. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/AG/NG/W/67
28 November 2000
(00-5103)
Committee on Agriculture
Special SessionOriginal:  English
FOURTH SPECIAL SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
15-17 NOVEMBER 2000
Statement by Grenada on behalf of CARICOM
Note on Non-Trade Concerns (G/AG/NG/W/36/Rev.1)
Grenada on behalf of a number of CARICOM countries and without prejudice to the other
submissions which we will offer on this important subject wish to lend its support to the proposal
G/AG/NG/36/Rev.1.  We consider the proposal a thoughtful one which contributes a great deal to an
understanding of the diverse non-trade concern maintained by all Members and particularly so for
developing and least-developed countries.
CARICOM is particularly drawn to and identifies quite closely with the particular NTCs
raised in the Discussion Paper Five. Rev 1, which very accurately reflects the importance of NTCssuch as food security, the particular concerns of countries and regions transitioning from preferential
trading arrangements, rural development in all its dimensions and ecological and environmental
diversity, among others.
CARICOM countries are drawn to the concept of  flexibility, beyond the measures contained
in the "Green Box", particularly for developing and least-developed countries as a means of
addressing their particular and very genuine NTCs in agriculture.  We believe that the measuresdeveloped to give expression to the NTCs in continuing the reform process, must take account of the
ability of developing countries to apply these measures, while simultaneously advancing the process
of fundamental reform of the agricultural tradin g system.  In this regard, the CARICOM countries
look forward to working with other Members in defining measures which are sufficiently flexible to
accommodate the particular non-trade circumstances of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), NetFood-Importing Developing Countries  (NFIDCs) and as well, countries transitioning from trade
preferences.
CARICOM shall itself be advancing its own proposals in respect to their own non-trade
concerns, we wish however to commend the fr amers of this proposal which includes many
CARICOM countries.  We believe that the proposal holds tremendous currency and could serve as a
good basis for advancing the reform process - in a manner which at least holds the potential of
ensuring that the benefits which accrue from the strengthening of the agricultural trading system
results in benefits to all Members, developed and developing alike.
Finally, CARICOM as a group wishes to enjoin the requests of Barbados, an important
Member of its rank and India in requesting the assistance of the Secretariat in the following areas:
(i) conduct an inventory of the various non-trade concerns identified by Members so far
in the process;
(ii) assistance to developing countries in identifying the provisions of the Agreement on
Agriculture which address the specific NTCs identifed by them;  andG/AG/NG/W/67
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(iii) undertake a summary of the various elements of NTCs, or specific NTCs as identified
by Members so far in the process, which are not at present adequately provided for in
the Agreement on Agriculture.
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