Negotiations on Agriculture

Abstract

The negotiations principles to guide the remainder of the Doha Round trade negotiations are set out in the July Package. With regard to agriculture negotiations, the July Package sets out that the formula for tariff reduction in agriculture should be a tiered formula, applying both to developed and developing countries. Some sensitive products and special products in the case of developing countries would be exposed to a lower tariff reduction than under the normal formula. The July Package raises the fact that the number of bands, the thresholds for defining the bands and the type of tariff reduction in each band remain under negotiation. The role of a tariff cap in a tiered formula with distinct treatment for sensitive products will be further evaluated. Without undermining the overall objective of the tiered approach, Members may designate an appropriate number, to be negotiated, of tariff lines to be treated as sensitive, taking account of existing commitments for these products.