WTO and FAO Strengthen Cooperation on Food and Agricultural Trade and Climate Change
Boosting Collaboration to Address Global Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture Production
The WTO and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) agreed on 1 December to boost cooperation and collaboration on a range of issues in the area of food and agricultural trade and climate change. The initiative comes at a time of growing crises affecting global food security and sustainable agriculture production.
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu signed a Framework Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which identifies areas of common interest between the WTO and FAO to facilitate the organizations’ close cooperation in these areas. The MoU was signed at the 28th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai which the two organization heads are attending.
The MoU will consolidate existing collaboration between the WTO and FAO, creating a stable framework within which future joint initiatives can take place.
Under the MoU, the WTO and FAO will strengthen collaboration in 17 areas of common interest, including:
- Support for the WTO’s ongoing negotiations on agricultural reform
- Implementation of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
- Hosting the annual World Cotton Day celebration
- Strengthened support of FAO to the WTO Committee on Agriculture
- Boosting existing collaboration on sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade
- Participation in the Standards and Trade Development Facility
- Collaboration on climate and trade initiatives, including COP meetings and intergovernmental processes
- Joint publications on topics of mutual interest, such as food security, agriculture, and trade
- Joint technical cooperation activities and support to regional trade agreements, with a focus on Africa
The WTO and FAO already work together within the context of the UN Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance, and within the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS), the market transparency mechanism set up by the G20 economies and housed in FAO.
In addition, FAO regularly reports on the current food security situation and presents its flagship publications and research findings in the CoA, where FAO has observer status. The WTO, in turn, actively participates in various FAO bodies where it has observer status, such as the Committee on Commodity Problems.
Conclusion
The MoU represents a significant step forward in strengthening cooperation between the WTO and FAO to address the growing challenges facing global food security and sustainable agriculture production. By working together, the two organizations can enhance their collective impact and contribute to a more food-secure and sustainable future.
FAQs
What is the purpose of the Framework Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)?
The MoU identifies areas of common interest between the WTO and FAO to facilitate close cooperation and collaboration on issues related to food and agricultural trade and climate change.
What are the key areas of collaboration under the MoU?
The MoU covers 17 areas of common interest, including support for agricultural reform, implementation of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, and collaboration on climate and trade initiatives.
What are the benefits of cooperation between the WTO and FAO?
The cooperation will enhance the collective impact of the two organizations in addressing global food security and sustainable agriculture production challenges, and will contribute to a more food-secure and sustainable future.