G/AG/GEN/150  
22 February  2019 
(19-1043) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Agriculture  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
THE IICA IN THE WT O COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE WORK  
PLAN IX:  
JANUARY TO DECEMBER 2019  
SUBMISSION BY THE IICA  
The following submission, dated  15 February  2019, is being circulated at the request of the 
Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture  (IICA).  
 
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1  BACKGROUND  
1.1.  In March  2010, the Committee on Agriculture of the World Trade Organization (WTO) granted 
the IICA ad hoc observer status in its regular meetings . Since June 2012, the IICA has been 
operating a WTO Reference Centre, which provides technical advisory services in connection with 
various areas of agricultural trade to individuals from government, business and academic circles 
that are interested in impr oving their technical capacity in these areas . 
1.2.  A number of joint technical cooperation activities have been conducted within the framework 
of the existing alliance between the IICA and the WTO on agricultural subjects of  particular interest 
to the two  institutions and their member countries . In 2018, two virtual technical for ums were held 
with the support of the Secretariat and the Chair of the Committee . 
1.3.  In this context, the IICA submitted eight joint work plans between 2010 and 2018 (documents 
G/AG/GEN/92, G/AG/GEN/95, G/AG/GEN/105, G/AG/GEN/115, G/AG/GEN/125, G/AG/GEN/132, 
G/AG/GEN/139 and G/AG/GEN/145) . 
1.4.  In order to ensure the continuity of the IICA's commitment, a ninth  joint work plan has been 
drafted and will be presented to WTO Members at t he next regular meeting of the Committee on 
Agriculture . 
2  ACTIVITIES TO BE DEVELOPED IN RELATION TO THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE ON 
AGRICULTURE  
2.1.  The following activities are under consideration : 
a. Participation in and attendance at meetings of the Committee on Ag riculture : The IICA, as 
an observer organization , undertakes to participate in the regular meetings of this 
Committee held at the WTO and in those involving matters within the Institute 's 
competence . Following these meetings, the IICA will prepare technica l bulletins to inform 
government agriculture officials and IICA officials, and the business and academic sectors 
of IICA member States, about the most salient  issues addressed at each meeting.  
b. Preparation of a paper on the IICA's contribution to the Marrak esh Decision and 
Food Security : The IICA undertakes to inform WTO Members about the contributions made 
by the Institute during the year in the area of food security . It published submissions on 
this subject in 2010 (G/AG/GEN/93), 2011 (G/AG/GEN/97), 2012 ( G/AG/GEN/104), 2013 
(G/AG/GEN/111), 2014 (G/AG/GEN/125), 2015 (G/AG/GEN/128), 2016 (G/AG/GEN/136), 
2017 (G/AG/GEN/142)  and 2018 (G/AG/GEN/148 ). G/AG/GEN/150  
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  c. Support for technical cooperation activities related to agricultural trade : The IICA will 
support  technical cooperation activities  at the hemispheric and  subregional levels geared 
towards ministries of agriculture  and entities including the Southern Agricultural Council 
(CAS), the Central American Agricultural Council (CAC),  the Pacific Alliance and other  
minist erial bodies . This support is designed to enhance the impact of the IICA and its 
partnership with the WTO in the development of such activities . 
In September  2018, the WTO Secretariat provided support to a technical forum entitled 
"Challenges and opportuni ties for Caribbean and Central American countries  in the 
WTO Committee on Agriculture ", which had approximately 30 participants ( Geneva -based 
delegates of Central American and Caribbean countries and IICA staff ). The forum was 
organized by the IICA, which,  in its capacity as an  ad hoc observer organization , has 
observed the participation of the delegations of the countries of the Americas and noted  
Member and Secretariat concerns regarding agricultural notifications ; the IICA has also 
taken note of the Secr etariat 's reports on notifications . In 2019, the IICA will direct  its 
effort s towards  technical cooperation  so as to follow up on the results of this forum . 
In November  2018, the IICA also provided support for the session on agriculture and 
sanitary and phytosanitary measures of the Trade Policy Co urse for countries of the 
Latin American Integration Association (LAIA)  in Montevideo.  
d. Monitoring areas of common interest : The IICA will monitor the progress of the agricultural 
trade negotiations at the WTO an d will prepare technically to respond to the requests of 
its member States in the area of agricultural trade policy and to develop possible training 
programmes in areas of common interest with other technical partners . The Institute will, 
in turn, make its  technical staff available to the WTO should it require support in respect 
of requests for technical advice and training (in part icular in Latin America and 
the Caribbean) relating to the  agricultural matters that for m part of the Institute's work . 
e. Compliance by countries with agricultural notification requirements : In document 
G/AG/GEN/86/Rev.33 of November  2018, the Committee identified countries that have 
fallen behind in submitting agricultural notifications .1 In this light, the IICA will continue 
to support the WTO's initiatives to conduct  activities including  regional workshops  and 
other training events that are  geared to wards  Latin American and Caribbean countries to 
help them improve, and ensure they are up to date with, their transparency commitments . 
Similarly, it will support and channel national and region al initiatives that require 
WTO technical cooperation.  
f. Preparation of technical documents : Given the IICA's extensive and proven experience in 
this area, i t will assist the WTO Secretariat with such activities at the Committee's request . 
3  THE AGRICULTURAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITHIN THE INSTITUTE  
3.1.  The IICA's activities in the WTO will be conducted within the framework of the IICA's Technical 
Cooperation Director ate, which will be responsible for implementing this work plan . The 
implementation of the plan will promote knowledge management and support the processes of trade 
promotion and internationalization of firms, regional integration, and  trade policy coordina tion 
through technical cooperation services and  the mobilization of relevant resources for inter -American 
agriculture, in accordance with the IICA's 2018 -2021 Medium -term Plan. 
3.2.  The IICA has an experienced network of experts in agricultur e and international trade  based  at 
its central headquarters , its offices located in 34 member countries on the American continent  and 
its Permanent Office for Europe , in Spain . 
                                                
1 Notifications are submitted in accordance with the requirements and  formats adopted in 1995 by 
WTO Members (G/AG/2).  G/AG/GEN/150  
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  3.3.  For further information, please contact : 
Adriana Campos Azofeifa  
International Trade and Regional Integration Programme Coordinator  
Email : adriana.campos@iica.int  
Tel.: (+506) 2216 0170  
 
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