The Hindu : Business : Issues in agriculture, market access

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 16, 2004

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Business

Issues in agriculture, market access

By Sushma Ramachandran

NEW DELHI, APRIL 15. With the agriculture trade talks having resumed at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva, the global development agency, Oxfam, has urged the Group of 20 developing countries to stand their ground on the issues of both agriculture and market access. As for developed countries, it argues that the test for the European Union will be whether it is prepared to agree on a timetable for reduction of huge food subsidies.

According to Oxfam's U.K.-based Campaign and Policy Director, Justin Forsyth, efforts are being made to mobilise public opinion both in the EU and the U.S. against the continuance of huge agriculture subsidies to a limited farming community. He told The Hindu that in the case of cotton alone, the U.S. was providing subsidies of about $130,000 annually to each of about 30,000 cotton farmers in that country. In addition, the latest Farm Bill introduced by the U.S. President, George Bush, ensured another $70 billion of subsidies over the last two years.Mr. Forsyth is now visiting this country to review Oxfam's various programmes including the `make trade fair' campaign and another opposing violence against women and gender. While welcoming the resumption of talks on agriculture, he was sceptical about the prospects of the EU presenting any substantive proposals on subsidy cuts. This was despite the cracks among EU member countries on this issue. At the same time, he felt that countries like the U.K., that are opposed to the subsidy system in other European countries like France has not pushed hard enough for a change in position.

Even in regard to the contentious Singapore issues, he felt that the European Commission was continuing to promote their inclusion in the WTO agenda though most member countries are not eager to push these at the multilateral arena right now. Describing 2005 as a critical period, Mr. Forsyth said a large `window of opportunity' would open since three major conferences were proposed to be held next year.

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