African Group, Cairns Group Aim to Issue Draft Ag Proposal in 'Near Future'

Bilateral talks between the African Group and the Cairns Group, a coalition of 19 nations that export agricultural goods, on farm talks have moved towards the presentation of joint proposals "in the near future," the World Trade Organization announced. Reporting on the first agriculture negotiation meeting since the WTO summer break, on Sept. 18, the WTO said bilateral meetings between the groups have been "conducted on a weekly basis" since the body returned after the summer.

The talks have progressed on drafting "modalities across all topics, in particular domestic support and public stockholding for food security purposes." Various members also took part in talks on public stockholding and the Special Safeguard Mechanism, the WTO said.

During the meeting, Brazil also gave a presentation on its submission covering sustainable agriculture in the multilateral trading system, which was sent to the General Council in July. Brazil highlighted the need to more forcefully address "critical sustainability challenges" at the WTO. The presentation called on the General Council to lead by holding a retreat on the topic in the second half of 2024, "followed by a report on progress made at a senior officials' meeting on agriculture in the second half of 2025," the WTO said.