JOB/AG/191  
 
17 December 2020  
(20-9147) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Agriculture  
Special Session    
 
REPORT BY AMB. GLORIA ABRAHAM PERALTA,  CHAIR OF THE COA SPECIAL SESSION,  
TO THE INFORMAL TNC AND HODS MEETING  
14 DECEMBER 2020  
1.   I would like to report today on the recent developments on process and substance.  
 
2.   Further to my announcement in October, I initiated a topic -by-topic Facilitators ' led process  to 
complement the work carried out in the CoA  Special Session . Its main objective is to contribute to 
making progress on the various topics by assisting the Chair with technica l work in order to improve 
understanding of different issues and concerns, narrow gaps and identify potential options.  
 
3.   All Facilitators have already held numerous consultations and have reported on their work at the 
CoA S pecial Session  meetings on 10 Nove mber and 7 December. Let me thank again all the 
Facilitators for their remarkable work and dedication.   
 
4.   I also took note of the fact that time is required to undertake this technical work, notably for 
small delegations, and for Capitals to take stock of the discussions, prepare inputs and pursue their 
post COVID -19 assessment.   
 
5.   Some Members also mentioned the possible linkages between topics that cannot be addressed 
in this format and the need to prioritize the topics to avoid dispersing the efforts. While I agree, it 
also seems to me that more technical work is needed to mature the issues before we can get to that 
stage.  
 
6.   This process will be evaluated and adapted as needed in early 2021 and its timetable will depend 
on the date of MC12.   
 
7.   Turning to substance.  As you know, Singapore,  and many co -sponsors , submitted a draft General 
Council Decision (WT/GC/W/810/Rev.2  - TN/AG/46/Rev.2) suggesting exempting from export 
restrictions food purchases for humanitarian purposes b y the World Food Programme. This 
submission is accompanied by a communication also from Singapore (WT/GC/811  - TN/AG/47), and 
is, of course, on the agenda of the General Council this week.  
 
8.   A lot of work has been done on this issue, including an open -ended  meeting organized by the 
Facilitator on 26 November. I also invited, at the suggestion of Mali, the FAO and the WFP to provide 
updated information on the impact of COVID -19 on food insecurity at the November CoA S pecial 
Session  meeting. The humanitarian c onsequences of the COVID -19 crisis , as well as the fact that 
WFP was granted the Nobel Peace Pri ze, have clearly re -energized the discussions in this domain.  
 
9.   Following the CoA S pecial Session  meeting on 7 December and subsequent exchanges between 
Members,  I held a consultation on 11 December with a group of proponents and Members and Group 
Coordinators to help Members better understand each other's position and to facilitate convergence 
building . Following this consultation, the Facilitator circulated this  morning at my request to the 
whole Membership an informal working document attempting to reflect various drafting suggestions 
made thus far by some Members to the original text.  
 
10.   The other issues covered under Export Restrictions relate to transparency an d clarification 
elements with a view to enhancing their monitoring. On these issues, which have also attracted 
renewed interest, further written contributions are expected.  
 JOB/AG/191  
 
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  11.   Regarding other issues, Domestic Support remains the key priority for virtually al l Members 
who all want an outcome on this issue at MC12. However, divisions remain. Many Members support 
the Framework proposal by Cairns Group members, while other Members would like to address the 
imbalances in the Agreement on Agriculture first, notably  by gradually eliminating AMS above 
de minim is. There are also suggestions to use some of the pre -MC11 proposals as a basis for an 
outcome. In short, the topic will still require more technical work and notably more political will. It 
is therefore very timely that Canada presented an update of its ana lytical tool (JOB/AG/190) that 
includes valuable data and can be used by Members for technical work.  
 
12.   PSH remains a crucial topic, the COVID -19 crisis having brought again more attention to this 
issue. There have been renewed calls to find a Permanent Sol ution by MC12. The Facilitator will be 
focusing notably on the scope, transparency, safeguards and monitoring. He also proposed a list of 
questions for Members to reflect on during the year -end break.  
 
13.   On the SSM, the proponents have renewed their demand f or an outcome in the wake of the 
COVID -19 pandemic based on broader food security objectives. While acknowledging the 
fundamental issue of linkage s between Market Access and the SSM, the Facilitator has initiated work 
with a view to developing a common und erstanding on the numerous technical parameters that a n 
SSM would entail.  
 
14.   Members continue to attach importance to pursue reforms in the Market Access pillar. However, 
in view of a lesser attention and priority accorded currently to deepen core Market Access 
commitments , as well as for reasons of an overall balance, recent discussions have focused mainly 
on a transparency outcome – such as goods en route – considered by many as important for 
"trust-building ". 
 
15.   On Export Competition, the Facilitator noted that some Members had continued to stress that 
additional transparency requirements would be difficult due to resource constraints . She therefore 
decided to explore ways to address such concerns which would enlist the support of the Secretariat, 
noting the  possible complementarity with the work of the regular Committee on Agriculture.  
 
16.   On Cotton, the main development was the announcement that the C4 had prepared a draft text 
on transparency that – once available – will serve as a starting point to initiate technical discussions 
in the Quad Plus context.  
 
17.   Finally, the importance of enhancing transparency as a cross -cutting issue in the agriculture 
negotiations  was reiterated by some Members, including with the prospect of a new submission.  
 
18.   To conclude, I would say that after the sudden halt in the negotiation process this Spring, work 
has now fully resumed and the intensity of work is very encouraging.  
 
19.   Members continue to emphasize the importance of an agricultural outcome at MC12 for the 
reform and to preserve the credibility and relevance of the Organization.   
 
20.   Our challenge in 2021 will , therefore , be to build consensus for an ambitious and balanced 
agricultural outcome for MC12. This will require your support and engagement.  
 
21.   The next CoA S pecial Session  meeting is scheduled on 5 February 202 1. 
 
 
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