WTO Circulates Draft Agriculture Deal Ahead of Ministerial Conference

According to the Chair, the draft aims to reaffirm members’ commitment to revitalize agricultural trade negotiations and position them to make further progress following the ministerial conference.

The Chair of the World Trade Organization (WTO) agriculture negotiations, Ambassador Ali Sarfraz Hussain of Pakistan, has circulated a revised draft negotiating text ahead of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) scheduled to take place in Yaoundé, Cameroon, from 26 to 29 March 2026.

The revised draft was discussed by WTO members during a meeting of the agriculture negotiating body on 6 March, where most members welcomed it as a balanced basis for negotiations, although a few said the document remains unacceptable in its current form.

“This text seeks to strike a balance, in my view, by reflecting the shared ambition of members to work towards a fair and market-oriented agricultural trading system capable of delivering outcomes, including enhanced food security,” Hussain said.

Attempt to Revive Stalled Negotiations

According to the Chair, the draft aims to reaffirm members’ commitment to revitalize agricultural trade negotiations and position them to make further progress following the ministerial conference.

The meeting followed a week of intensive consultations with WTO members after the previous full membership session held on 27 February.

The revised text reflects an attempt to reconcile long-standing differences among members over issues such as agricultural subsidies, market access and food security.

Broad Support but Some Reservations

During the discussion, most WTO members expressed support for the revised draft.

Many delegations acknowledged that while the text may not fully reflect their national positions, it represents a carefully balanced compromise and could serve as a constructive basis for negotiations at MC14.

Several members noted that their specific priorities were not fully included in the text but indicated they could support it in the spirit of compromise.

The draft received backing from both agricultural importing and exporting countries, including coalitions of developed and developing economies, many of which issued collective statements welcoming the proposal.

Concerns Raised by Some Members

However, the revised draft did not receive unanimous support.

One WTO member argued that the text does not sufficiently encourage new negotiating approaches that could help overcome the long-standing stalemate in agriculture talks.

The C-4 group of West African cotton-producing countries — Mali, Chad, Benin and Burkina Faso — also said they could not support the draft at this stage.

The group expressed concern that cotton is not explicitly mentioned in the draft, arguing that their longstanding concerns over cotton subsidies and market access remain inadequately addressed.

Preparing Ministers’ Discussions at MC14

Members also discussed how the agriculture session should be structured during the Ministerial Conference.

Most delegations encouraged the Chair to prepare a short set of guiding questions to facilitate dialogue among ministers during the plenary session.

Some members suggested that smaller breakout sessions could also help advance discussions on complex issues.

Next Steps Before the Conference

Ambassador Hussain thanked WTO members for their participation in consultations and for providing feedback on earlier drafts of the text.

He will present the revised document during the WTO General Council meeting on 10–11 March.

The text will then be included in his official report to be forwarded to ministers ahead of the Yaoundé Ministerial Conference.

The report will also outline the consultation process, highlight remaining areas of concern and provide guidance on how ministers should conduct discussions on agriculture during MC14.