Chair issues call for meaningful progress in agriculture talks by MC14
In his final report reflecting on the extensive work done over the past two years, Ambassador Acarsoy expressed regret over the absence of an outcome on agriculture at MC13 in 2024, despite having come very close to a result. He told WTO members that their position today is very similar to where they stood before MC13, and he urged them to consider “what steps can be taken to break free from a recurring ‘Groundhog Day’ scenario and drive meaningful progress forward.”
“Rebuilding trust and setting credible targets are paramount to progressively restoring an effective negotiating process and achieving an agricultural outcome in March 2026 in Yaoundé,” the Chair told the meeting. He called on members to engage in “evidence-based discussions” and “text-based negotiations”.
DG Okonjo-Iweala thanked Ambassador Acarsoy for his leadership and expressed hope that his efforts would inspire a “genuine desire” among members to break the deadlock.
At MC14, agriculture should be “the centre of attention”, the Director-General said. She urged WTO members to try to mobilize the political will and flexibility that will be needed to achieve a breakthrough in the negotiations.
She also assured members that the General Council Chair is actively working to identify a successor to Ambassador Acarsoy, to ensure a smooth transition.
The Director-General welcomed ongoing initiatives, such as the joint work of the African Group and the Cairns Group of agricultural exporting countries, and she called for further research into the evolving agricultural landscape to provide fact-based insights that could help inform the negotiations.
The African Group and the Cairns Group provided an update on their joint work, reaffirming their commitment to levelling the playing field in agriculture and making the global trading system fairer and more predictable. The groups reiterated their plan to submit a “modalities” package — setting out formulas and figures for commitments to reduce trade-distorting domestic support — for the consideration of members before MC14.
Both groups acknowledged the “great efforts” invested in the process, which allows ideas to be tested without commitment until an overall agreement is reached. While recognizing that “the work has not always been easy,” the two groups emphasized that the process has been “consultative and constructive” and serves as “an example of what can be done”. They pledged to continue to engage with members and groups to advance discussions and build momentum for MC14.
Members applauded the Chair’s leadership and contributions. Many members emphasized the urgency of appointing a successor as soon as possible. There was broad agreement that MC14 must deliver on agriculture, given its crucial importance for the African continent. Some members suggested that outcomes should focus on addressing the specific needs of least-developed countries (LDCs) and on delivering for Africa.
Members exchanged views on negotiation priorities and the process for moving talks forward. Several members supported the Chair’s call for the swift resumption of substantive negotiations. Many said that future work should go beyond entrenched positions and take a more creative and innovative approach. While some insisted on the importance of sticking to formal negotiation forums, others saw value in advancing discussions through both formal and informal tracks, citing the constructive ongoing dialogue between the African Group and the Cairns Group as an example.
Some members also suggested incorporating new knowledge into the negotiations, including by organizing technical workshops and by expanding discussions to address emerging challenges, such as the need to ensure the sustainability of the sector.
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