WT/MIN(22)/W/19  
 
10 June 2022 
(22-4438) Page: 1/3 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 202 2  
 
 
DRAFT MINISTERIAL DECISION ON AGRICULTURE  
The Ministerial Conference , 
 
Having regard to paragraph  1 of Article IX of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade 
Organization;  
 
Recalling the long -term objective to establish a fair and market -oriented agricultural trading system 
and to provide for substantial progressive reductions in agricultural support and protection sustained 
over an agreed period of time, resulting in correcting and preventing restrictions and d istortions in 
world agricultural markets as stated in the Preamble of the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA);  
 
Having regard  that special and differential treatment is an integral part of the agriculture 
negotiations as stated in the Preamble of the AoA;  
 
Considering the importance of further levelling the playing field for global agricultural trade in order 
to realize the full potential of the agricultural reform process;  
 
Recognizing  the role that a fair and market -oriented agricultural trading system plays i n supporting 
progress towards the targets set out under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, 
including to end poverty and hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, promote 
sustainable agriculture and food systems, implement resilie nt agricultural practices, enhance 
productivity and product ion, and strengthen the policy response to climate change and natural 
disasters through both mitigation and adaptation actions;  
 
Taking note of  the achievements in the negotiations to date, as wel l as the need to make further 
progress in order to fulfil existing mandates relevant to the agriculture negotiations, as set out in 
Article 20 of the AoA, and the Bali and Nairobi Ministerial Decisions , to achieve a balanced outcome .  
 
Decides  as follows:  
 
1. We commit to continue our negotiations to  establish a fair and market -oriented agriculture 
trading system by  reducing support and protection progressively and substantially in achieving 
meaningful reform , bearing in mind  all existing negotiat ing mandates . We reaffirm that special 
and differential treatment for developing countries is an integral part of all the negotiating 
topics listed below . Particular consideration shall be given to the needs of least -developed and 
net food -importing develo ping countries. Non -trade concerns, including food security and the 
protection of the environment shall also be taken into account in all areas of these 
negotiations.  
 
2. We resolve  to intensify our negotiations on the topics listed below, with a view to  achieving  
modalities and other outcomes  by the Thirteenth Session of the Ministerial Conference (MC13) . 
These negotiations shall build on progress made thus far in the negotiations under the auspices 
of the Special Session of the Committee on Agriculture (CoA -SS), including in dedicated 
sessions, and Members' existing and future submissions. Technical discussions shall support 
the negotiations to facilitate informed participation by all Members.  
 WT/MIN(22)/W/19  
 
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  Domestic Support   
3. We shall continue comprehensive negotiations o n domestic support after MC12, in particular, 
to substantially reduce trade -distorting domestic support and to improving all disciplines, 
within a reasonable timeframe to be agreed by Members, in accordance with the reform 
programme provided for in Article  20 of the AoA and the modalities that will be agreed and 
adopted by MC13.  
 
4. Unless otherwise provided, Members' contributions to the outcomes of these negotiations will 
be determined according to modalities to be agreed by Members post -MC12. In this respec t, 
the needs of low -income or resource -poor farmers in developing countries shall be taken into 
account in these negotiations.  
 
Public Stockholding for Food Security Purposes1 
5. Recalling the Ministerial Decision of 7 December 2013 (WT/MIN(13)/38 - WT/L/91 3), the 
General Council Decision of 27 November 2014 (WT/L/939) and the Ministerial Decision of 
21 December 2015 (WT/MIN(15)/44 - WT/L/979), and recognizing the importance attached 
to public stockholding programmes for food security purposes by many develo ping country 
Members, including least developed and net food importing developing countries and the food 
security of other Members, we undertake to continue our negotiations and work towards 
agreeing and adopting  a permanent solution to the PSH issue by MC 13. 
 
6. These comprehensive negotiations shall consider, inter alia,  an assessment of the external 
reference price2, programme and product coverage, limits on public stockholding 
programmes, transparency and safeguards/anti -circumvention, and legal certainty.  
 
7. The negotiations shall continue to be held in dedicated sessions of the CoA -SS. The General 
Council shall regu larly review progress on the basis of reports provided by the CoA -SS. 
 
Market Access  
8. We shall continue negotiations on market access after MC12 with a view to improving 
substantially and progressively agricultural market access opportunities for all Members within 
a timeframe to be agreed by Members, in accordance with the reform programme provided 
for in Article 20 of the AoA .  
 
9. We agree to work towards achieving tangible progress in the negotiations by MC13.   
Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM)   
10. Pursuant to the Nairobi Ministerial Decision (WT/MIN(15)/43  - WT/L/978, we shall continue 
negotiations on a special safeguard mechanism for developing country Members in dedicated 
sessions of the CoA -SS as envisaged under paragraph 7 of the Hong Kong Ministeri al 
Declaration (WT/MIN(05)/DEC).  
 
11. The General Council shall regularly review progress in these negotiations with the aim of 
making recommendations for Ministers at MC13.   
Export Restrictions  
12. Bearing in mind Article 12 of the AoA, we shall continue negotiat ions with the aim of 
enhancing  transparency and predictability of  export prohibitions and restrictions and 
improving relevant disciplines. To this end, and taking into account Article 12.2, we agree  
to work towards assessing and clarifying Article 12 of th e AoA with a view to making tangible 
progress  by MC13.  
 
1 This proposed Decision acknowledges that some Members have submitted proposals on a permanent 
solution on PSH for consideration by Ministers.  
2 This issue would be considered more broadly in the context of current AoA disciplines.  WT/MIN(22)/W/19  
 
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  Export  Competition  
13. Taking note of the Nairobi Ministerial Decision on Export Competition (WT/MIN(15)/45 - 
WT/L/980), we shall  continue negotiations to enhance disciplines on export credits, export 
credit guarantees or insurance programmes, agricultural exporting state trading enterprises 
and international food aid, with a view  to making tangible progress in these negotiations  by 
MC13 . These disciplines shall aim  at ensuring that there is no circumvention of export subsidy 
elimination commitments and to prevent non -commercial transactions from being used to 
circumvent such commitments. Special consideration shall be given to the needs and 
circumstances of least -developed and net food -importing developing countries.  
Cotton  
14. We undertake to continue negotiations after MC12 with a view to reducing trade -distorting 
domestic support for cotton in accordance with modalities to be agreed by MC13  and in line 
with the mandat e to address it ambitiously, expeditiously , and specifically within the 
agriculture negotiations taking into account , in particular,  the overall domestic support 
negotiations.  
 
15. We undertake to continue holding Dedicated Discussions on cotton on a bi -annua l 
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 Nairobi Ministerial 
Decision on Cotton (WT/MIN(15)/46 - WT/L/981).  
 
16. We note that the development -relate d aspects of cotton are addressed under the Director -
General's Consultative Framework Mechanism on Cotton and welcome the work undertaken 
in this context, which will continue to be handled as provided for in paragraph 12 of the Hong 
Kong Ministerial Declar ation (WT/MIN(05)/DEC) and in paragraphs 10, 11, 12 and 13 of the 
Nairobi Ministerial Decision on Cotton.  
Transparency  
17. Pursuant to Article 18 of the AoA, we agree to make the necessary efforts to provide 
outstanding notifications prioritizing from the year 2010. We agree to work in the Committee 
on Agriculture ( CoA) to review, update and streamline as necessary the transpa rency 
provisions contained in document G/AG/2 and consider possibly including necessary elements, 
such as value of production data, as well as other agriculture -related transparency 
requirements. Due consideration shall be given to the capacity constraints  faced by some 
developing countries, especially the least developed among them.  
 
18. We invite the WTO Secretariat to pursue efforts to assist developing country Members, upon 
their request, to comply with the relevant notification and other relevant transpare ncy and 
monitoring requirements , including  through ad hoc  advice, technical assistance and capacity -
building support. We request the Secretariat to provide information on a regular basis to the 
CoA on these activities.  
 
19. We request the WTO Secretariat, in consultations with Members, to develop, maintain and 
update on a regular basis a domestic support analytical tool  based on Members' notifications, 
Members'  official sources, and recognized international sources  in consultation with concerned 
Members .  
 
20. We agree to the continuation of discussions, on a without prejudice basis, on transparency of 
changes to MFN applied ordinary tariff rates, including for shipments en route.   
 
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