• Although the member states have made every effort to reach agreement in the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiation, they still have different opinions on the reduction of U.S. farm subsidies., liberalization of the agricultural market in the EU and G10 member states, and liberalization of non-agricultural product and service markets in the developing countries. Because the WTO negotiation reached no settlement, it was transiently terminated late in July 2006.

• The WTO negotiation was resumed after a WTO Informal Ministerial Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, in January 2007.

## Progress of the WTO Agricultural Negotiation

November 2001 The 4th WTO Ministerial Meeting (Doha, Qatar) ◇ The Doha Development Agenda was established. Negotiations were started in the respective fields, including agriculture, non-agricultural products and service.
July 2004 General council (Geneva, Switzerland) ◇ An agreement was reached on the framework of the negotiation.
December 2005 The 6th WTO Ministerial Meeting (Hong Kong) ◇ An agreement was reached that a modality, which is a common rule among the member states, was to be established by the end of April 2006 on agricultural and non-agricultural products. The member states agreed that they were to submit their draft schedules of concessions by the end of July 2006.
January-July 2006 Ministerial-level Meetings (Geneva, Switzerland, etc.) ◇ Despite the discussions in the ministerial-level meetings and the attempt to establish the modality, no agreement was reached. The negotiation was transiently terminated late in July.
September 2006 G20 Ministerial Meeting (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Cairns Group Ministerial Meeting (Cairns, Australia) ◇ Several ministerial meetings were held, and the WTO member states explored the possibilities of resuming the negotiation.
November 2006 Informal Trade Negotiation Committee (Geneva, Switzerland) ◇ Lamy, the Director General of the WTO, recommended that the chairpersons in charge of negotiation promote discussion in line with the respective conditions.
January 2007- Informal Ministerial Meeting (Davos, Switzerland) Informal Trade Negotiation Committee (Geneva, Switzerland) ◇ As a result of discussion in the Informal Ministerial Meetings, full-fledged negotiation has been resumed.

• Under the Japanese basic principle “coexistence of various types of agriculture” Japan has participated in the negotiation aiming at establishing a rule that enables achievement of a balance between exporting and importing countries. Japan has taken the strategic and positive approach so that its claim can be reflected in the results of the Doha Round as much as possible.

## Japanese Attitude toward the WTO Agricultural Negotiation

Coexistence of Various Types of Agriculture

• Emphasis should be placed on the multifunctionality of agriculture, including assurance of food security along with open trade order.

• The basis that enables maintenance and continuation of local agriculture under different conditions is needed.

Promotion of Structural Reform for Domestic Agriculture

• International competitiveness of agriculture should be enhanced by fostering principal farmers and producing domestic products that have high added value.

• Practical trade rules are needed to allow the continuation of agricultural policy reform.

Establishment of Trade Rules that Enable Achievement of a Balance between Exporting and Importing Countries

• Although various regulations exist for importing countries, the regulations applicable to exporting countries are less strict. Accordingly, recovery of a balance is needed.

Source: Prepared by MAFF

Contribution to Development of Developing Countries

• In view of the conditions in developing countries, certain measures including special processes should be introduced.

• In addition to improvement of market access, support programs should be provided in combination with cooperation. (Development Initiative, December 2005).