WTO Official Pleads for Wholesale Agricultural Trade Reform

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – As the World Trade Organization (WTO) struggles to determine its role in future global trade, its top-ranking official is urging member-nations to make extensive reforms to existing global farm trade rules. WTO Deputy Director-General Alan Wolff this week declared a “pressing need for a breakthrough” for issues such as agricultural subsidies, where there is no good alternative to a multilateral agreement. Wolff, speaking at a virtual event explained that trade is a vital piece of not just global food systems, but of food security as well. “One in every six people around the globe” are fed at the hands of trade and the “WTO’s Agreement on Agriculture remains the only instrument that exists at the international level to govern global trade in agricultural products.” Since its entry into force, world ag exports have tripled from $450 billion to $1.5 trillion. Currently, the WTO is operating without a Director-General following the early retirement of Roberto Azevedo and is without a functioning Dispute Settlement Appellate Body – since the United States continues to block any progress in hopes of forcing reform.
(SOURCE: All Ag News)