In remarks delivered to the International Grains Trade Coalition (IGTC) on 3rd November 2020, Deputy Director-General (DDG) Alan Wolff said the COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the critical need for governments to work not only with each other but with business and wider civil society to ensure recovery.
DDG Wolff stated that in the wake of the pandemic, WTO Members, many of whom are also active with the IGTC, re-affirmed their commitment to a fair and market-oriented trading system.
According to him, many of these Members joined forces and showed readiness to promote international co-operation; facilitate information exchange to mitigate supply chain disruptions; and safeguard global food security through open, predictable, and transparent trade.
While there were export restrictions put into place to promote food security when the spread of COVID 19 became global, many of these measures have since been rolled back.
There has been a substantial degree of adaptation to the current world we find ourselves in, a new normal of a depressed world economy and a disease that has not been conquered.
The WTO data show that the drop in world trade was far less than was feared under even the most optimistic scenario, and the forecast is for a substantial recovery in world trade next year, although still below trend.
“Much remains uncertain, but what is certain is that the crisis has highlighted the critical need for governments to work not only with each other but with the business sector and wider civil society.
“Owing to its specialized business and trade network, the Coalition is uniquely placed to support the WTO’s efforts to improve current market and regulatory environments for agri-food products”, said DDG Wolf.
DDG Wolff noted that the WTO welcomes the support from the Coalition. He noted that the efforts of the WTO fall into two interrelated categories.
“First, WTO Members are in the process of updating current WTO rules as they relate to agriculture to meet current and future challenges. In that regard, the negotiations aim to: substantially reduce trade-distorting support; improve disciplines on export restrictions; enhance market access opportunities; and further, improve export competition rules.
“Second, WTO bodies and the STDF routinely examine trade matters that are of utmost relevance to grains and oilseed trade, such as progress in adopting e-Phyto certification; and the digitalization of customs procedures”.
He urged IGTC stakeholders to be fully engaged, consulting with their respective governments to bring the negotiations to a successful close, and to work with the WTO so that world agricultural trade continues to rise to meet global needs.
DDG Wolff pointed out that the consultations are necessary because of the immense benefits that would accrue to agricultural trade,
He commended the IGTC for actively contributing information on food value chains to WTO’s COVID19 Trade Facilitation Repository. Stating that the IGTC’s engagements are most appreciated and valued by the WTO Members and the WTO Secretariat.
