Global Sugar Alliance members are active participants in processes to improve the world sugar trading environment. Members works closely together to ensure the fair and equal treatment of sugar in the WTO negotiations on agriculture.
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19 April 2007
US Leadership can tip the Doha balance
Communiqu? – Washington, D.C.
The Global Sugar Alliance, exporters of 80 per cent of the world’s cane sugar, urges the US Congress (both House and Senate) to show leadership in the development of the 2007 Farm Bill as precursor to the reinvigoration of the Doha Development Round. Revival of the Doha Round will deliver food and energy security and create opportunity for rich and poor nations alike.
With US leadership, all WTO Ministers and others, who seek a truly liberalising outcome will be able to send clear signals of political engagement and commitment so desperately needed to get a good trade deal. The approach taken in the 2007 Farm Bill will be seen by many as a sign of US commitment to the Doha agenda.
Political leadership and vision remains vital, it is important that the major participants – US, EU, G20 and Cairns Group – take up the challenge. With a new Congress the US has an important opportunity to demonstrate leadership on the key issues for sensitive and special products such as sugar. Others could play a facilitative role, greater commitment by the EU on market access would enable the US to deliver greater reductions in domestic support in the Doha context.
Agriculture remains at the heart of a Doha deal, all WTO members must now focus on finding additional flexibility to bring these talks to a successful conclusion. Headline tariff cuts, quota expansion and subsidy reductions are critical. Close attention also needs to be paid to the terms of market access for special and sensitive products.
A limited agreement will deliver little and would be as bad as no agreement at all. The Doha Round’s value will be judged on how much new commercial trade it creates. Without progress on important products such as sugar, the Doha Round is unlikely to reach conclusion, disappointing the world’s farmers, developed and developing alike.
The Round must be successfully concluded in a manner that delivers on the Doha mandate – market access, remains the number one issue.
The world is changing for both sugar and ethanol. Enhanced market access for both products will deliver security of supply and allow farmers in many developing countries to realise their full economic potential, without harming the incomes of those, even in the most heavily protected economies.
All trade Ministers are seeking access to other markets. The benefits go to those who liberalise. A new focus is needed if concrete ways to conclude the Doha negotiations are to be developed.
Only by working together will WTO members be able to unlock the Doha Development Round
· it is important that developed economies bring more to the table on market access and domestic support
· for the negotiations to move forward some developing economies will also need to make a contribution.
Freeing markets for agricultural products like sugar will deliver food security, and opening markets for ethanol will enhance energy security, lowering dependence on oil and protect and improve the environment.