./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/GC/W/287
4 August 1999
(99-3282)
General Council Original:  English
PREPARATIONS FOR THE 1999 MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Negotiations on Agriculture
Objectives for the Agriculture Negotiations:  Market Access
Communication from the United States
The following communication, dated 27 July 1999, has been received from the Permanent
Mission of the United States.
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Proposal
1. That the objective  for the WTO negotiations on agricultural market access be to maximize
improvements in market access opportunities and to make more uniform the structure of tariff
bindings for all WTO Members.  WTO Members agree that a variety of approaches will be necessary
to ensure that this objective is met and agree that modalities will need to be developed to achieve:
- lower tariff rates and bind them, including, but not limited to zero/zero initiatives for
agriculture;
- expanded market access opportunities for products subject to tariff rate quotas
(TRQs);
- reductions in the disparity between applied and bound tariff rates;
- simplification of complex tariff regimes;
- greater certainty and transparency in the operation of tariff regimes;- disciplines governing administration of TRQs and transparency and competition for
import STEs;  and
- improved market access through a variety of means to the benefit of least-developed
Members by all other WTO Members.
2. As noted in WT/GC/W/186, on the Objective and Overall Framework for the Agriculture
Negotiations, WTO Members should agree to present proposals on specific modalities for the
agricultural market access negotiations beginning in January 2000 and agree that each WTO Member
will table a comprehensive offer following agreed parameters no later than y date.   WTO MembersWT/GC/W/287
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will task the WTO Secretariat through the Committee on Market Access and Committee on
Agriculture to develop, no later than  x date, data profiles and analyses to assist Members in the
negotiations.
Background3. Tariffs remain excessive on too many agricultural products in too many countries.  This
threatens to effectively exempt agriculture from WTO disciplines despite progress made in the
Uruguay Round.  In some instances tariffs are applied at levels below the bound rates and may
operate under tariff regimes that appear complex, non-transparent and discriminatory.  The upcoming
negotiations should improve and expand market access opportunities by lowering bound tariff rates to
eliminate the disparities between applied and bound rates.  Negotiations should ensure that the market
access results provide greater certainty and transparency in the operation of tariff regimes.
4. Administration of TRQs has proven to be challenging for importing countries and
troublesome for exporting countries.  Existing rules do not always provide adequate guidance or
discipline for TRQ administration.  Monopoly import authorities have the ability to restrict or
otherwise distort trade in several ways.  This authority, and other purchasing and marketing practices,
may act to raise domestic prices and impair market access opportunities for other Members.
5. The United States supports further market access negotiations in the WTO that will
complement the mandated negotiations that will be launched in services and agriculture.
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