WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
WT/GC/138 
18 November 2011 
 (11-6014) 
General Council 
30 November 2011 Original:   English 
 
 
 
FOOD EXPORT BARRIERS AND HUMANITARIAN FOOD AID  
BY THE WFP (WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME) 
 
Communication from the European Union 
 
 
The following communication, dated 17 Novemb er 2011, addressed to the Chairman of the 
General Council, is being circulated at the requ est of the Delegation of the European Union. 
 
_______________ 
 
 
The European Union has request ed that the Communication concerning Food Export Barriers 
and Humanitarian Food Aid by the Worl d Food Programme, transmitted by letter of 
11 November 2011 to the Chairman of the Gene ral Council by the EU on behalf of cosponsors 
(attached), be placed on the agenda of the Gene ral Council meeting 30 November 2011. This is in 
view of consideration of the proposal as an element of political guidance at the 8th Ministerial 
Conference.  WT/GC/138 
Page 2  
 
  ANNEX 
 
FOOD EXPORT BARRIERS AND HUMANITARIAN FOOD AID  
BY THE WFP (WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME) 
 
A Communication from Australia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, European Union, 
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Norway, 
Singapore, Switzerland and Turkey to the Chair of the General Council 
 
 
Introduction 
 
Following a call from leaders at the G20 Summit in Seoul, G20 Ministers of Agriculture met 
in Paris on June 22nd and 23rd.  They adopted an "Action Plan on Food Price Volatility and Agriculture."  
 
In paragraph 40 of that Action Plan, under th e section on International Policy Coordination, 
the Ministers of Agriculture expressed their commitment "to remove food export restrictions or extraordinary taxes for food purchased for non- commercial humanitarian purposes by the WFP 
(World Food Programme)" and agreed "not to impo se them in the future".  They decided "to seek 
support within the United Nations agencies and to  recommend consideration of the adoption of a 
specific resolution by the WTO for the Mi nisterial Conference in December 2011". 
 
The proposal to extend this commi tment to the WTO Membership 
 
Australia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, the Europ ean Union, Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, 
Norway, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Switzerland and Turk ey would like to propose an extension of the 
commitment under paragraph 40 of the Action Plan  to the whole WTO Me mbership.  The most 
effective approach will include all WTO Member s uppliers of humanitarian food aid undertaking one 
common commitment to improve the availability of humanitarian food aid to the WFP.   
Therefore, Australia, Canada, Chile, Costa Ri ca, the European Union, Korea, Indonesia, 
Japan, Mexico, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sw itzerland and Turkey submit a draft declaration 
for consideration and acceptance by all WTO Member s as a paragraph in the final outcome of the 
Ministerial Conference in December 2011.  The declaration would be the transcription of 
paragraph 40 of the Action Plan.  This action re presents one important step toward improved UN 
emergency food and humanitarian assistance. 
 
  WT/GC/138 
 Page 3 
 
 
  FOOD EXPORT BARRIERS AND HUMANITARIAN FOOD AID  
BY THE WFP (World Food Programme) 
 
 
We recognize that the first responsibility of each  WTO Member is to ensure the food security 
of its own population.  We also recognize that food export barriers restricting humanitarian aid 
penalize the most needy.  We agree to remove food export restrictions or extraordinary taxes for food 
purchased for non-commercial humanitarian purposes by  the World Food Programme (WFP) and we 
agree not to impose them in the future.  
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