JOB/AG/198  
 
20 May 2021  
(21-4236) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Agriculture  
Special Session  Original: English  
 
 
FRAMEWORK FOR NEGOTIATIONS ON MARKET ACCESS  
COMMUNICATION FROM ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, ECUADOR, PARAGUAY, UKRAINE AND URUGUAY  
The following communication, dated 17 May 2021, is being circulated at the request of the 
aforementioned Members.  
 
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Recalling  the long -term objective in the preamble of the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) "to 
establish a fair and market -oriented agricultural trading system ", and to "provide for substantial 
progressive reductions  in agricultural support and protection (…), resulting in correcting and 
preventing restrictions and distortions in world agricultural markets ";  
 
Recognizing  that Article 20 of the AoA mandates the continuation of the reform process and the 
consideration of what further commitments are necessary to achieve the long -term objectives set 
out in its preamble ; 
 
Acknowledging  the need to progressively move towards l evelling the playing field for international 
trade in agricultural goods;  
 
Emphasizing  the importance of transparency for the continuation of the reform process and the vital 
role notifications play in informing other Members about agricultural policies being implemented;  
 
Members agree on the following principles underlying the negotiation  of new disciplines on the pillar 
of market access : 
 
1. Members commit to reduce tariff barriers and substantially  increase market access for 
agricultural goods [within 10 years]. Negotiations shall start [no later than 2022].  
 
2. With the aim of achieving this goal, Members shall negotiate new disciplines [by MC13]. These 
negotiations shall take into account all elemen ts within  this pillar that will result in improved and 
less restrictive market access conditions.1 
 
3. The contribution  by individual  Members  in these  reductions  will need to be proportionate  to 
Members'  level of tariff barriers,  market  access  concessions  as well as their patterns  of 
participation  and potential  impact  in the global  agriculture  markets,  taking  into account  
individual  Members ' needs.  
 
4. Flexibilities, when appropriate, may include, inter alia , the development of options for cuts across 
the different elements of the market access pillar and across other pillars.  
 
5. The implementation of the future disciplines on market access shall take into account Members ' 
needs for sequencing with domestic support.  
 
 
1 Including, but not limited to, the development of modalities that will allow for further cuts in bound 
rates, substantial reduction of tariff peaks and tariff overhang, tariff simplification, narrowing of existing gaps 
in tariff rates between processed and raw agricultural goods and the revision tariff -rate quotas.  JOB/AG/198  
 
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  6. Members will show the utmost restraint in  the use of non -tariff barriers in order to preserve 
market access conditions and not undermine future concessions, upholding the principles and 
obligations set out in the relevant WTO Agreements, such as the SPS and TBT Agreements.  
 
7. To ensure transparency for the implementation of market access reform, all efforts must be 
made to comply with current notification obligations under this pillar.  
 
 
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