Punke: U.S. willing to work on food security proposal
April 30, 2013 | 04:18 PM
As part of an attempt to come up with an agreement that World Trade Organization trade ministers can declare a success when they meet in Bali in December, the United States is willing to consider supporting a “work program” on international food security, U.S. Ambassador to the WTO Michael Punke said in Geneva today, according to a news release from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
India, with backing from the G-33 group of developing countries, has urged the trade ministers to include a food security proposal in the Bali package, but the United States has objected on the grounds that it could be protectionist.
Michael Punke
Punke said that today’s statement is a sign of U.S. flexibility, noting that the United States is willing consider establishing the work program at the Bali meeting, rather than agreeing to a food security proposal in advance.
“Today we are stating our openness to a work program, to be agreed by Bali, on food security that can examine the full range of trade-related government measures that can contribute to that goal," Punke told a meeting of senior officials in Geneva.
“We look forward to working with India and other members to discuss such a work program, in order to see addressed important issues associated with food security,” he said. “We also look forward to further discussion on additional agriculture components for the Bali package, such as the G-20 proposal on tariff rate quota (TRQ) administration on which the United States has already expressed willingness to engage.”
Punke explained the U.S. position.
“With regard to the agriculture component of these negotiations: the United States agrees with India and other proponents that enhancing food security in developing countries is indeed an important issue for this body to address; indeed, trade-related food security should be a top priority for future WTO work on agriculture,” Punke said.
“The United States believes that work can and should include examination not only of the role of public stockholding and administered prices in addressing food security concerns, but also how to improve food security through better-functioning markets, including further liberalization in agriculture trade, reductions in trade-distorting domestic support, elimination of export restrictions, improved transparency, and efficient distribution systems. Indeed, these complex and important issues need to be a part of this discussion.”
On nonagricultural matters, Punke also said that the United States remains interested in reaching agreement on trade facilitation and “is also willing to agree to some of the proposals put forward by the African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) Group on the Early Warning Mechanism, even where these proposals are a stark departure from existing and well-functioning WTO procedures on extending implementation periods. This new flexibility from the United States is a direct response to least-developed country (LDC) concerns on implementation.”
In general comments, Punke noted that U.S. officials fear that if the Bali meeting is not successful it will be hard for the Doha round to be successful.
“We are hopeful that today will show clearly a choice to work cooperatively toward a successful outcome at Bali that will secure new benefits from trade liberalization, and that will ultimately serve all members through the revitalization of the WTO’s negotiating function,” Punke said.
India, with backing from the G-33 group of developing countries, has urged the trade ministers to include a food security proposal in the Bali package, but the United States has objected on the grounds that it could be protectionist.
Punke said that today’s statement is a sign of U.S. flexibility, noting that the United States is willing consider establishing the work program at the Bali meeting, rather than agreeing to a food security proposal in advance.
“Today we are stating our openness to a work program, to be agreed by Bali, on food security that can examine the full range of trade-related government measures that can contribute to that goal," Punke told a meeting of senior officials in Geneva.
“We look forward to working with India and other members to discuss such a work program, in order to see addressed important issues associated with food security,” he said. “We also look forward to further discussion on additional agriculture components for the Bali package, such as the G-20 proposal on tariff rate quota (TRQ) administration on which the United States has already expressed willingness to engage.”
Punke explained the U.S. position.
“With regard to the agriculture component of these negotiations: the United States agrees with India and other proponents that enhancing food security in developing countries is indeed an important issue for this body to address; indeed, trade-related food security should be a top priority for future WTO work on agriculture,” Punke said.
“The United States believes that work can and should include examination not only of the role of public stockholding and administered prices in addressing food security concerns, but also how to improve food security through better-functioning markets, including further liberalization in agriculture trade, reductions in trade-distorting domestic support, elimination of export restrictions, improved transparency, and efficient distribution systems. Indeed, these complex and important issues need to be a part of this discussion.”
On nonagricultural matters, Punke also said that the United States remains interested in reaching agreement on trade facilitation and “is also willing to agree to some of the proposals put forward by the African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) Group on the Early Warning Mechanism, even where these proposals are a stark departure from existing and well-functioning WTO procedures on extending implementation periods. This new flexibility from the United States is a direct response to least-developed country (LDC) concerns on implementation.”
In general comments, Punke noted that U.S. officials fear that if the Bali meeting is not successful it will be hard for the Doha round to be successful.
“We are hopeful that today will show clearly a choice to work cooperatively toward a successful outcome at Bali that will secure new benefits from trade liberalization, and that will ultimately serve all members through the revitalization of the WTO’s negotiating function,” Punke said.
