/AG/6) of 18 December 2002 and the revised first Draft (TN/AG/W/1/Rev.l) of 18 March 2003
including in the areas of domestic support and export competition. In particular, the following
elements shall constitute an integral part of modalities:
- Provisions under Article 6.2 of the Agreement on Agriculture shall be expanded.- Provisions under Article 9.4 shall continue.
- In accordance with paragraph 4 of the Decision concerning the possible negative
effects of the reform programme on Least-Developed (LDCs) and Net Food-
Importing Developing Countries (NFIDCs), appropriate provisions for differential
treatment for these countries shall be includ ed in the modalities related to agricultural
export credits.
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