JOB/AG/200  
 
1 June 2021  
(21-4537) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Agriculture  
Special Session    
 
 
REPORT BY AMB. GLORIA ABRAHAM PERALTA  TO THE COMMITTEE  
ON AGRICULTURE IN SPECIAL SESSION  
25 MAY 2021  
1.   Let me now start with some preliminary remarks on my assessment of the current state of play, 
based on my various exchanges and consultations in the last weeks.  
 
2.   First, all Members stress the importance of agriculture and the urgent need to update and reform 
the current agricultural multilateral disciplines that are more than 25 years old in order to adapt to 
new trends, face new c hallenges and contribute to achieving UN SDG goals.  
 
3.   The unprecedented COVID -19 crisis and its trade, economic and social consequences worldwide 
made this need even more urgent. Protecting health and guaranteeing food security for their 
populations were th e two priorities for all Governments. It is therefore of utmost importance for 
Members to focus on an outcome aimed at improving global Food Security and livelihood security.  
 
4.   Members consider it indispensable to reach at the end of the year an agricultura l outcome that 
would permit effective continuation of the negotiations post -MC12. All Members want to avoid the 
repetition of the MC11 scenario.  
 
5.   The question today is not so much about Members' level of ambition in terms of future WTO 
agricultural discipl ines. As mentioned earlier, all Members agree on the need to reform them, and 
most Members have in particular reaffirmed their ambition regarding the reduction of trade - and 
production -distorting domestic support.  
 
6.   Rather the question today is about the si ze and the nature of the next step to be agreed at MC12 
to prepare the ground in the best possible manner for effective and successful post MC12 
negotiations. As one Member put it, the question is where to place the next rung of the ladder to 
keep climbing  up at a reasonable pace. Some say it shouldn't be too high, some it should not be too 
low. 
 
7.   But views on the ways to reach this goal remain divergent. As I see it, Members can be divided 
broadly in three  groups according to their positions in the negotiations:  
 
• For the first group which is composed of developed and developing country Members, the central 
piece for an outcome on agriculture should be a framework agreement on Domestic Support 
that would set  a goal and include some principles and parameters for the reduction of trade -
distorting domestic support entitlements.  
 
This group would also be willing to consider many other elements, including a Decision on 
exemption from export restrictions for World Food Programme (WFP) humanitarian food 
purchases, enhancing transparency, including changes in applied tariffs and consignments en 
route  and guidelines on the post -MC12 way forward on the various topics under negotiation.     
 
• For a second group composed of  a large group of other developing country Members,  an 
outcome on agriculture should address in priority the following topics: Domestic Support with 
the elimination of AMS above de minimis  as a first step while preserving Article 6.2 support, a 
permanent s olution on PSH, SSM and Cotton. This group is generally reluctant to consider any 
new transparency requirements in addition to the existing ones, due to capacity constraints. It 
considers that Market Access is not a priority but is ready to address some is sues such as tariff JOB/AG/200  
 
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  simplification. Finally, many Members in this group expressed their readiness to engage  on a 
Decision on exemption from export restrictions for WFP humanitarian food purchases based on 
the December 2020 discussions.  
 
• Finally, the third group has  expressed the view that in light of the remaining divergences on 
some fundamental questions, an outcome on agriculture should focus only on transparency -
enhancing elements including changes in applied tariffs and consignments en route , with  only 
few additional immediate deliverables such  as a decision on exemption from export restrictions 
for World Food Programme (WFP) humanitarian food purchases and a roadmap on the post -
MC12 way forward on the various topics under negotiation. This group a lso considers that trying 
to agree on specific parameters for the post MC12 work that would somehow predetermine the 
final outcome of the negotiation is out of reach.  
 
8.   So Members are globally positioned around three main areas. But we can have only one lan ding 
zone, one common ground.  
 
9.   It is therefore necessary to build bridges and narrow the gaps.  
 
10.   I am encouraged in this regard by the numerous signals sent by many Members confirming 
their willingness to explore ways to come closer and build bridges. Simil arly encouraging is the 
maturing of proposals on various topics following intensive exchange between Members, as 
demonstrated by some of the new submissions to be introduced at our next CoA  Special Session . 
 
11.   But much more needs to be done and much faster. We should not repeat the mistakes of the 
past and take the risk of running out of time, because "it was too early until it became too late".  
 
12.   We need to move from talk to action, with specific suggestions of compromise and textual 
inputs and I invite Members still currently working on new submissions and inputs t o submit them 
as soon as possible.  
 
13.   As I see it, our efforts in the coming weeks sho uld be two -pronged.  
 
14.   First, converge towards a shared understanding of what could constitute the shape of an 
acceptable, balanced and realistic yet ambitious MC12 outcome on agriculture. This requires an 
overall assessment at Heads of Delegations level, bu ilding upon the preparatory work achieved at 
technical level both in terms of analytical work and textual inputs.  
 
15.   In my view, Domestic Support which constitutes the focus and priority for most of the 
Membership will play a central role in determining the overall shape of an agricultural outcome.  
 
16.   Public Stockholding for food security purposes and the WFP Export Restrictions exemption also 
appear to stand high in the expectations of many Members, notably in the context of a Food Security 
and livelihood pack age. 
 
17.   It is nonetheless clear that all topics, and I repeat all topics are important including in relation 
to food security and will therefore have to be considered together to ensure a balanced agreement 
acceptable by all.  
 
18.   Second, intensify the work on m ore specific or more technical issues to identify more clearly 
and finetune possible options that could potentially gather consensus, including in particular on 
transparency -related issues.  
 
19.   This work should advance in parallel to the first track, without prejudice to Members' views on 
the overall shape of the outcome.  
 
20.   This is notably the case for transparency -related issues. Here again, the question is not whether 
but how: All Members acknowledge the importance of transparency in deepening the understanding 
of Members' policies and bringing more predictability to markets. But the question is how to enhance 
transparency in an effective and meaningful manner to better monitor the implemen tation of WTO 
disciplines without creating extra burden for developing country Members with limited capacity.  
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  21.    In this regard, I took note of the fact that some Members expressed the view that their 
proposals could be at no additional cost for developing country Members or even simplify and 
streamline current requirements.  
 
22.   Let me now conclude with a final word on my consultation process which I will continue in the 
coming weeks.  
 
23.   Transparency and inclusiveness remain a central preoccupation for me. To this end, I will first 
regularly report on these consultations to the Membership as I have just done here. I will also keep 
in close contact with Group Coordinators in -between to keep  them updated as necessary. I will also 
make sure the various configurations of my consultations are balanced and I will take into account 
in my exchanges and reflections all the views expressed in the negotiations. Last but not least, my 
door remains of c ourse open to any delegation willing to meet with me either in person or virtually.  
 
Concluding statement  
 
24.   As noted in my initial comments, and despite the remaining divergences on what could 
constitute the overall shape of a realistic and balanced agricul tural outcome at MC12, I am 
encouraged by the  willingness of Members to explore ways to build bridges and narrow gaps and by 
the progressive maturing of proposals on various topics demonstrated in our discussions today.  
 
25.   At our last meeting, I conveyed thr ee key messages:  
 
• We need to retain a sense of urgency if we are to find a common ground and have a 
meaningful outcome at MC12;  
 
• We need to change the nature of engagement, to be more focused and avoid unnecessary 
repetitions of positions; and  
  
• We need to  show more flexibility and find the necessary political will.  
 
26.   These messages are still valid.  
 
27.   From what I heard today , as well as in my consultations thus far, I think we are moving in the 
right direction.  
 
28.   But much more need s to be done and much faster.  
 
29.   My role as Chair is not to negotiate with you, my role is to facilitate negotiations among you . I 
therefore invite you to continue reflecting further on the options on the table, priorities and possible 
trade -offs and compromises.  
 
30.   In other words, the questions you should ask yourself now should not be only about what you 
want and what you can not do, but what you can do to contribute to our collective achievement.  
 
31.   And I invite you to pursue the discussions with other Members, other Groups with this renewed 
spirit of compromise and flexibility.  
 
32.   Our goal is to reach as soon as possible a shared under standing of what could constitute the 
shape of an agricultural outcome at MC12.  
 
33.   Time is short and we cannot afford having many iterations of draft texts before MC12. Focused 
negotiations have to start now and not after my first draft text is issued.  
 
34.   I therefore renew my call for Members still currently working on new submissions and inputs 
to submit them as soon as possible . We need to make sure we do not repeat the mistakes of the 
past and run out of time again.  
 
35.   The solution to the equation facing us ha s to be found by you here and now.  
 
36.   Let me now confirm the envisaged way forward.  
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  37.   The Facilitators are expected to produce their written reports summarizing the work undertaken 
on their respective topics in the course of next week. The reports will then b e circulated to the 
Membership.  
 
38.   They should be concise and composed of three sections: A first one on process, a second one 
on substance, and the last one on assessment and way forward.  
 
39.   I would then circulate under my own responsibility later in June a s tate-of-play consolidated 
report highlighting the potential elements for an agricultural outcome at MC12.  
 
40.   Both the Facilitators' and my own reports will be discussed at our next CoA  Special Session  
meeting tentatively scheduled on 21 June.  
 
41.   My objective remains to be in a position to circulate a first draft text for a possible outcome at 
MC12 at some stage before the summer recess.  
 
42.   At my level, I will pursue in the coming weeks my consultations with Heads of Delegations in 
different configurati ons depending on the topic, taking into account the whole range of views within 
the Membership.  
 
43.   As you are aware, we can count on the Director General's full support to this process and 
possible involvement as necessary, and my consultations will be fully  complementary with the 
Director General's led process.  
 
44.   Finally, as mentioned earlier, my door remains open for any Member willing to contact me, 
especially if it is with thoughts or contributions that could make a difference and help us narrow the 
gaps i n negotiating positions . 
 
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