JOB/AG/82  
 
3 October 2016  
(16-5257) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Agriculture  
Special Session    
 
 REPORT BY THE COA SS  CHAIR, AMB. VANGELIS  VITALIS,  
TO THE INFORMAL MEET ING OF HEADS OF DELE GATIONS  
30 September 2016  
1.   Since my last report to the Heads of Delegations on 25 July this year, the summer break has 
intervened.  
 
2.   What is clear from my initial con sultations which have only just begun – the summer break has 
not been wasted. Several Delegations have already made clear to me that they used the holiday 
period to think ahead, including on the range of substantive and technical issues before us in 
agricu lture. Some have also signalled that they may have new ideas to drive the negotiations 
forward in due course.   
 
3.   At the outset therefore let me reiterate that my assessment from July has not altered. I am 
confident that as we resume in earnest, the increas ed level of engagement I detected from our 
July meetings will be sustained, including that the Membership is moving from reflection and into 
action.  
 
4.   As I noted in my last report, this change of gear was indicated to me by the large number of 
written submi ssions made by Members in advance of the last CoA SS of 18 July. Interestingly, 
these submissions covered most parts of our negotiation, including several submissions on 
Domestic Support (including Cotton). There were also new submissions on Market Access,  and 
Export Restrictions. I should also remind colleagues that there was also a specific submission 
which usefully informed the exchanges on the SSM.  
 
5.   It is worth briefly recalling where we got to in July as a way of framing the way ahead. For me 
there rem ain three points of reference as follows:   
 
i. Above all, there was a sense that we were moving from reflection and into action in the 
agriculture negotiations. We remain therefore at an important inflection point and my 
initial consultations since the summe r break have reinforced that sense;  
 
ii. For the first time since our Ministerial meeting last year, Members were preparing and 
engaging in detail on the substance. There were signs too of Members beginning to 
methodically work through different issues at hand . I am pleased to note also that those 
encouraging signs are still there from my early consultations this past week;  
 
iii. There remains a shared understanding that the way to proceed continues to be framed 
by "defining by doing".  
 
6.   Let me recall too th e contin ued shared sense by Members on the following set of four 
objectives for our negotiation s. I restated these in July at our meeting in this format and repeat 
them here for ease of reference:  
 
i. Agriculture should form part of any outcome at MC11;  
 
ii. The process and outcomes on agriculture should deliver on Ministerial expectations;  
 
iii. For an outcome at MC11 on agriculture, progress is needed across the Doha agriculture 
issues, but also in the wider non -agriculture negotiations and on "new issues"; and  JOB/AG/82  
 
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iv. Polarizing debates should be avoided.    
 
7.   Looking ahead, I intend to intensify my consultations which I have only recently re -commence, 
now including with the Groups and bilaterally.  
 
8.   I also continue to strongly encourage Members to talk to each other – including be tween 
Groups. There is no substitute for this process. Against that background, I expect to hold the next 
round of agriculture -related meetings in early to middle November.  
 
Conclusion  
9.   In conclusion, Director -General at our last meeting in May and again in  July you requested 
Chairs to work actively with Members to find ways forward in the negotiations and, in particular, to 
finally move from reflection into action.  
 
10.   As I hope is clear from my report, I am responding to your request. I do believe that 
Membe rs are doing the same.  
 
11.   As I concluded in July, it is now time for the Membership to move from reflection into action. 
And it is now up to us to "define by doing" and thus establish precisely what action means.  
 
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