G/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
15 October 2019  
(19-6681) Page: 1/16 
Committee on Agriculture    
 
IMPLEMENTATION OF TH E DECISION ON MEASUR ES CONCERNING THE PO SSIBLE 
NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF THE REFORM PROGRAMME  ON LEAST DEVELOPED  
AND NET FOOD -IMPORTI NG DEVELOPING COUNTR IES 
NOTE BY THE SECRETAR IAT1 
Revision  
The present note updates the information in the Secretaria t note s G/AG/W/42/Rev.1 9 and 
G/AG/W/42/Rev.19/Add.1  respectively dated 1 February  2018 and 15  November  2018 on 
implementation of the Decision on Measures Concerning the Possible Negative Effects of the Reform 
Programme on Least -Developed and Net Food -Importing Developing Countries (NFIDC Decision).  
Following a brief introduction on the  follow -up process to the NFIDC  Decision as a whole (Part  1), 
this paper sets out the substantive provisions of the Decision and provides informat ion regarding 
their implementation (Part 2). 
 
 
 
1 This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice to 
the positions of Members or to their rights and obligations under the WTO.   G/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
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  TABLE OF CONTENTS  
 
1   MONITORING OF TH E FOLLOW -UP TO THE N FIDC DECISION  .........................  3 
2   PROVISIONS OF TH E NFIDC DECISION AND  IMPLEMENTATION  ....................  4 
2.1   Food aid  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  5 
2.1.1    Review of Food Aid Levels and initiation of Food Aid Negotiations  ......................  5 
2.1.1.1    Review of food aid levels  ................................ ................................ ............  5 
2.1.1.2    Initiation of food aid negotiations  ................................ ................................  7 
2.1.2    Concessionality of Food Aid  ................................ ................................ ...........  8 
2.2   Technical and financial assistance  ................................ ................................ ..... 8 
2.3   Differential treatment in the framework of an agreement on export credits  ............  9 
2.4   Access to the resources of the international financial institutions  ........................  10 
2.4.1    Ability to finance commercial imports  ................................ ...........................  10 
2.4.2    Access to the facilities of the IMF and the World Bank  ................................ .... 17 
Annex 1: List of notifications under Article  16.2 of the Agreement on Agriculture 
(Table  NF:1) for the reporti ng years 1995 -2018 ................................ .......................  19 
Annex 2: Summary of Table of NF:1 Notifications  ................................ ....................  21 
 G/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
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  1  MONITORING OF THE FO LLOW -UP TO THE NFIDC  DECISION  
1.1.  In 1995, the Committee on Agriculture established notification requirements under which donor 
Members are required to submit data on food  aid donations (quantity and concessionality) as well 
as information on technical and financial assistance and other relevant information on actions taken 
within the framework of the Decision on Measures Concerning the Possible Negative Effects of the 
Reform Programme on Least -Developed and Net Food -Importing Develop ing Countries 
(NFIDC  Decision).2 
1.2.  The annual monitoring of the follow -up to the NFIDC Decision in accordance with Article 16 of 
the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) and under paragraph 18 of the Wo rking Procedures of the 
Committee is an important element in the work of the Committee.3 It is undertaken on the basis, 
inter alia , of the Table NF:1 notifications.  
1.3.  Table NF:1 notifications are required by all donor Members in respect of actions taken with in 
the framework of the NFIDC Decision.  Annex 1 summarizes the record of Members' Table NF:1 
notification s for the  implementation years 1995 to 201 8.4 The list of notifying Members include 
signatories of the  Food Aid Convention5 as well as  other Members that have identified themselves 
as food aid donors in their Table NF:1 notifications.  
1.4.  Pursuant  to the discussions during  the annual NF monitoring exercise in November  2018, 
Annex  2 includes a summar y of the information reported in donor Memb er's latest NF:1 notification .6  
1.5.  In 1996, the Committee established a WTO list of net food -importing developing countries.7 
The list is regularly reviewed during the March meetings of the Committee.  The latest change to the 
list was agreed at the March 2012 meeting of the Committee to include Antigua and Barbuda and 
El Salvador among the beneficiary developing countries wi thin the framework of the NFIDC  Decision.  
The list currently contains 31 developing country  Members (NFIDCs) in addition to least -developed 
countries (LDCs) as re cognized by the United Nations.8 
1.6.  In December 2000, the Committee was instructed by the General Council9 to examine possible 
means of improving the effectiveness of the implementation of  the NFIDC Decision.10 The 
Committee's report11 on this question  was approved by the Doha Ministerial Conference in 2001, 
and included, inter alia , a recommendation for the establishment of an Inter -agency panel of 
financial and commodity experts to examine the issue of short -term difficulties by NFIDCs and LDCs 
in financing normal levels of commercial imports of basic foodstuffs.  The panel report, which was 
submitted in June 2002, included an examination of specific proposals submitted by a  group of 
seventee n WTO NFIDCs.12 
1.7.  Between 2003 and 2006, the Committee on Agriculture also considered at its regular meetings, 
a proposal by the African Group calling for developed -country Members to, inter alia , contribute to 
a revolving fund for normal levels of food impor ts.13 In September 2004, the Committee decided to 
revert to this matter on the basis of the recommendation contained in its report to the General 
 
2 See G/AG/2, pages 33 -34. 
3 According to the Working Procedures, the annual monitoring exercise is to be undertaken at the 
November meetings of the Committee.   
4 The list does not include "nil returns" where Members have submitted Table NF:1 notifications stating 
that no food aid or  technical/financial assistance was provided or that the Table NF:1 notification requirement 
was not applicable.  
5 A series of multilateral cooperation instruments in the form the Food Aid Convention remained  in force 
from 1967 to 2012 . The latest in the series is the Food Assistance Convention (FAC) which entered into force on 
1 January 2013.  
6 See Paragraph 2.7 of G/AG/R/90.  
7 See G/AG/3 and G/AG/5.  The decision to establish this list was t aken on the understanding that " being 
listed would not as such co nfer automatic benefits since, under the mechanisms covered by the Marrakesh 
Ministerial Decision, donors and the institutions concerned would have a role to play " (G/AG/R/4, paragraph  17). 
8 See G/AG/5/Rev.10.  
9 See WT/L/384.  
10 See progress reports to the  General Council on such consultations in G/AG/7 and G/AG/10.  
11 See G/AG/11.  
12 See proposals (G/AG/W/49 and G/AG/W/49/Add.1 and G/AG/W/ 49/Corr.1) and Inter -agency panel 
report (WT/GC/62 , G/AG/13).  
13 Paragraph 52 of TN/CTD/W/3/Rev.2 refers.  G/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
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  Council on Implementation -Related Issues.14 Informal consultations specifically dedicated to that 
proposal were also held in May 2005 and in February 2006, as part of the discussions on 
implementation -related issues.  The outcome of the consultations is reflected in the Committee's 
follow -up report to the General Council.15 
1.8.  Global actions to address food insecurity in  general  and food price volatility in particular, were 
also adopted within the G -20 framework.  Recognizing the importance of timely and accurate market 
and policy information and transparency towards meeting the challenges posed by price volatility , 
the G -20 agriculture ministers agreed to launch the Agriculture Market Information System (AMIS) 
with a view to encourage policy dialogue and coordination of policy responses, and to build data 
collection capacity in participating countries.  The AMIS Secretariat  is housed in the FAO and other 
international organizations including th e WTO contribute to the System.16 In the aftermath of the 
global food crisis of 2007/2008, the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) was reformed at its 
35th Session in October 2009. T he reforms envisage that the CFS becomes an inclusive international 
and intergovernmental platform dealing with global food security and nutrition.17 
2  PROVISIONS OF THE NF IDC DECISION AND IMP LEMENTATION  
2.1.  The NFIDC Decision states:  
"Ministers recognize  that the progressive implementation of the results of the Uruguay 
Round as a whole will generate increasing opportunities for trade expansion and 
economic growth to the benefit of all participa nts." ( Paragraph  1 of the NFIDC  Decision)  
"Ministers recognize  that during the reform programme leading to greater liberalization 
of trade in agriculture least -developed and net food -importing developing countries may 
experience negative effects in terms of the availability of adequate supplies of basic 
foodstuffs from external sources on reasonable terms and conditions, including short -
term difficulties in financing normal levels of commercial imports o f basic foodstuffs." 
(Paragraph  2 of the NFIDC Decision)  
2.2.  The other four paragraphs of the NFIDC Decision co ntain a number of specific agreements in 
the areas of food aid, technical and financial assistance, differential treatment within the framework 
of any agreement on agricultural export credits, and a provision regarding access to the resources 
of the intern ational financial institutions.  In the following sections, these provisions are individually 
examined with regards to their implementation, based on the information available to the 
Secretariat . 
2.3.  Developing country Members eligible as beneficiaries within the framework of the NFIDC 
Decision have regularly emphasized the need of an effective implementation of the Decision.  During 
the 2014 NFIDC annual monitoring discussions18, the Africa Group urged Members to improve  the 
implementation of the NFIDC Decision to effectively achieve its intended objectives.19 On that 
occasion some Members also emphasized the importance of establishing strong disciplines in the 
area of export competition in general and international food aid in par ticular. The need to improve 
the implementation of the NFIDC Decision was highlighted again by the NFIDC Group during the 
2016 and 2018 annual monitoring ; the Group also presented some specific suggestions to 
reinvigorate the annual monitoring exercise.20 
2.4.  At the tenth Ministerial Conference of the WTO  (MC-10) at Nairobi, Ministers  reaffirmed their 
commitment to fully implement the NFIDC Decision.21 WTO Ministers at MC -10 simultaneously 
 
14 See G/AG/16, paragraph 19(c). Progress reports relating to the African Group proposal are contained 
in G/AG/17 and G/AG/17 /Corr.1; G/AG/20; and G/AG/22.  
15 See paragraphs 11 -12 of G/AG/16/Add.1 dated 13 June 2006.  
16 The initial focus of AMIS is on four grains that are particularly important in international food markets, 
namely wheat, maize, rice and soybeans. For more details please refer to http://www.amis -outlook.org/amis -
about/en/ . 
17 See http://www.fao.org/cfs/cfs -home/en/  for details.  
18 Section 2.1 of G/AG/R/76 refers.  
19 Specific suggestions made by the Africa Group towards an improved implementation of the 
NFIDC  Decision are included in paragraph 2.3 of G/AG/R/7 6. 
20 Paragraphs 2.2 to 2.7 of G/AG/R/83 and paragraph 2.8 of G/AG/R/90 refer.  
21 Paragraph 25 of the Nairobi Ministerial Declaration (WT/MIN(15)/DEC) refers.  G/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
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  adopted the Decision22 on export competition  which states that nothing in this Decision  can be 
construed to diminish in any way the existing commitments contained in the NFIDC  Decision nor 
shall the monitoring and  review  of the latter be affected .23  
2.1  Food aid  
2.5.  In light of paragraphs 1 and 2 of t he NFID C Decision quoted above,  
"Ministers  accordingly agree  to establish appropriate mechanisms to ensure that the 
implementation of the results of the Uruguay Round on trade in agriculture does not 
adversely affect the availability of food aid at a level which is sufficient to continue to 
provide assistance in meeting the food needs of develop ing countries, especially 
least-developed and net food -importing developing co untries." (chapeau to paragraph  3 
of the NFIDC Decision)  
2.6.  The MC -10 Decision on export competit ion also includes disciplines on international food aid. 
In the context of the thrust of the NFIDC Decision being the availabi lity and adequacy of food aid, 
the Decision on export competition in relation to  international food aid disciplines says:  
"Members  reaffirm their commitment to maintain an adequate level of international food 
aid, to take account of the interests of food aid recipients and to ensure that the 
disciplines contained hereafter do not unintentionally impede the delivery of food aid 
provid ed to deal with emergency situations. "24  
2.7.  Members, as a part of the MC -10 Decision on export competition, also agreed to review the 
provisions on international food aid contained therein within the regular Committee on Agriculture 
monitoring of the NFIDC Decision.25  
2.1.1   Review of Food Aid Levels and initiation of Food Aid Negotiations  
2.8.  In order to work towards the objective enunciated in the chapeau of paragraph  3 of the 
NFIDC  Decision, Ministers agreed:  
"(i) to review the level of food aid established pe riodically by the Committee on Food 
Aid under the Food Aid Convention 1986 and to initiate negotiations in the appropriate 
forum to establish a level of food aid commitments sufficient to meet the legitimate 
needs of developing countries during the reform programme [...]" (paragraph 3(i) of 
the NFIDC Decision)  
2.1.1.1   Review of food aid levels  
2.9.  The Food Aid Conventions remained in operation from 1967 to 2012 in a long series of 
multilateral co -operation instruments.  The commitments of donor countries under the Food Aid 
Conventions were specified in terms of minimum annual contributions and provided a safety net in 
terms of international food aid availability.  Under the Food Aid Convention 1999, the latest in a 
series of such Conventions, the combined minimum annual v olume and value commitments of donor 
Members stood at 4.8 million tonnes (in wheat equivalent) and EUR 130 million.  
2.10.   The Food Aid Convention, 1999 e xpired on 30 June 2012. On 1st January 2013, a new Food 
Assistance Convention (FAC) came into effect. The FAC  expand ed the traditional focus of previous 
Food Aid Conventions and include d all forms of food assistance (in -kind donation of eligible products, 
cash transfers, cash -based or commodity -based vouchers, as well as nutritional interventions) 
towards meeting  the needs of the most food insecure and vulnerable populations.  Each donor 
country, party to the FAC, assume s annual commitment of food assistance (i.e. the "minimum annual 
commitment" ) in terms of value or quantity or a combination of both to be notified  to the FAC 
 
22 Ministerial Decision on Export Competition in document WT/MIN(15)/45 and WT/L/980 refers.  
23 Parag raph 3 of WT/MIN(15)/45 and WT/L/980 refers.  
24 Paragraph 22 of WT/MIN(15)/45 and WT/L/980 refers. Similar commitment "to maintain needed 
levels" of international food aid may also be found in paragraph 30 of the MC -10 Decision.  
25 Paragraph 32 of WT/MIN(15)/45 and WT/L/980 refers.  G/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
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  Secretariat.26 Under the FAC , the current annual commitments of the donor parties are set in 
monetary terms.  
2.11.   Republic of Korea acceded to the Food Assistance Convention (FAC) in 2018 bringing the total 
FAC membership to sixteen. The initial mini mum annual commitment level of the Republic of Korea 
in 2018 st ood at KRW 46 billion and remai ns unchanged in 2019. Compared to 2018, t wo Parties 
increased their minimum commitment levels  for 2019 : France , from EUR 33 to 38 million ; and the 
United States of America , from USD 2.2 to 3.5 billion . The 2019 annual commitments levels of the 
parties who have ratified, accepted or approved the FAC are as set out below : 
Donor  Comm itments in 2019  
Australia  AUD 80 million 
Austria  EUR 1.495  million 
Canada  CAD 250 million 
Denmark  DKK 185 million  
European Union  EUR 350 million  
Finland  EUR 6 million 
France  EUR 38 million 
Japan  JPY 10 billion 
Korea, Republic of  KRW 46 billion  
Luxembourg  EUR 4 million 
Russian Federation  USD 15 million 
Slovenia  EUR 30,000  
Spain  EUR 10 million  
Sweden  SEK 200 million 
Switzerland  CHF 34 million 
United States of America  USD 3.5 billion 
Source:  http://www.foodassistanceconvention.org/commitments.aspx .  
 
2.12.   The food aid shipments by donors under the Food Aid Convention  often exceeded their 
combined minimum annual commitments. Similarly under the Food Assistance Convention  (FAC), 
the donors have consistently fulfilled their annual FAC commitments.  In 2017, the total food 
assistance exceeded USD 7 billion;  all FAC members fulfilled their commitments, with some member s 
substantially exceeding them.27  
2.13.   There are a number of other sources of food aid data, particularly the Food and Agriculture 
Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP).  Data from these source s are not directly 
comparable with data reported by donors under the Food Aid Conventions mainly due to differences 
in country and product coverage, reporting period, and the use of delivery rather than shipment 
data. Data on global food aid deliveries unt il the year 2014 based on the WFP  International Food Aid 
Information System (INTERFAIS) are included in the previous revisions of this note.  The WFP has 
since discontinued the INTERFAIS and the collection of global food aid flow data.  Since the 
discontinua tion of INTERFAIS, the FAO has been developing a food aid data collection system to 
monitor and report on global food aid transactions. During the 2018 annual monitoring exercise, the 
 
26 The parties may modify their minimum annual commitments sub ject to notification to the 
FAC Secretariat.  
27 The written contribution by the International Grains Council (IGC) on behalf of the Food Assista nce 
Committee during the 2018 Annual monitoring exercise refers (G/AG/GEN/147). The 2017 Narrative Report on 
food assistance by FAC donors may be accessed at: 
https://w ww.foodassistanceconvention.org/downloads/sumrec/fac2017nr.pdf .. G/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
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  FAO reported on the status of their efforts towards the development of a monitoring system to collect 
data on international food aid.28 
2.14.   Food aid data is currently being collected through a variety of channels. Under the review 
process of the Committee on Agriculture including the follow -up to the NFIDC Decision and the 
agreed n otification requirements29, quantitative food aid data is reported in donor Members' Table 
ES:3 notifications (and in some cases in Table ES:1 in respect of products in the export subsidy 
schedules of the relevant Members). At the same time, Table NF:1 notifications include volumetr ic 
or monetary data on the provision of food aid in favour of the beneficiary net food -importing 
developing countries (NFIDCs)  and least developed countries (LDCs).30 Annex 2 to this background 
note includes a summary of the information on food aid  notified  by donor Members in their annual 
NF notifications.  
2.15.   In the context of the annual dedicated discussions on export competition in the Committee 
on Agriculture, the Secretariat prepares background documents31, including on international food 
aid, drawing infor mation from Members' relevant export subsidy (ES) notifications as well as 
Members' replies to the annual questionnaire circulated by the Secretariat.  
2.16.   The Secretariat also liaises with relevant international organizations to enhance transparency 
of global  food aid deliveries.  The WTO Secretariat organized an I nformation Session for WTO 
Members on internation al food aid on 24 June 2019. During the session, the  WTO Secretariat and 
the participants from the other relevant international organizations32 provided  an overview of the 
current landscape of disciplines as well as the monitoring and data collection practices with regard 
to international food aid and food assistance. The Session also focused on the issue of enhanced 
transparency of donors' food assistanc e policies and strengthened collaboration among the relevant 
international organizations.  
2.1.1.2   Initiation of food aid negotiations  
2.17.   At the Doha Ministerial Conference, Ministers approved the following recommendation of the 
Committee  regarding the renegotiation of the Food Aid Convention, 199933 : 
"[…] that early action be taken within the framework of the Food Aid Convention 1999 
(which unless extended, with or without a decision regarding its renegotiation, would 
expire on 30 June 2002) and of the UN World Food Programme by donors of food aid to 
review their food aid contributions with a view to better identifying and meeting the 
food aid needs of least -developed and WTO net food -importing developing countries".  
(G/AG/11, Part B paragraph 3 I(a) refers)  
2.18.   The Food Aid Convention 1999 was to expire on 30 June 2002.  Initially, the Food Aid 
Committee agreed to extend it year after year.  In June 2004, it decided to undertake its 
renegotiation with the aim of bringing into effect a " more effective instrument to provide f ood to 
those identified needs when food aid is the most appropriate response ". Furthermore, in view of the 
relationship between the review process in the Food Aid Committee and negotiations underway in 
the WTO, the Food Aid Committee decided that conclusive recommendations should await the 
outcome of the WTO negotiations.  In these circumstances, the Food Aid Convention  1999 continued 
to be extended on an annual basis while informal deliberations were pursued between its members  
on its renegotiation . At its 103rd Session  in December 2010 , the Food Aid Committee launched the 
formal process of renegotiati ng the Food Aid Convention 1999 . The new Food Assistance 
 
28 Paragraph 2.13 of G/AG/R/90 refers.  
29 G/AG/2 and Add.1.  
30 Members' notifications may be consulted on the Agriculture Information Management System (AG -
IMS) at: http://agims.wto.org/Pages/Default.aspx .  
31 Refer to documents in the G/AG/W/125/ series.  
32 The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food Assistance 
Convention (FAC) , and t he Organization for Economic Co -operation and Development (OECD).  
33 The follow -up by WTO Members on the renegotiation of the Food Aid Convention 1995 are described 
in the previous revisions of this note.  G/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
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  Convention  (FAC)34 was adopted on 25 April 2012.  It was opened for signature on 11  June 2012 a nd 
entered into force on 1 January 2013.  
2.19.   The FAC expands the scope of FAC donors' food assistance commitments beyond food and 
seeds.  Some of the principles of the FAC include a focus on food assistance effectiveness and 
accountability, involvement of benef iciaries in the needs assessment, and an enlarged list of "eligible 
products" and "eligible activities" (including the provision of cash and vouchers and nutritional 
interventions).  It addresses both short -term emergency assistance as well as long -term 
rehabilitation and development objectives.  Article 3 of the FAC sets out the relationship between its 
provisions and the existing or future WTO rules, particularly on international food aid.  The Decision 
on export competition adopted a t MC-10 includes specifi c disciplines on international food aid.35 
Some of these food aid disciplines in the MC -10 Decision also make a reference to the FAC.36  
2.1.2   Concessionality of Food Aid  
2.20.   To the end stated in the chapeau of paragraph 3 of the NFIDC Decision, Ministers agreed:  
"(ii) to adopt guidelines to ensure that an increasing proportion of basic foodstuffs is 
provided to least -developed and net food -importing developing countries in fully grant 
form and/or on appropriate concessional terms in line with Article IV of t he Food Ai d 
Convention 1986 […] ". (paragraph 3(ii) of the NFIDC Decision)  
2.21.   At the Doha Ministerial Conference, Ministers approved the recommendation that:  
"WTO Members which are donors of food aid shall, within the framework of their food 
aid policies, statutes, prog rammes and commitments, take appropriate measures aimed 
at ensuring: […] (ii) that all food aid to least developed countries is provided in fully 
grant form and, to the maximum extent possible, to WTO net food -importing developing 
countries as well". (G/AG /11, Part B paragraph 3 I(b) refers)  
2.22.   Under the Food Assistance Convention (FAC), no less than 8 0% of a party's committed food 
assistance to eligible countries and vulnerable populations37 shall be in fully grant form , where the 
donors are expected to exceed  this percentage share progressively . 
2.23.   The i ssue of food aid to be in fully grant form came up frequently in the NFIDC annual 
monitoring discussions .38 In the agri culture negotiations under the "export competition"  pillar on the 
theme of international food aid, Members specifically considered the question of providing food aid 
exclusively in fully grant form.  The Decision on export competition adopted  at MC-10 requires 
Members to ensure that all international food aid is in fully -grant for m.39 
2.24.   Members ' Table NF:1 notifications specifically include  information on whether the food aid was 
provided "in fully grant form or appropriate concessional terms ". Annex 2 includes a  summary of 
such information reported by donor Members  in their latest Ta ble NF:1 notifications.  Most donor 
Members in their NF notifications have reported the provision of food aid to the recipient countries 
in fully grant form. In the recent NF notifications, the United States has indicated that:  
"Food assistance under Title II, Food for Progress, and Food for Education programs is provided in 
fully grant form. " (G/AG/N/119 refers)  
2.2  Technical and financial assistance  
2.25.   To the end stated in the chapeau of paragraph 3 of the NFIDC Decision Ministers agreed:  
 
34 Accessible at http://www.foodassistanceconvention.org/convention/FoodAssistance.pdf . Submissions 
by the IGC made at the annual monitoring exercises also includes details about the thrust and activities of the 
FAC. The late st such submission is contained in G/AG/GEN/155.  
35 "International Food aid" section on pages 6 -7 of document WT/MIN(15)/45 and WT/L/980 refers.  
36 Refer specifically to paragraphs 28 and 30 of document WT/MIN(15)/45 and WT/L/980.  
37 "Eligible country" and "e ligible vulnerable populations" are defined in Article 4 of the FAC.  
38 Refer, for example, to paragraph 2.5 of G/AG/R/76.  
39 Subparagraph 23.b of document WT/MIN(15)/45 and WT/L/980 refers.  G/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
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  "(iii) to give full consideration in the context of their aid programmes to requests for the 
provision of technical and financial assistance to least -developed and net food -importing 
developing countries to improve their agricultural productivity and infra structure."  
(paragraph 3(iii) of the NFIDC Decision)  
2.26.   The Doha Ministerial Conference called on developed country Members to continue to give full 
consideration , in the context of their aid programmes , to requests for the provision of technical and 
financia l assistance by least -developed and net food -importing developing countries that could 
facilitate improve ment in  their agricultural productivity and infrastructure.  This recommendation 
reflects the fact that technical and financial assistance is essentiall y a bilateral matter between 
donors and recipients based on requests made by recipient countries.  Technical and financial 
assistance by Members under paragraph 3(iii) of the NFIDC Decision is reported in their Table NF:1 
notifications.  Column 5 of Annex 2 includes a summary of technical and financial assistance notified 
by donor Members  in their  latest Table NF:1 notifications.  
2.27.   Furthermore, the Doha Ministerial Conference approved the recommendation:  
" [...] that, in support of the priority accorded by lea st-developed and net food -
importing developing countries to the development of their agricultural productivity and 
infrastructure, the WTO General Council call upon relevant international development 
organi zations, including the World Bank, the FAO, IFAD, the UNDP and the Regional 
Development Banks to enhance their provision of, and access to, technical and financial 
assistance to least -developed and net food -importing developing countries, on terms 
and conditions conducive to the better use of such facilit ies and resources, in order to 
improve agricultural productivity and infrastructure in these countries under existing 
facilities and programmes, as well as under such facilities and programmes as may be 
introduced."40 
2.28.   The initial responses from the African Development Bank, the European Investment Bank, 
FAO and the World Bank were circulated in 2002.41 Since then, a number of IGOs have regularly 
updated the Committee on Agriculture on their respective initiatives and action plans in this area.42 
2.29.   During the 201 8 annual monitoring exercise, t he Inter -American Institute for Cooperation on 
Agriculture (IICA) reported on its technical cooperation activities to  support Latin American and 
Caribbean (LAC) countries in the area of food and nutrition security.  The IICA reported that it works 
with its member States to develop policies and strategies to strengthen institutional frameworks in 
the areas of international trade and regional integration, family farming, food safety and quality, 
bio-economy and climate resilience.43 
2.3  Differential treatment in the framework of an agreement on export credits  
2.30.   In light of paragraphs 1 and 2 of the NFIDC Decision quoted above, Ministers agreed:  
"[…] to ensure that any agreement relating to agricultural export credits makes 
appropriate provision for differential treatment in favour of least -developed and net 
food-importing developing countries".  (paragraph 4 of the NFIDC Decision)  
2.31.   At the Doha Ministerial Conference, Ministers reaffirmed the commitment above and approved 
a general  understanding regarding procedures for the development of disciplines pursuant to Article 
10.2 of the Agreement on Agriculture and the related provisions of the NFIDC  Decision (G/AG/11, 
Part A paragraph 4).  Accordingly, work within the WTO on the question  of agricultural export credits 
has been undertaken in the framework of both the regular meetings of the Committee on Agriculture 
and in the Special Session negotiations on the basis, inter alia , of the tabled proposals and other 
 
40 G/AG/11, Part B paragraph 3 II(b) refers .  
41 See G/AG/W/57 and G/ AG/W/57 /Add.1.  
42 Refer, for example, to G/AG/GEN/71, G/AG/GEN/76, G/AG/GEN/78, G/AG/GEN/90, G/AG/GEN/93 , 
G/AG/GEN/94, G/AG/GEN/96, G/AG/GEN/97 , G/AG/GEN/100, G/AG/GEN/107, G/AG/GEN/111 , G/AG/GEN/121 , 
G/AG/GEN/123, G/AG/GEN/123/ Corr.1  and G/AG/GEN/136 . 
43 G/AG/GEN/148 refers . G/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
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  inputs, including with res pect to special and differential treatment in favour of developing 
countries.44 
2.32.   The MC-10 Decision on export competition , inter alia, includes disciplines in the area of export 
credits , export credit  guarantees or insurance programmes. Provisions towards a more favourable 
treatment of least -developed and net food -importing developing countries are included under 
"Special and Differential Treatment " (S&D) part of the disciplines.  The S&D provisions provide for a 
longer repayment allowance for least -developed and net food -importing developing countries for the 
acquisition of basic food stuffs. 45 Pursuant to the transparency requirements in the Annex to t he 
Nairobi Decision on export competition , Members provide information, inter alia , on maximum 
repayment terms as well as export destinations in respect of their export financing support 
programmes.46  
2.4  Access to the resources of the international financial institutions  
2.33.   In the NFIDC Decision, Ministers further recognized that:  
"[…] as a result of the Uruguay Round certain developing countries may experience 
short-term difficulties in financing normal levels of commercial imports and that these 
countries may be eligible to draw on the resources of international financial institutions 
under existing faci lities, or such facilities as may be established, in the context of 
adjustment programmes, in order to address such financing difficulties.  In this regard, 
Ministers take note of paragraph 37 of the report of the Director -General to the 
CONTRACTING PARTIES  to GATT 1947 on his consultations with the Managing Director 
of the International Monetary Fund and the President of the World Bank 
(MTN.GNG/NG14/W/35)".  (Paragraph  5 of the NFIDC Decision)  
2.4.1   Ability to finance commercial imports  
2.34.   The issue of financing of c ommercial imports of food by LDCs and NFIDCs has been regularly 
considered in the annual discussions on the follow -up to the NFIDC Decision. In 2002, the Inter -
agency panel report provided a detailed examination of the question of financing food imports by  
NFIDCs and LDCs.47  
2.35.    During the global financial crisis beginning in 2008 which resulted, inter alia , in serious 
shortage of trade finance, the WTO worked with other multilateral and regional organizations to 
mobilize various actors to shoulder some of the  risk arising from private sector financing (which 
accounts for close to 80% of the market) and reduce the gap between demand and supply of trade 
finance. In this context, it was observed that the scarcity of trade finance could lead to a slowdown  
of trade  as well as production and could constrain the participation of developing and low -income 
countries in international trade. The development of trade financing infrastructure has also been 
pursued under the Aid -for-Trade initiative. The LDC Group organized a Conference on WTO rules 
and the food crisis in Geneva on 17 July 2008 in partnership with a research and development 
organization focusing on global issues.48 
2.36.   The S&D disciplines in the area of export credits, export credit guarantees or insurance 
program mes included in the MC -10 Decision on export competition also acknowledge and address 
"exceptional circumstances" that may be faced by LDCs and NFIDCs in respect of financing of normal 
levels of commercial imports of basic foodstuffs and/or in accessing lo ans by financial institutions.49 
 
44 See, for example, G/AG/16 and G/AG/16/ Add.1 . 
45 Refer specifically to paragraph 17 of WT/MIN(15)/45 and WT/L/980.  
46 The information provided by Members within the context of an annual dedicated discussion on export 
competition is regularly compiled by the Secretariat (background notes in the G/AG/W/125/ document series 
refer).  
47 See WT/GC/62 – G/AG/13, in particular, Chapter II, Section A and the Conclusions in Chapter III. See 
also the contribution by UNCTAD in G/AG/GEN/68, pp. 16 -18. 
48 The full report is contained in document G/AG/GEN/77 dated 11 November 2008. See also 
WT/COMTD/LDC/W/43 on the impact of price rises on LDCs.  
49 Paragraph 17 of WT/MIN(15)/45 and WT/L/980 refers.  G/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
- 11 - 
 
  2.37.   The annual monitoring discussions have regularly referred to overall trends in cereal imports 
and cereal import bills in the context of the monitoring of the food security situation in LDCs and 
NFIDCs  and their ability to finance food imports . Cereals indeed form an important part of the impor t 
food basket of LDCs and  NFIDCs  as is evident from Table 1 below.   
Table 1: Share of cereals in total agriculture imports during 2008 -2017 (% terms)  
 
2008  2009  2010  2011  2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  
LDCs  25.9 21.8 20.7 21.5 18.3 22.3 23.3 18.8 20.5 21.8 
NFIDC  29.8 23.6 22.9 25.3 24.8 21.6 24.8 22.9 22.5 22.6 
Source:  UN COMTRADE database (reported data, complemented by mirror data).  
2.38.   During the annual NF discussions in the November 2018 meeting of the Committee, Egypt 
requested the Secretariat to examine the evolution of agriculture and food imports of LDCs and 
NFIDCs in order to better inform the annual monitoring discussions. Accordingly, the S ecretariat 
considered the imports of cereals, dairy, fruits and vegetables, meats, and oilseeds and vegetable 
oils (hereinafter referred to as 'food basket ')50 in respect of LDCs51 and NFIDCs . Chart 1 below shows 
the share of food product or product groups comprising the food basket in the total imports of LDCs 
and NFIDCs. Imports of cereal s followed by of oilseeds and vegetable oils contribute predominantly 
to the overall import bills of LDCs  and NFIDCs.    
Chart  1: LDCs and NFIDCs imports of individual products in the food basket  (2017 ) 
 
Source:  UN COMTRADE database (reported data, complemented by mirror data) . 
 
2.39.   The Grains and Oilseeds Index (GOI) of the IGC is comp rised of cereals and oilse eds. The 
previous revisions of the document have regularly i ncluded information on evolution of the GOI. In 
view of a significant contribution of cereals and oilseeds in LDCs and NFIDCs food imports, t he trends 
in GOI may be a good indicator to assess tren ds in cereal import bills  of these Members .52 As chart  2 
below  shows, starting from the latter part of 2012, cereal and oilseed prices have been generally 
declining. Production uncertainties and adverse weather events led to some upward movement in 
the grains and oilseed prices in 2016 and 2017. Price gains were restrained i n those years due to 
the existence of ample global stocks; however, with declining inventories, markets acquired  a firmer 
tone in 2018 , amid concerns about the impact of less than ideal weather for crops in the Americas, 
Europe and Australia. Against a bac kdrop of comfortable supply prospects, an overall bearish global 
demand and the uncertainty caused by the existing trade tensions, international prices continue to 
 
50 Composition of the ‘food basket’ in terms of the HS Chapters is as follows: meat ( Chapter 2), dairy 
(Chapter 4), fruits and vegetables (Chapters 7 and 8), and oilseeds and vegetabl e oils (Chapters 12 and 15 ). 
51 Imports data of LDCs used in Section 2.4.1 corresponds to WTO LDC Members.  
52 The global export prices and the GOI do not account for freight and transportation charges which 
constitute a substantial part of the overall import  cost. 
G/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
- 12 - 
 
  remain under pressure and the IGC GOI on October 2019 was reported 6% lower than the previou s 
year.  
Chart 2: The IGC Grains and Oilseeds Index (GOI)* (2000 -2019)  
 
* IGC Grains and Oilseeds Index composition: wheat (30%), maize (22%), barley (4%), sorghum  (2%), 
rice (8%), soybeans (31%), rapeseed/canola (2%). See http://www.igc.int  for more details. 
January  2000 = 100. 
Source:  International Grains Council (IGC).  
2.40.   Charts 3 to 7 below show trends in LDCs and NFIDCs imports of individua l products or product 
groups comprising the food basket over the period 2008 to 2017. Broadly, the imports in respect of 
all products follow an upward trend. As import figures are presented in value  terms  (US dollars ), 
changes in commodity import prices and exchange rate movements  may also have influenced trends 
in imports.  
Chart 3: LDCs and NFIDCs imports of cereals during 2008 -2017  
 
Source:  UN COMTRADE database (reported data, complemented by mirror data) . 
 
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
LDCs 5,905 4,763 5,269 7,163 6,107 7,429 8,274 6,976 7,001 8,776
NFIDCs 15,762 10,100 11,563 16,198 16,459 13,363 16,551 13,710 12,380 13,91405,00010,00015,00020,000USD mn
LDCs NFIDCsG/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
- 13 - 
 
  Chart 4: LDCs and NFIDCs imports of meat during 2008 -2017  
 
Source:  UN COMTRADE database (reported data, complemented by mirror data) . 
 
Chart 5: LDCs and NFIDCs imports of dairy during 2008 -2017  
 
Source:  UN COMTRADE  database (reported data, complemented by mirror data) . 
 
Chart 6: LDCs and NFIDCs imports of fruits and vegetables during 2008 -2017  
 
Source:  UN COMTRADE  database (reported data, complemented by mirror data) . 
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
LDCs 1,448 1,208 1,398 1,634 1,805 1,670 1,966 1,531 1,428 1,602
NFIDCs 4,409 2,721 3,505 4,380 4,577 4,536 4,966 4,334 3,162 3,32901,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,000USD millions
LDCs NFIDCs
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
LDCs 812 1,127 1,249 1,277 1,488 1,693 2,173 2,391 2,129 2,527
NFIDCs 2,903 3,122 3,305 3,795 3,990 3,934 4,476 4,842 4,900 4,96301,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,000USD millions
LDCs NFIDCsG/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
- 14 - 
 
  Chart 7: LDCs and NFIDCs imports of oilseeds and vegetable oils during 2008 -2017  
 
Source:  UN COMTRADE  database (reported data, complemented by mirror data) . 
 
2.41.   Charts 8 and 9 below present the import values of LDCs and NFIDCs of all agricultural products 
(as per the AoA definition) as well as of products comprising the food basket. For both the LDC s as 
well as the NFIDCs , the average share of imports of the food basket commodities in the overall 
agricultural imports is about 50%.  
Chart 8: LDC i mports of products in the food basket and of all agricultural products 
(average data based on 2015 -17) 
 
Source:  UN COMTRADE data ( reported data, complemented by mirror data ). 
 
G/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
- 15 - 
 
  Chart 9: NFIDC  imports of products in the food basket and of all agricultural products 
(average data based on 2015 -17) 
 
Source:  UN COMTRADE  data (reported data, complemented by mirror data) . 
 
2.42.   Table 2 includes data, individually in respect of all LDC and NFIDC Members, on total imports 
of products constituting the food basket as well of all agricultural products based on the AoA 
definition. Th e table also includes values of total merchandise imports and exports. A comparison of 
food imports (in column 2) with total merchandise exports (in column 5) might provide a rough 
indication of the adequacy of foreign exchange reserves to finance food imp orts.  
Table 2 - Overall trade profile of LDCs and NFIDCs (Average data based on 2 015-2017)  
Members  
(LDCs  and 
NFID Cs) Total imports of items 
included in the 
agriculture food basket  
(USD m illion) Total 
Agriculture 
(AoA) imports  
(USD million)  Total 
merchandise  
imports  
(USD million)  Total merchandise 
exports  
(USD million)  
1 2 3 4 5 
LDCs  
Afghanistan  722.67  2,232.16  8,336.13  738.68  
Angola  1,082.90  2,335.28  13,262.26  32,547.03  
Bangladesh  5,266.64  8,916.89  46,635.89  37,067.02  
Benin  1,068.13  1240.51  2,721.65  587.20  
Burkina Faso  205.76  437.88  3,346.54  2,495.89  
Burundi  54.99  108.41  656.40  128.75  
Cambodia  111.40  1,153.04  12,897.38  12,031.63  
Central  African 
Republic 28.11  69.58  425.55  127.43  
Chad 17.90  111.67  730.49  1,796.30  
Democratic 
Republic of the 
Congo  365.32  860.00  5,173.61  6,445.80  
Djibouti  583.64  902.70  4,497.42  136.79  
Guinea  315.89  705.13  3,276.75  3,724.91  
Guinea -Bissau  57.96  130.00  337.33  330.44  
Haiti 646.44  1,075.59  3,699.47  1,144.47  
G/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
- 16 - 
 
  Members  
(LDCs  and 
NFID Cs) Total imports of items 
included in the 
agriculture food basket  
(USD m illion) Total 
Agriculture 
(AoA) imports  
(USD million)  Total 
merchandise  
imports  
(USD million)  Total merchandise 
exports  
(USD million)  
1 2 3 4 5 
Lao People's 
Democratic 
Republic  63.42  297.06  3481.67  3004.71  
Lesotho  122.39  355.48  1,605.70  734.35  
Liberia  207.77  305.25  8,908.51  1,222.10  
Madagascar  286.33  539.94  3,195.69  2,424.27  
Malawi  195.21  336.51  2,356.16  995.37  
Mali 274.51  603.08  3,668.21  2,781.33  
Mauritania  334.88  549.74  2,794.23  1,901.00  
Mozambique  547.04  805.70  6301.55  3,755.57  
Myanmar  848.58  2,594.80  17,285.32  12,582.91  
Nepal  1,025.68  1,557.57  8,509.48  709.92  
Niger  245.98  446.65  1844.38  821.32  
Rwanda  162.73  294.32  1,644.37  584.92  
Senegal  874.12  1,364.36  5,933.98  2,747.00  
Sierra Leone  199.50  330.22  1,263.65  220.50  
Solomon Islands  63.71  117.81  497.15  445.81  
Tanzania  550.83  839.08  10,115.82  4,924.75  
The Gambia  98.28  156.07  444.97  68.66  
Togo 123.07  235.22  1,687.15  724.71  
Uganda  475.48  755.30  5,317.83  2,550.26  
Vanuatu  21.84  58.88  359.69  217.31  
Yemen  1,656.27  2,753.33  6,932.28  1,224.84  
Zambia  151.29  369.51  7,092.63  7,027.04  
NFIDCs  
Antigua and 
Barbuda  45.00  122.40  528.49  49.83  
Barbados  128.37  325.56  1,612.91  494.99  
Bolivarian 
Republic of 
Venezuela  2,448.34  3,699.90  18,076.71  33,171.81  
Botswana  264.43  665.50  6,337.71  6,512.67  
Côte d'Ivoire  967.35  1,507.58  9,180.37  11,669.81  
Cuba 1,049.76  1,582.39  6,839.77  1,773.05  
Dominica  16.93  37.85  256.35  70.86  
Dominican 
Republic  1,192.42  2,664.10  18,220.29  8,661.56  
Egypt  9,079.99  12,747.89  66,250.89  23,472.64  
El Salvador  865.72  1,836.76  10,238.50  5,562.88  
Eswatini  72.71  288.95  1,457.21  1,706.70  
Gabon  285.48  491.60  2,394.35  5,186.15  
Grenada  29.54  62.07  233.48  41.98  
Honduras  544.12  1,544.94  8,301.65  4,418.75  
Jamaica  297.62  880.62  5,192.74  1,258.03  
Jordan  2,175.84  3,872.91  20,029.76  7,603.77  
Kenya  1,413.32  2,393.52  17,545.67  5,467.32  
Maldives  234.61  422.32  2128.14  161.04  
Mauritius  375.98  889.44  4794.24  2,259.18  
Mongolia  139.97  508.88  3,824.51  5,262.07  
Morocco  2,800.48  4,913.71  41,426.95  23,506.47  
Namibia  265.52  871.46  7,065.47  4,891.17  
Pakistan  4,641.74  6,837.46  49475.98  21,500.20  
Peru 2,463.85  4,509.24  37,979.33  38,071.64  
Saint Kitts and 
Nevis  26.99  71.68  313.26  33.94  
Saint Lucia  60.12  149.27  638.54  147.35  G/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
- 17 - 
 
  Members  
(LDCs  and 
NFID Cs) Total imports of items 
included in the 
agriculture food basket  
(USD m illion) Total 
Agriculture 
(AoA) imports  
(USD million)  Total 
merchandise  
imports  
(USD million)  Total merchandise 
exports  
(USD million)  
1 2 3 4 5 
Saint Vincent and 
the Grenadines  45.30  90.94  332.80  44.06  
Sri Lanka  1,387.04  2,377.54  19,928.06  10,908.89  
Trinidad and 
Tobago  406.49  906.78  6,952.51  9,589.16  
Tunisia  1,446.70  2,281.31  20,109.26  13,949.48  
Source:  UN COMTRADE  data (reported data, complemented by mirror data) . 
 
2.43.   At various stages of the Committee's annual monitoring exercise, international observer 
organizations have commented on the development of international food prices and their impacts 
on LDCs and NFIDCs.53 They have also reported on various actions undertake n in response to food 
security -related risks arising from developments in food prices and food price volatility.  
2.44.   The food s ecurity situation in LDCs and NFIDCs is being monitored by FAO on a regular basis, 
notably with regard to overall trends in cereal imports and cereal import bills. The focus of 
FAO reports provided to the Committee remains on developments in food price vol atility and their 
potential impact on LDCs and NFIDCs. The FAO has also reported on the declining proportion of food 
aid in total cereal imports of LDCs and NFIDCs compared to much higher food aid shares in the early 
2000s. During the 2017 exercise, the FA O participated in the discussions and reported54 on 
developments in the cost of imports of basic foodstuffs , looking specifically at the situation of LDCs 
and NFIDCs. Among other factors, the FAO identified r ising and volatile freight rates  contributing to  
high food import bill s in 2017. The FAO also reported on the activities of the Agricultural Market 
Information system (AMIS), market trends for key cereals and food prices and price volatility.  
2.4.2   Access to the facilities of the IMF and the World Bank  
2.45.   The que stion of access to the resources of the international financial institutions has been the 
subject of a detailed examination by an Inter -agency panel of financial and commodity experts 
in 2002.55 
2.46.   In the context of the Committee's annual monitoring exercise i n December 2001, the  IMF 
reiterated its position regarding the question of access to its resources by stating:  "With existing 
facilities and resources, the Fund is in a position to meet any balance of payments needs of our 
members that may arise from highe r world food prices. "56 In November 2009, the IMF described its 
reformed lending framework57 for LDCs and  NFIDCs, under which support was channelled  through a 
new instrument under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT).  The Contingent Financing 
Facility (CFF) was eliminated.58 In November 2012, the IMF informed the Committee about additional 
strengthening and streamlining of its various concessi onal financing and lending instruments. The 
IMF also considered that the reformed financing architecture was better tailored to diverse needs of 
the recipient countries, and reported that since the beginning of the global economic crisis in 2008, 
it had as sumed 138 new lending commitments amounting to US D 534 billion (gross ) and disbursed 
USD 154 billion.59 
 
53 See, for example, the observations by the FAO, IGC, OECD, WFP, IMF, UNCTAD and World Bank on 
rising food prices and possible impacts on LDCs and NFIDCs. The statements and contributions by international 
observer organizations can be found in the G /AG/GEN/ -- document series.  During the 2009 -11, the WFP reported 
in detail on the activities and initiatives aimed at addressing global food insecurity and malnutrition 
(G/AG/GEN/90, G/AG/GEN/94 and G/AG/GEN/110). Similarly, in 2014, the OECD elaborated on  the role of trade 
to food security paying specific attention to the dimensions of availability  and accessibility  and also on the relative 
cost of food imports in the total import bill of LDCs and NFIDCs (G/AG/GEN/123 and Corr.1).  
54 G/AG/GEN/144.  
55 See WT /GC/62 – G/AG/13.  
56 See G/AG/GEN/49, page 8.  
57 See G/AG/GEN/90.  
58 See G/AG/GEN/94.  
59 See G/AG/GEN/107.  G/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
- 18 - 
 
  2.47.   The position of the World Bank regarding the issue of access to short -term multilateral 
financing was initially outlined in November 1997 as follows:  
"The World Bank continues to monitor the progress of liberalization resulting from the 
implementation of commitments made under the Uruguay Round Agreement.  A number 
of recent studies using different methodologies and assumptions confirm that the long 
run imp acts of the Uruguay Round agreement on agricultural prices will be relatively 
small  certainly far smaller than the price increases that have been experienced in recent 
years.  Given the small size of the shocks resulting from the Round and the Bank's 
substa ntial headroom above current IBRD loans outstanding, it seems clear that the 
Bank will be in a position to meet any additional demands generated by the Round for 
loans on IBRD terms.  
In response to the Ministerial Decision, a Working Group involving the World Bank, the 
Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Food Programme and the IMF met in 1995 
to address the special needs of least developed and net food -importing countries.  The 
Working Group reviewed the range of facilities available  for additional financing needs 
for developing countries in the event of world price shocks and production shortfalls and 
provided a report to the WTO in late 1995.  Given the wide range of facilities and the 
small price impacts expected to arise as a conse quence of the Round, and the difficulty 
involved in distinguishing Uruguay Round impacts from other shocks, it did not seem 
appropriate to establish a special Uruguay Round adjustment facility." 
(G/AG/GEN/15,  page 3) 
2.48.   In more recent years, the World Bank ha s focused on the strengthening of the food security 
of developing countries and has developed strategies to deal with food price instability and its 
negative impacts.  In cooperation with development partners, the World Bank studied ways to use 
commodity pr ice insurance mechanisms as a tool to anticipate food crises, both at the farm and at 
the government level.  According to the World Bank, food insecurity was best addressed through 
programmes designed to raise the purchasing power of the poor; reduce their exposure to negative 
income shocks; and improve the functioning of the global food distribution and food aid systems.60 
In November 2009, the World Bank reported on the launching of a Global Food Crisis R esponse 
Programme (GFRP) to mitigate the effects of s oaring costs and to help countries adapt to higher and 
more volatile food prices.  In 2011, the Bank informed the Committ ee that an allocation of US D 
288 million would be made towards increasing livelihood protection as a rapid response measure 
under the Ho rn Regional Drought Response Plan.61 
 
 
 
60 See, for example, G/AG/GEN/71 (pp. 15 -17) for a detailed description of ex ante risk management 
systems (price related and weather  related) and recentl y-launched joint WFP -World Bank pilot projects; 
and G/AG/GEN/73.  
61 See the contributions of the World Bank in G/AG/GEN/90 and G/AG/GEN/96.   
  G/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
- 19 - Annex 1: List of n otification s under Article  16.2 of the Agreem ent on Agriculture (Table  NF:1) for the reporting years 1995 -2018 
Year  Argentina  Australia  Canada  Cuba  European  
Union  Indonesia  Japan  New 
Zealand  Norway  Russia n 
Federation  South  Africa  Switzerland  United  
States  
1995  ARG/10  AUS/5  CAN/11  CUB/4  EEC/9   JPN/15  NZL/6  NOR/6   ZAF/7  CHE/23   
1996  ARG/10  AUS/13  CAN/18  CUB/5  EEC/21  & 
Add.1   JPN/27  NZL/13  NOR/19  & 
Corr.1   ZAF/9  CHE/23  USA/7  
1997  ARG/10 AUS/21  CAN/25   EEC/21 &  
Add.1   JPN/33  NZL/17  NOR/20 &  
Corr.1   ZAF/17  CHE/23  USA/20  
1998  ARG/10 AUS/25  CAN/34  CUB/14  EEC/25   JPN/46  NZL/25  NOR/26   ZAF/24  CHE/23  USA/21  
1999  ARG/10  AUS/32/Rev.1  CAN/42   EEC/35   JPN/68  NZL/26  NOR/33    CHE/30  USA/31  
2000  ARG/15  AUS/39  CAN/52   EEC/35   JPN/78  NZL/30  NOR/34 &  
Corr.1   ZAF/39  CHE/30  USA/46  
2001  ARG/21  AUS/48  CAN/52   EEC/46 &  
Add.1   JPN/87  NZL/39  NOR/37   ZAF/42  CHE/30  USA/52  
2002   AUS/51 & 
Corr.1  CAN/57  CUB/24  EEC/46 &  
Add.1   JPN/107  NZL/39  NOR/42   ZAF/50  CHE/30  USA/52  
2003   AUS/57  CAN/57   EEC/50   JPN/125  & 
Corr.1  NZL/40  NOR/42   ZAF/56  CHE/39  & 
Corr.1  USA/56  
2004   AUS/60  CAN/67   EEC/56   JPN/125 &  
Corr.1  NZL/45/Rev.1  NOR/44   ZAF/60  CHE/39  & 
Corr.1  USA/65  
2005   AUS/68  CAN/72   EEC/56   JPN/144  NZL/56 &  
Corr.1  NOR/44   ZAF/67  CHE/39 &  
Corr.1  USA/65  
2006   AUS/71  CAN/81   EU/1  JPN/145  NZL/56  & 
Corr.1  NOR/44   ZAF/69  CHE/53  USA/65  
2007   AUS/75 &  
Corr.1  CAN/88  CUB/34  EU/2  JPN/145  NZL/60  NOR/54/Rev.1   ZAF/72  CHE/53  USA/76  
2008   AUS/81  CAN/93   EU/3  JPN/160  NZL/60  NOR/54/Rev.1   ZAF/72  CHE/53  USA/76  
2009   AUS/84  CAN/93   EU/4  JPN/172  NZL/68  NOR/60   ZAF/82  CHE/64  USA/83  
2010   AUS/93  CAN/100  CUB/43  EU/15   JPN/180  NZL/71  NOR/62   ZAF/82  CHE/64  USA/90  
2011   AUS/93  CAN/100  CUB/46  EU/15   JPN/199  NZL/77  NOR/68   ZAF/82  CHE/64  USA/97  & 
Corr.1  
2012   AUS/93   CUB/46  EU/21   JPN/229  NZL/82  NOR/70   ZAF/82  CHE/76  USA/98  
2013   AUS/98  CAN/115  & 
Corr.1   EU/21  IDN/48  & 
Corr.1 JPN/229  NZL/95  NOR/79   ZAF/82  CHE/76  USA/105/Rev.1  
2014   AUS/105  CAN/115  & 
Corr.1  CUB/55  EU/27  IDN/49 &  
Corr.1 JPN/229  NZL/95  NOR/84  RUS/7  ZAF/89  CHE/76  USA/113  
2015   AUS/108  CUB/55  EU/32  IDN/50  JPN/229  NZL/95  NOR/88  RUS/14   CHE/81 & Corr.1  USA/116   
  G/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
- 20 - Year  Argentina  Australia  Canada  Cuba  European  
Union  Indonesia  Japan  New 
Zealand  Norway  Russia n 
Federation  South  Africa  Switzerland  United  
States  
2016   AUS/119   EU/42  IDN/51  JPN/229  NZL/101  NOR/93  RUS/17   CHE/85  USA/119  
2017   AUS/124   EU/49     NOR/100  RUS/20   CHE/86 /Rev.1   
2018      EU/54  IDN/62    NOR/10 7     
Notes: i) A blank cell indicates that no notification was received for the reporting year concerned.  
 ii) An annual NF notification requirement is applicable only when actions within the framework of the NFIDC Decision are taken in  the relevant year. A "nil return"  is not 
required in the absence of such actions.  
 iii) Notifications stating no actions were taken within the framework of the NFIDC Decision  are not included.  
 iv) Annual reporting periods ("year") differ among Members.  Notification symbols in the table refer to notifications in the G/AG/N/ -- series. 
  G/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
- 21 - Annex 2: Summary of Table of NF:1 Notifications  
Member  Latest Notification  Quantity of food aid provided to 
LDCs and N FIDCs  Indication of the 
proportion in fully grant 
form or appropriate 
concessional terms  Technical and financial assistance under 
Paragraph 3(iii) of the Decision  Other relevant information 
with respect to actions 
taken within the 
framework of the Decision  
1 2 3 4 5 6 
Australia  G/AG/N/AUS/124  
(11 July 2019) covering the 
financial year 2017 -18 Australia provided AUD  84.7 million in 
food assistance to LDCs and NFIDCs in 
the form of cash -based support to the 
UN World Food Programme for 
emergency relief. For a breakdown by 
recipient countries, please refer to the 
notification.  All food assistance was 
provided in fully grant form.  Australia provided AUD 377.9 million for 
programmes within the ambit of the Decision, 
including AUD 164.8 mill ion directed to LDCs 
and NFIDCs.  
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs 
and Trade (DFAT) is primarily responsible for 
delivering Australia's aid program.1 This aid 
program includes work to improve agriculture 
and rural development in LDCs and NFIDCs.  
The Australian Centre for International 
Agricultural Research (ACIAR) also assists  LDC 
and NFIDCs through its Global Program.2 
ACIAR 's purpose is to achieve more productive 
and sustainable agricultural systems for 
developing countries through agricultural  
research and training partnerships.  
The bilateral and regional technical and 
financial assistance (that covers majority of 
Australia's aid) was approximately 
AUD 74 million, focussing on agricultural 
productivity and sustainability; crop storage; 
environmental management; developing 
markets; provision of infrastructure related to 
food security and assisting countries adjust to 
changes in trade patterns.  
ACIAR expended AUD 112.49  million. 
AUD 35.31  million was provided to 
International Agricultural Research 
Centres  (IARCs), of which AUD 30.08 million 
was directed to programmes advancing ACIAR 's 
objectives in LDCs and NFIDCs.  
Australia also supports scholarship students 
from LDCs and NFIDCs on agriculture, forestry 
and fisheries.  Other Federal and State 
Government agencies (other 
than DFAT and ACIAR) 
sponsored official exchanges 
with developing countries on 
agriculture and food security, 
amounting to about 
AUD 7.2 million, of which 
AUD 0.2 million was directed 
at LDCs and NFIDCs.  
 
1 Detailed information on Australia’s aid program is available at  https://dfat.gov.au/ . 
2 Detailed information on ACIAR’s Global Program is available at https://www.aciar.gov.au/ .  
  G/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
- 22 - Member  Latest Notification  Quantity of food aid provided to 
LDCs and N FIDCs  Indication of the 
proportion in fully grant 
form or appropriate 
concessional terms  Technical and financial assistance under 
Paragraph 3(iii) of the Decision  Other relevant information 
with respect to actions 
taken within the 
framework of the Decision  
1 2 3 4 5 6 
Canada  G/AG/N/CAN/ 130 
(8 October 2019) covering 
the calendar year 2017  Total food assistance reported under 
the Food Assistance Convention (FAC)3 
was more than CAD 362 million, of 
which around CAD 239 million was 
directed to NFIDCs and LDCs. Food 
assistance incorporates pro vision of 
eligible products, cash, vouchers, and 
nutritional interventions. For a 
breakdown by recipient countries, 
please refer to the notification.  All food assistance was 
provided in fully grant form.4  Canada provided humanitarian assistance 
funding (i ncluding food assistance) to help 
those affected by natural disasters and complex 
emergencies in 57 countries.  
In terms of geographical distribution of the food 
assistance for 2017, almost 50% of Canada 's 
food assistance went to sub -Saharan Africa, 
28.5% w ent to the Middle -East and Northern 
Africa, 12.8%  went to Asia, 8.9% went to the 
Americas and a little less than 0.2% went to 
the crisis in Ukraine.  
Canada provided l ong-term support of 
CAD 50 million over five years to WFP for 
gender -sensitive school feeding programme in 
conflict areas for protracted humanitarian 
contexts in the Democratic Republic of the 
Congo, Niger, Syria and Lebanon.  
Canada allocated CAD 120.7 million to 
International Development Research Centre 
(IDRC) which  undertook disbursements in the 
agriculture sector totalling CAD 4.4 million . A 
review for FY2013/2014 of IDRC identified 
15 projects in agriculture and related sectors  in 
LDCs and NFIDCs  with a value of 
CAD 3.9 million. For a breakdown by recipient 
countr ies, please refer to the notification.  Canada provided its food 
assistance in 2014 through 
25 UN agencies and NGOs.  The 
WFP continued to receive the 
majority of Canada's food 
assistance funding, amounting 
to 63% of Canada's total food 
assistance allocations. The 
Micronutrient Initiative and the 
Canadian Foodgrains Bank 
received 15% and 7% of 
Canada's contribution 
respec tively. The remainder 
was provided to Action Against 
Hunger, the ICRC and other 
Canadian and international 
NGOs.  
 
3 As a signatory to the 2013 Food Assistance Convention (FAC), Ca nada established a minimum annual food assistance level of CAD 250 million.  
4 Since 2008, Canada has fully untied its food assistance budget, opening up 100% of its food assistance budget to internationa l procurement and supporting the purchase 
of food in developing countries.   
  G/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
- 23 - Member  Latest Notification  Quantity of food aid provided to 
LDCs and N FIDCs  Indication of the 
proportion in fully grant 
form or appropriate 
concessional terms  Technical and financial assistance under 
Paragraph 3(iii) of the Decision  Other relevant information 
with respect to actions 
taken within the 
framework of the Decision  
1 2 3 4 5 6 
European 
Union  G/AG/N/EU/54  
(9 April 2019) covering the  
calendar year 2018  The total food assistance and nutrition 
funding allocations was 
EUR 404.9  million which was spent 
mostly on products, logistics, support 
operations and transport, flanking 
measures and measures to monitor 
implementation of humanitarian food 
assistance and nutrition programmes, 
as well as livelihoods protection 
programmes.  The proportion of the 
overall food assistance delivered in the 
form of cash and voucher transfers 
represented about 33% of the total 
funding. 5 For a breakdown by recipient 
countries, please refer to the 
notification.  All food assistance was 
provided full y in grant form.  
Local and regional purchase 
was encouraged to avoid 
harmful effects of imported 
food from developed 
countries on the local 
markets.  The assistance was provided for vulnerable and 
food and nutrition insecure populations in 
44 countries or territories of which 24 were 
LDCs or NFIDCs plus 1 regional operations that 
included also LDCs or NFDCs.  The implementation of the 
food assistance funded by the 
European Commission was 
carried out by UN agencies and 
other international 
organizations, inter national 
NGOs and the Red Cross/Red 
Crescent family.  
Indonesia  G/AG/N/IDN/ 62 
(15 October  2019) covering 
the calendar year  2018 - - Indonesia held international training on 
processing technology of agricultural husbandry 
products for african countries (Participants: 
South Africa, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Ghana, 
Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, 
Nigeria, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe).  
 
In addition, Indonesia provided assistance in 
the form of 1 00 units of hand tractors to Fiji 
amounti ng to 5.8 billion IDR.  
 - 
Japan  G/AG/N/JPN/229  
(15 November  2018) 
covering the calendar 
year 2016 Japan grants funds to be used to 
purchase food and granted 
USD 38.13  million in 2016 for food 
purchase. For a breakdown by recipient 
countries, please refer to the 
notification.  All the funds were granted in 
fully grant form.  Japan provided grant aid of USD 106.19 million 
and USD  134.59 million in technical 
cooperation. In addition, Japan provided ODA 
loans (grant element more than 25%) worth 
USD 150.24 million towards technical and 
financial assistance.  Japan provided grant aid of 
USD 151.38  million and 
USD 211.92  million in 
technical cooperation to 
developing countries 
(including aid given to Eastern 
Europe and graduated 
countries). In addition, Japan 
provided ODA loans (grant 
element more than 25%) 
worth USD  321.67  million to 
developing countries  
 
5 In 2010, the EU adopted its Humanitarian Food Assistance Policy, which captures the shift from food aid to food assistance so  as to cover the acute food and nutrition 
needs of the most vulnerable populations in the most efficient an d effective manner.   
  G/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
- 24 - Member  Latest Notification  Quantity of food aid provided to 
LDCs and N FIDCs  Indication of the 
proportion in fully grant 
form or appropriate 
concessional terms  Technical and financial assistance under 
Paragraph 3(iii) of the Decision  Other relevant information 
with respect to actions 
taken within the 
framework of the Decision  
1 2 3 4 5 6 
New Zealand  G/AG/N/NZL/101  
(6 September  2017) 
covering the financial 
year 2016/17  New Zealand provides humanitarian 
support through many channels, 
including grants (including 
un-earmarked core funding and funding 
earmarked at the country level), 
deployable technical assistance, relief 
supplies, and early recovery projects 
through in -country partners such as 
non-government organisations.  
  
In 2016/17, New Zealand's core 
funding to multilateral agencies  (WFP, 
International Committee of the Red 
Cross)  amounted to NZD  8,500,000. 
Emeregency food aid in response to 
appeals included  
NZD 11,000,000  through international 
organizations and NZD 3,649,783  
through NGOs; in both cases the 
amount may have included food aid.  
 All financial support for food 
aid was in full grant form.  
 
 New Zealand provided a total of 
NZD 15,793,056 in technical and financial 
assistance in the Pacific region through the 
global /regional channels. Under the bilateral 
channels, New Zealand provided 
NZD 2,509,641 to Pacific countries, 
NZD 6,788,084 to Asia and NZD  359,590 to 
Africa and Americas.  The New Zealand Aid 
Programme funds scholarships 
and Short -Term Training 
Awards to stud ents from 
developing countries who wish 
to study at New Zealand 
institutions. It also provides 
support to the University of the 
South Pacific in Suva, Fiji.  
 
In addition, New Zealand 
diplomatic posts supply 
information relevant to 
accessing the New Zealand  
market to developing country 
exporters.  
Norway  G/AG/N/NOR/107  
(26 September  2019) 
covering the calendar 
year 2018 Norway provides food aid in the form of 
economic assistance through 
organizations such as WFP that includes 
long term development programmes as 
well as emergency relief aid.  All food aid was provided in 
fully grant form.  Norwegian development assistance included:  
a) 756 million channelled through the World 
Food Programme which included 
NOK 290 million as 'core contribution' and 
NOK 466 million towards 'multi -bilateral 
support'. Of the multi -bilateral support, 
197 million is directed to LDCs.  
b) As a part of long -term development 
programmes, Norwegian bilateral aid to 
selected DAC sectors (e.g. agriculture, fishing) 
and partners amount ed to around 
NOK 915 million.  
c) Bilateral food -related emergency relief aid to 
LDCs (including bilateral and mult -bilateral 
assistance) amounted to around 
NOK 317 million. 197 million of the 
multi-bilateral aid to LDCs is channelled 
through the World Food  Programme.  -  
  G/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
- 25 - Member  Latest Notification  Quantity of food aid provided to 
LDCs and N FIDCs  Indication of the 
proportion in fully grant 
form or appropriate 
concessional terms  Technical and financial assistance under 
Paragraph 3(iii) of the Decision  Other relevant information 
with respect to actions 
taken within the 
framework of the Decision  
1 2 3 4 5 6 
Russian 
Federation  G/AG/N/RUS/20  
(18 April 2018) covering the 
calendar  year 2017  Russia provided or financed food aid 
worth USD  3 million to LDCs, 
USD 3.5 million to NFIDCs and 
USD 23 million to other countries. The 
food aid was channelled through 
the WFP. All food aid was provided in 
fully grant form.  
 - - 
South Africa  G/AG/N/ZAF/89  
(16 May 2017) covering the 
calendar year 2014    South Africa provided:  
- ZAR 1 million to the WFP towards food aid in 
Malawi;  
- ZAR 2.5 million to FAO to address the impact 
of locust infestation, floods and drought 
devastations in Madagascar;  
- ZAR 3 million to FAO in response to 
emergency appeal to address continental food 
insecurity challenge in Africa; and   
-ZAR 10.98 Million through the African 
Agricultural Development Programme (AADP) 
for technical assistance for the purpose of Dairy 
Production in Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi.    
  G/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
- 26 - Member  Latest Notification  Quantity of food aid provided to 
LDCs and N FIDCs  Indication of the 
proportion in fully grant 
form or appropriate 
concessional terms  Technical and financial assistance under 
Paragraph 3(iii) of the Decision  Other relevant information 
with respect to actions 
taken within the 
framework of the Decision  
1 2 3 4 5 6 
Switzerland  G/AG/N/CHE/86/Rev.1  
(24 June 2019) covering the 
calendar year 2017  Food assistance consists of cash 
contributions and deliveries of dairy 
products of Swiss origin.6 Food 
assistance is complemented by 
Switzerland's global advocacy efforts 
and its commitment  to tackling the root 
causes of hunger, for example through 
support to agricultural research, 
promotion of small -scale farmers and 
reduction of post -harvest losses . 
 
In the area of food assistance, 
Switzerland works in close partnership 
with international organizations, in 
particular the World Food Programme 
(WFP). In 2017, it contributed to 
approximately In the area of food 
CHF 70 million to the WFP.  
 
Food aid is not allocated on the basis of 
the criteria of LDCs or NFIDCs. Swiss 
funds for food assistance operations are 
instead allocated in accordance with the 
following criteria: needs (populations 
affected, urgency and lack of funds), 
potential synergies with other Swiss 
programmes, or the presence of a 
Swiss cooperation office.  
For details of funds alloca ted to LDCs 
and NFIDCs for food and nutritional 
assistance, please refer to the 
notification.  All food aid was provided on 
fully grant terms.  Switzerland's official development 
assistance  (ODA) amounted to CHF 3.05 billion 
in 2017. Through its development aid, 
Switzerland supports the work of developing 
countries with a view to improving the standard 
of living of their people, strengthening their 
capacity to assume greater responsibility and 
ensuring their development by their own 
means.  
The SDC (Swiss Agen cy for Development and 
Cooperation) is responsible for the general 
coordination of technical and financial 
assistance to countries and regions of the 
South, namely the majority of low -income 
countries.  
The SECO (Economic Cooperation and 
Development Divisi on of the State Secretariat 
for Economic Affairs) implements the economic 
and trade policy measures related to 
development cooperation with middle -income 
countries in particular. Through cooperation 
with countries in transition, the SDC and SECO 
both lend their support to a sustainable 
transition towards democracy and the market 
economy.  
Swiss humanitarian aid and emergency 
assistance by the SDC takes a number of 
forms: the mobilization of specialists from the 
Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) and other 
crisis units; the distribution of food aid through 
Swiss relief agencies and the World Food 
Programme (WFP); and the granting of 
financial support to International Committee of 
the Red Cross (ICRC) activities and UN 
humanitarian organizations. The SDC also 
supports non -governmental humanitarian 
organizations working in the field.   
 
6 Switzerland has been a contracting party to the Food Assistance Convention.   
  G/AG/W/42/Rev.20  
 
- 27 - Member  Latest Notification  Quantity of food aid provided to 
LDCs and N FIDCs  Indication of the 
proportion in fully grant 
form or appropriate 
concessional terms  Technical and financial assistance under 
Paragraph 3(iii) of the Decision  Other relevant information 
with respect to actions 
taken within the 
framework of the Decision  
1 2 3 4 5 6 
United States 
of America  G/AG/N/USA/119  
(25 January 2018) covering 
the fiscal year 2016  The total quantity of food assistance 
provided to LDCs and NFIDCs was 
1,505,691  tonnes . 
For a breakdown of food aid 
commodities, please refer to the 
notification.  Food assistance under 
Title II, Food for Progress, 
and Food for Education 
programs was provided in 
fully grant form.  The following measures were reported7: 
a) U.S. Department of Sta te assistance to 
agriculture amounting  to USD  1,246,934,000 
that included expenditures on crop production, 
livestock production, resource management, 
infrastructure, policies and planning, training 
and extension, and agribusiness credit;  
b) Contribution via the Millennium Challenge 
(MCC) Corporation equal to USD  1,888,000. 
MCC funds country -led solutions for reducing 
poverty through sustainable economic growth 
(e.g. rural roads and other infrastructure; 
irrigation and water management; techni cal 
assistance and agricultural technology 
transfer);  
c) The Department of Agriculture allocated 
USD 1,749,936, USD 5,598,882, and 
USD 7,007,580 to the Borlaug Fellowship 
Program, the Cochran Fellowship Program and 
the Emerging Markets Program respectively .  
d) U.S. contributions to multilateral 
organizations with an agricultural emphasis 
(e.g. UNDP, FAO, WFP) amounted to 
USD 3,475,278,876.  
e) Peace Corps funds to support agricultural 
volunteers amounting to USD 1,888,000 (LDC 
share equalling USD  8,316,600  and 
USD 2,322,200 for the NFIDCs).  Volunteers 
provide  technical assistance, inter alia , to 
produce agricultural products and by -products, 
increase agricultural productivity, safely use 
agricultural chemeicals.  
f) Value of food assistance used in development 
programmes amounted to USD  760,317,844. 
The amount represents the USD value of the 
commodities donated under Title II, Food for 
Progress, and Food for Education food aid 
programs that were monetized. The amount 
includes USD 373 million of Title  II funds; 80 %. 
of Title II developmen programmes were in 
LDCs and NFIDCs.  WTO developing countries, 
LDCs and NFIDCs benefited 
from the U.S. Government 
officially -supported export 
credit guarantee programs 
worth USD 2,149,807,286.  
Note:   Based on the late st Table NF: 1 notification s by Members.  
__________  
 
7 All of the figures reported represent budgetary obligations or estimates for the reporting period.