WT/MIN(24)/W/13  
 
16 February 2024  
(24-1444) Page: 1/6 
Committee on Agriculture  
Special Session   
 
 
DRAFT TEXT ON AGRICULTURE  
Introduction by the Chair of Committee on Agriculture, Special Session  
This document represents my best efforts to reflect, as faithfully as possible, the state of negotiations 
as of 16 February 2024 in a draft text to be submitted to M inisters  in advance of MC13. While 
progress has been achieved in the drafting sessions following the circulation of the first draft text in 
document RD/AG/128  dated 29 January 2024, Members' negotiating positions remain divergent  on 
several issues. Keeping in mind that the whole draft text is bracketed, the brackets shown in this 
document identify the issues where the widest divergence remains. I acknowledge the ongoing 
efforts by Members to narrow the gaps and build convergence t owards an agreed outcome at MC13, 
including by streamlining the text. I remain available to support such efforts.  While this text 
represents my best efforts to help Members in their desire to reach a successful outcome on 
agriculture at MC13, the final out come is dependent on them working together to address the 
outstanding issues and making the necessary compromises.    
 
This draft text should be read in conjunction with document JOB/AG/259  dated 16 February 2024 
containing the compilation of Members' textua l suggestions and annexes presented during the 
discussions on the draft text in RD/AG/128 .  
 
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  WT/MIN(24)/W/13  
 
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[DRAFT TEXT ON AGRICULTURE  
Emphasizing the critical role that a rules -based, non -discriminatory, open, fair, inclusive, equitable 
and transparent multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core can play in addressing 
contemporary challenges faced by the food and agricultural systems includ ing climate change and 
its impacts ;  
 
Expressing our deep concern that the share of people facing hunger in the world was around 9% 
of the global population, concentrated predominantly in developing countries, including least 
developed countries (LDCs), as  recently estimated by the Food and Agriculture Organi zation of the 
United  Nations;  
 
Underscoring our determination to  make progress towards the achievement of a fair, equitable and 
market -oriented agricultural trading system, ending hunger, achieving food  security and improved 
nutrition, promoting sustainable agriculture and food systems , and promoting the adoption of 
resilient agricultural practices that enhance productivity and production in fulfilment of Sustainable 
Development Goal 2 of the United Nati ons, taking into account the interests of small -scale food and 
agriculture producers in developing countries;  
 
Reiterating our commitment to take concrete steps to facilitate trade and improve the functioning 
and long -term resilience of global markets for food and agriculture, with a view to enhancing global 
food security and ensuring that the agriculture sector continues to make a positive contribution to 
addressing contemporary sustainability challenges;  
 
Noting  with concern the limited progress on most agriculture negotiating issues to date, especially 
at the Eleventh and Twelfth Sessions of the Ministerial Conference, and recognizing that much work 
remains to be done to successfully conclude the negotiations;  
 
Recognizing the work undertaken by the Committee on Agriculture (CoA), including under 
paragraph  8 of the Ministerial Declaration on the Emergency Response to Food Insecurity in relation 
to the needs of Least -Developed and Net Food -Importing Developing Countries (NFIDCs);  
 
Reiterating that trade, along with domestic production, plays a vital role in improving global food 
security in all its dimensions and enhancing nutrition; and emphasizing that progress in the 
negotiations will contribute to enhancing global food security;  
 
We, the Ministers, having met in Abu Dhabi from 26 to 29 February 2024 at our Thirteenth Session 
of the Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (MC13), decide accordingly:  
 
1. Members reaffirm their commitment to continue the agriculture negotiations in accordanc e 
with the reform objective of Article  20 of the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) and subsequent 
Ministerial and other Decisions on agriculture. Members shall accordingly make all concerted 
efforts towards achieving tangible progress and balanced outcomes in  the negotiations by the 
Fourteenth Session (MC14).  [Members hereby agree and adopt a permanent solution to the 
issue of public stockholding for food security purposes .] 
 
2. Members acknowledge  the Report prepared by the Chair of the Special Session of the 
Committee on Agriculture (CoA -SS) under his own responsibility1, which summarizes the state 
of play in the negotiations. Members welcome the work done by the CoA -SS as reflected in 
the Chair's Report and commit to revitalize and intensify the negotiations after MC13 on 
outstanding issues. The negotiations shall build on the work undertaken thus far and be based 
on discussions among Members, and their existing and future submissions.  
 
3. Members reiterate the importance of predictable agricultural and input markets  and of 
facilitating trade in these products, including by reducing the time and procedural costs related 
to their importation and exportation, in conformity with WTO agreements. Members may also 
consider  discuss ing the role and impact of trade -restrictive measures, with a view to enhancing 
 
1 Document TN/AG/58 . WT/MIN(24)/W/13  
 
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  their transparency and predictability and minimizing negative consequen ces and risks for 
exporters and importers.  
 
4. Recognizing the acute challenges faced by the most vulnerable Members , while affirming 
Members' right to apply such measures pursuant to existing WTO disciplines, and without 
prejudice to any future outcomes on e xport restrictions , Members agree that  net 
food-exporting Members2 of a specific foodstuff shall, to the extent possible, refrain from 
imposing export prohibitions or restrictions on such foodstuff imported by L DCs [as well as by 
NFIDCs that are net importers of that foodstuff ] for their domestic consumption to ensure 
their current food security needs, taking due account of past levels of imports [from the 
related exporting Member concerned ] [during  a representative period ]/[over X years ]. 
 
5. Members recognize the importance of the implementation of existing notification an d 
transparency obligations under Article  18 of the AoA to provide notifications in a timely, 
complete and comprehensive manner. The WTO Secretariat shall provide technical assistance 
to Members facing capacity constraints in fulfilling their notification a nd transparency 
requirements, at their request.   
 
6. Special and differential treatment for developing countries shall be an integral part of the 
negotiations. LDCs shall be exempted from undertaking reduction commitments.3 The non -
trade concerns of Members  shall be taken into account in the negotiations.  
 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT  
 
7. Members commit to pursue and intensify negotiations on domestic support, including by 
discussing and analysing  all forms of trade -distorting support, with a view to  reducing 
substantially and progressively the most distorting forms of such support in a fair and 
equitable manner and improving disciplines  in accordance with the reform objective in the AoA  
within a reasonable timeframe to be agreed by Members . [Modaliti es shall be agreed and a 
decision adopted by MC14. ] / [Members agree to work toward agreeing modalities at MC14. ]  
 
8. Members' contributions to the reduction effort should  take into account, inter alia , their global 
market participation, the needs of developing Members,  and the interests of exporters and 
concerns of importers; and encourage a shift towards less trade -distorting forms of domestic 
support. Product specific concentration of support should al so be considered.  Modalities should  
reflect different treatment depending on the effects of the support provided.   
 
9. These negotiations shall preserve the special and differential treatment of developing country 
Members and LDCs, including support to low -income or resource -poor farmers , as well as to 
encourage diversification from growing illicit crops.   
 
10. Members are advised to provide the value of production data, including for specific products, 
in their DS:1 notifications to substantiate de minimis  claims. 
 
MARKET ACCESS  
 
11. Members commit to pursue and intensify negotiations on agricultural market access with a 
view to  reducing substantially and progressively protection in a fair and equitable manner to 
improve market access opportunities for all Members and improving  disciplines  in accordance 
with the reform objective in the AoA and within a reasonable timeframe to be agreed by 
Members. [Modalities shall be agreed and a decision adopted by MC14. ] / [Members agree 
to work towards achieving modalities by MC14. ] 
 
12. These negotiations may address tariff reduction and other elements, such as tariff 
simplification, tariff escal ation, high tariffs and tariff peaks, tariff rate quotas, and special 
agricultural safeguards, taking into account exporting Members ' interests and importing 
Members ' sensitivities, including non -trade concerns. Technical discussions on relevant market 
 
2 The L DCs are exempted from the commitment contained in this paragraph.  
3 The situation of r ecently graduated LDCs will be considered . WT/MIN(24)/W/13  
 
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  access elements shall support these negotiations to facilitate a common understanding on the 
elements to be addressed and to facilitate Members ' effective participation in the negotiations.  
 
SSM 
 
13. Pursuant to the Nairobi Ministerial Decision ( WT/MIN(15)/43 –WT/L/978 ), Members shall 
pursue and intensify negotiations in  Dedicated Sessions of the CoA -SS on a special safeguard 
mechanism for developing country Members, as envisaged under paragraph 7 of the Hong 
Kong Ministerial Declaration ( WT/MIN(05)/DEC ), and to which the developing country 
Members will have the right to have recourse under paragraph 1 of the Nairobi Ministerial 
Decision. [Modalities shall be agreed and a decision adopted by MC14. ] / [Members agree to 
work towards achieving modalities by MC14. ] 
 
14. To this end, Members agree to engage in enhanced technical discussions on specific themes 
relevant to the special safeguard mechanism referred  to in paragraph 1 3. Technical elements 
of the existing Special Agricultural Safeg uard instrument in Article 5 of the AoA and the 
experience gained in its implementation since 1995 may also be considered.  
 
15. The General Council shall regularly review progress in these negotiations.  
 
EXPORT PROHIBITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS  
 
16. Members agree to c ontinue discussions on ways to enhance transparency and predictability of 
export prohibitions and restrictions and to improve [the implementation of ] disciplines in 
Article  12 of the AoA and Article XI:2(a) of the GATT 1994. [Members agree to work towards 
achieving tangible outcomes by MC14 .]  
 
17. To this end and taking due consideration of Members ' right to impose export prohibitions and 
restrictions in accordance with WTO rules, Members agree to explore ways in the CoA to review 
the ER:1 notification format specified in G/AG/2  to facilitate timely access to clear and relevant  
information by Members having a substantial interest as importers, taking into account the 
capacity constraints of developing country Members. The discussions shall take into account 
the interests of all Members, with particular attention paid to the need s of LDCs and NFIDCs. 
These discussions may include elements such as clarifying relevant terms in Article 12 of the 
AoA and Article XI:2(a) of the GATT 1994, and considering factual information and data as 
appropriate.  
 
EXPORT COMPETITION  
 
18. Members reaffirm their commitment to ensure an effective implementation and monitoring of 
the Nairobi Ministerial Decision on Export Competition (WT/MIN(15)/45 -WT/L/980 ), including 
by reviewing and exploring ways in the CoA to update the existing transp arency requirements , 
and by making best efforts to improve the response rate to the export competition 
questionnaire, taking due account of the capacity constraints of developing country Members.  
 
19. Members agree  to continue  negotiations to enhance disciplines on export credits, export credit 
guarantees or insurance programmes, agricultural exporting state trading enterprises and 
international food aid as may be necessary to ensure that these measures do not result in a 
circumvention of export subsidy elimination commitments and to prevent non -commercial 
transactions from being used to circumvent such commitments. [Members agree to work 
towards making  tangible progress in these negotiations and make appropriate decisions as 
necessary by MC14, building on the evidence amassed during the annual review s undertaken 
in the CoA. ] 
 
20. Special consideration shall be given to the needs and circumstances of least -developed and 
net food -importing developing countries, including by exploring ways to enhance the 
transparency of the implementation of the Nairobi Decision on Export Competition in relation 
to the specific provisions therein for LDCs and NFIDCs on export credits, export credit 
guarantees or insurance programmes and international fo od aid.   
 
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  COTTON TRADE -RELATED COMPONENT  
 
21. Members undertake to pursue and intensify negotiations on cotton trade -related measures 
based on Members' submissions, and pursuant to the cotton -related elements of the Hong 
Kong Ministerial Declaration ( WT/MIN(05)/DEC ), as complemented by the Bali Cotton 
Ministerial Decision ( WT/MIN(13)/41 -WT/L/916 ), and the Nairobi Cotton Ministerial Decision 
(WT/MIN(15)/46 -WT/L/981 ) to address it ambitiously, expeditiously and specifically within 
the agriculture negotiations. These negotiations shall seek to reduce substantially and 
progressively the most trade -distorting domestic support for cotton. [Specific modalities [on 
domestic support ] shall be agreed, and a decision adopted by MC14 .] / [Members agree to 
work toward agreeing specific modalities [on domestic support ] at MC14 .] 
 
22. The negotiations shall also seek to significantly reduce market access barriers, pursuant to 
the Ministerial outcomes listed in paragraph  21, for cotton -producing and exporting LDCs.  
Members are encouraged to open their markets allowing greater purchases of cotton products 
and byproducts from cotton -producing LDCs, including through the offer of duty -free quota -
free market access.  
 
23. Members undertake to continue efforts aimed at enhancing transparency and monitoring of 
cotton -related trade measure s affecting the global cotton market through the Dedicated 
Discussions on Cotton held on a bi -annual basis, as mandated by paragraphs 5, 6 and 7 of 
the Bali Ministerial Decision on Cotton ( WT/MIN(13)/41 -WT/L/916 ) and confirmed in 
paragraph 14 of the Na irobi Ministerial Decision on Cotton ( WT/MIN(15)/46 -WT/L/981 ). 
Members reaffirm the need to respect their notification obligations in the context of the 
required transparency.  
 
COTTON DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE COMPONENT  
 
24. Members reaffirm that development -related aspects of cotton shall be addressed as provided 
for in paragraph 12 of the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration ( WT/MIN(05)/DEC ) and 
paragraphs  10, 11, 12 and 13 of the Nairobi Ministerial Decision ( WT/MIN(15)/46 -WT/L/981 ). 
 
25. Members reiterate their commitment to the rules -based multilateral trading system, which 
strengthens the possible synergies between trade in cotton, productive investment and 
development assistance for LDCs. They recognize the need for an inclusive partner ship that 
makes cooperation and negotiations the preferred instruments for finding the most 
appropriate solutions to the considerable systemic and cyclical challenges faced by cotton -
producing and exporting LDCs, in particular the C -4 countries.  
 
26. Members u nderscore the central role of the WTO Director -General's Consultative Mechanism 
on Cotton as an international forum of reference bringing together the various stakeholders 
of the global cotton community (public and private sectors, and multilateral agencie s) and as 
an effective multilateral consultation platform for the development of cotton -producing and 
exporting LDCs. As such, they agree to coordinate cotton development assistance 
interventions, follow up on completed and ongoing projects, and use this p latform to attract 
and mobilize further investment with a view to promoting and supporting the production, 
processing and marketing of cotton and its by -products in LDCs.  
 
27. Members welcome the initiatives undertaken with development partners over recent yea rs 
such as partner conferences, World Cotton Day, or [WTO-FIFA Memorandum ] / [Memoranda 
of Understanding signed by the WTO ], aimed at better integrating the cotton sector of LDCs, 
in particular the C -4 countries, in global value chains for value -added prod ucts deriving from 
cotton and its byproducts, and encourage all development partners to intensify their efforts in 
this perspective.  
 
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  PUBLIC STOCKHOLDING FOR FOOD SECURITY PURPOSES (PSH)  
 
28. [Pursuant to the Bali Ministerial Decision ( WT/MIN(13)/38 -WT/L/913 ), the General Council 
Decision ( WT/L/939 ), and Nairobi Ministerial Decision ( WT/MIN(15)/44 -WT/L/979 ), Members 
adopt a permanent solution as set out in Annex […] to this Decision. ] 
 
OR 
 
28. [Pursuant to Bali Ministerial Decision ( WT/MIN(13)/38 -WT/L/913 ), the General Council 
Decision ( WT/L/939 ), and the Nairobi Ministerial Decision ( WT/MIN(15)/44 -WT/L/979 ), 
Members undertake to pursue and intensify negotiations on PSH in Dedicated Sessions of the 
CoA-SS and agree and adopt a permanent solution on the issue of public stockholding for food 
security purposes by MC14, which shall be avai lable to all developing country Members. Public 
stockholding programmes shall not distort trade or adversely affect the food security of other 
Members.  
 
29. The negotiations for a permanent solution shall pay particular attention to the food security 
challenge s of LDCs and NFIDCs, and consider all relevant issues, including domestic food 
security targets of the programmes; product coverage; safeguards and anti -circumvention, 
including with respect to exports; transparency; and legal certainty. They shall also c onsider 
the impact of inflation on calculations of the Aggregate Measurement of Support.4]   
 
30. [Taking into account the acute food security challenges and vulnerabilities of developing 
country Members, in particular LDCs [and NFIDCs ], Members agree to exte nd, until [MC14 ], 
the Bali Interim Solution established by the Ministerial Decision of 7 December 2013 
(WT/MIN(13)/38 -WT/L/913 ) and the General Council Decision of 27 November 2014 
(WT/L/939 ) to public stockholding programmes for food security purposes of LDC s [and 
NFIDCs that are net importers of the product concerned ] enacted after 7 December 2013. The 
General Council shall regularly review progress in these negotiations. ]  
 
[TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION ] 
 
[…]]  
 
 
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4 This could involve considering eligible production and reviewing the external reference price in the 
broader context  of domestic support negotiations.