Number: 98-254
Title: AGRICULTURE IN THE NEXT ROUND OF MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS
Authors: Charles E. Hanrahan, Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division 
Abstract: Trade ministers of the 135 Member countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO) at the organization's third ministerial conference in Seattle, November 30-December 3, failed to agree on an agenda for a new round of multilateral trade negotiations. Nevertheless, WTO sectoral negotiations on agriculture, as required by Article 20 of the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture are expected to begin early in 2000 in Geneva, Switzerland. Central to these negotiations will be whether and how to further reduce trade barriers and limit export and domestic subsidies. New issues such as the operations of state trading enterprises and trade in biotechnology products also seem likely to be brought to the negotiating table. The United States, the European Union, the Cairns Group of agricultural exporting countries, Japan, and the developing countries all have staked out positions on these issues.
Pages: 32
Date: Updated December 29, 2000