Negotiating Agriculture in the World Trade Organization: Food Security as a Non-Trade Concern
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5102/rdi.v14i1.4368Keywords:
WTO, Agriculture, Food security, Development, Non-trade concerns, Trade policies.Abstract
Food security is an important issue in the current international agenda, for the 2007-2008 economic crisis contributed to the rise in food prices, increasing their volatility. As a complex topic, the efforts to assuring food security cannot be restricted to national initiatives, demanding rather a comprehensive global policy, involving all the interested actors. In this regard, WTO has a shared responsibility in the fight against hunger and in the promotion of the right to food. Trade is one of the many elements related to food security, and it may be a relevant tool in fostering sustainable practices to achieve such goal. Agriculture negotiations in the WTO are aimed at guaranteeing stable and rule-oriented markets, with the liberalization of the agricultural sector and the elimination of distortive practices. Food security is a non-trade concern that must be taken into consideration in the reform talks of the Agreement on Agriculture. The main question on this matter is whether food security should be sought in WTO through the adoption of trade policies, which requires strengthening the discipline on the use of restrictive measures, or through the enhancement of liberalization and cooperation in multiple levels.References
BALDWIN, Richard E.; EVENETT, Simon J. Beggar-thy-neighbour policies during the crisis era: causes, constraints, and lessons for maintaining open borders. Oxford Review of Economic Policy, v. 28, n. 2, p. 211–234, 2012.
DIAZ-BONILLA, Eugenio. Agricultural Trade and Food Security: Some Thoughts about a Continuous Debate. E15Initiative. Geneva: International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and World Economic Forum, 2014. Disponível em: www.e15initiative.org/.
ELABORATION of United States Agriculture Proposal with Respect to Food Security. MTN.GNG/ NG5/W/61.
FEUNTEUN, Tristan. Cartels and the Right to Food: An Analysis of States’ Duties and Options. Journal of International Economic Law, v. 18, p. 341–382, 2015.
FOOD SECURITY PORTAL. A New Paradigm for the Doha Development Round: IFPRI Policy Seminar. Feb 26, 2016. Available at: http://www.foodsecurityportal. org/new-paradigm-doha-development-round. Last accessed on 29 October 2016.
FOOD Security: Statement by Jamaica at Eighth Meeting of Negotiating Group on Agriculture. MTN. GNG/NG5/W/65.
G20. G20 Action Plan on Food Security and Sustainable Food Systems, Turkey, 2015.
IRWIN, Douglas A.; MAVROIDIS, Peter C.; SYKES, Alan O. The Genesis of GATT. Nova York: Cambridge University Press, 2008.
JACKSON, John Howard. Sovereignty, the WTO, and Changing Fundamentals of International Law. Nova York: Cambridge University Press, 2006.
ROME Declaration on World Food Security and World Food Summit Plan of Action, World Food Summit, November 1996.
SCHOENBAUM, Thomas J. Fashioning a New Regime for Agricultural Trade: New Issues and the Global Food Crisis. Journal of International Economic Law, v. 14, n. 3, p. 593–611, 2011.
STEWART, Terence P. (Ed). The GATT Uruguay Round: A Negotiating History (1986-1992). Commentary. Boston: Kluwer Law and Taxation Publishers, 1993.
STIGLITZ, Joseph E.; CHARLTON, Andrew. Fair Trade for All: How can trade promote development? Londres: Oxford University Press, 2005.
THE Cairns Group. Available at: http://cairnsgroup. org/Pages/map/index.aspx. Accessed on: 31 Oct. 2016.
TREBILCOCK, Michael J.; HOWSE, Robert. The Regulation of International Trade. 2. ed. Nova York: Routledge, 2005.
TREBILCOCK, Michael J.; PUE, Kristen. The Puzzle of Agricultural Exceptionalism in International Trade Policy. Journal of International Economic Law, v. 18, p. 233–260, 2015.
UN COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC. Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR). General Comment No. 12: The Right to Adequate Food (Art. 11 of the Covenant), 12 May 1999, available at: http://www.refworld.org/ docid/4538838c11.html. Access on: 27 Oct. 2016.
UNITED NATIONS. General Assembly: Resolution 70/1. Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, A/RES/70/1, 21 October 2015.
UNITED NATIONS. ‘Preliminary Report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the Right to Food’ (2001) UN Doc. A/56/210, 23 July 2001.
UNITED NATIONS. General Assembly: Resolution 55/2. United Nations Millennium Declaration, A/ RES/55/2, 18 September 2000.
UNITED NATIONS. Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty & Hunger. Available at: http://www.un.org/ millenniumgoals/poverty.shtml. Accessed on: 24 Oct. 2016.
UNITED NATIONS. Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. Available at: http://www. un.org/sustainabledevelopment/hunger/. Accessed on: 24 Oct. 2016.
UNITED NATIONS. The Millennium Development Goals Report: 2015. United Nations: New York, 2015.
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. Comprehensive Proposal for the Long-Term Reform of Agricultural Trade. GATT Doc. No. MTN.GNG/NG5/W/128. Available at: https://www.wto.org/gatt_docs/English/ SULPDF/92090008.pdf. Access on: 31 Oct. 2016.
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. DG Azevêdo: Trade is vital in meeting Sustainable Development Goals. Available at: https://www.wto.org/english/ news_e/news16_e/dgra_21sep16_e.htm. Access on: Oct. 2016.
ZHANG, Ruosi. Food Security: Food Trade Regime and Food Aid Regime. Journal of International Economic Law, v. 7, n. 3, p. 565-584, 2004.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Brazilian Journal of International Law de Uniceub est mis à disposition selon les termes de la licence Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International.
Fondé(e) sur une œuvre à http://www.publicacoesacademicas.uniceub.br/
