en-us http://www.agritrade.org While attitudes toward GMO crops and seeds in Europe remain skeptical, there is a growing desire on both sides of the Atlantic for Europe to move beyond its concern for agricultural biotech products. In this Trading Ideas post, IPC Member Carl Hausmann, also president and CEO of Bunge North America, suggests that Europeans acknowledge the growing scientific body of evidence supporting the safety of genetically modified crops, and recognize that GMOs can help us address increasing environmental and food security concerns. While Europe's initial skepticism of GMOs may be understandable, Hausmann says that we have to be wary when precautionary may turn into reactionary forces, and prevent the good of the many to be served through modern scientific advances in agriculture. http://www.agritrade.org/blog/2007/07/23/when-precautionary-becomes-reactionary/ Mon, 23 July 2007 14:00:00 GMT Many WTO Members have submitted proposals pertaining to the formulae for tariff and subsidy cuts and exceptions in the Doha Round to influence a draft modalities text being prepared by Crawford Falconer, the chair of the WTO agricultural negotiations. As reported, one such proposal on market access put forth by the EU, dated June 29, called for a complex formula for calculating the size of new import quotas countries would grant in exchange for reductions in tariffs on commodities. This Trading Ideas post highlights concerns, voiced by many, of the uncertainties over whether the formula would offer trading partners any real increased opportunities in market access. Read the post. http://www.agritrade.org/blog/2007/07/10/trq-expansion-creating-opportunities-for-trade/ Wed, 11 July 2007 15:30:00 GMT The recent breakdown in the G-4 talks in Potsdam, Germany has stalled the negotiations in the Doha "Development" Round yet again. IPC Member C. Joe O'Mara, who was also formerly a Special Agricultural Trade Negotiator, has submitted his assessment of what the recent deadlock means for the trade round in general, and what the next steps forward are. Specifically, O'Mara urges us to consider the cost of a failed Doha Round, including not achieving duty free and quota free market access for the least developed WTO Members, and not eliminating export subsidies or reducing trade distorting domestic support programs that hinder prospects for agricultural development abroad. The way forward now is for all Members to find a common solution to breaking the deadlock in negotiations so that this Round can truly live up to being a "Development" Round. Read the post on Trading Ideas. http://www.agritrade.org/blog/2007/07/03/doha-development-round-is-there-a-way-forward-or-not/ Tue, 3 June 2007 20:00:00 GMT Proposals to shore up support for trade liberalization and globalization in America have focused on structural adjustment assistance, wage insurage, social safety nets, and better trade adjustment assistance. While these proposals would do much to enable America to be more of a champion for globalization, another component that needs to be addressed is improving the competitiveness of rural agriculture and entrepreneurship. In a recent Chicago Fed Essay, IPC Member Robert Thompson discusses this, and gives recommendations on how rural leaders can create an enabling environment for stimulating investment and strengthening non-farm and service jobs in agricultural communities. http://www.agritrade.org/blog/2007/05/11/globalization-and-rural-america/ Fri, 11 May 2007 22:00:00 GMT The dialogue about the rise of biofuels has mostly focused on production in the US and Brazil.In this Trading Ideas post, we have asked IPC Member Hiroshi Shiraiwa about his views on domestic biofuel production in Japan, and about the concerns this raises for the environment, Japan's trade policy, competitiveness, and agricultural and rural development in the country. What will the development of a bioethanol industry in Japan mean for job creation, Japanese farmers, the fight against global warming, and the overall economy in Japan? Read the post and find out. Shiraiwa is also formerly a counselor for the Japan International Agriculture Council, and a former director of Mitsui and Co. http://www.agritrade.org/blog/2007/05/03/biofuels-in-japan-qa-with-hiroshi-shiraiwa/ Thu, 03 May 2007 22:00:00 GMT IPC has released its second quarter issue of the Agritrade Forum, the official newsletter of the International Food and Agricultural Trade Policy Council. In this issue, we feature a column by IPC Member Timothy Groser, also New Zealand's Shadow Minister of Trade and Deputy Finance. Titled, "Saving the Doha Round: We Need Real Political Leadership," the column lays out both the economic and political benefits of reaching a successful Doha conclusion, and emphasizes the necessity of doing so to further global poverty reduction. "If we walk away from this Round, no progress will be made in removing [trade] imbalances...a new generation of political trade managers will have to confront exactly the same starting point if they seek to revive world trade talks." Groser was also formerly New Zealand's WTO Ambassador. http://www.agritrade.org/Publications/index.html#newsletter Fri, 27 Apr 2007 17:00:00 GMT IPC has issued the third in a series of Farm Bill briefs which highlight the key issues in the Farm Bill debate currently underway in the US. This brief, titled "Energy and the Farm Bill," analyzes how the biofuel boom has impacted the US Farm Bill discussions. http://www.agritrade.org/Publications/farm_bill_briefs.html/ Tue, 17 Apr 2007 21:00:00 GMT IPC Member Michel Petit has submitted the following column on the special roles that agriculture plays in developed and developing countries. His piece provides a useful context for understanding the current round of WTO trade negotiations. Petit is also a professor at the Institut Agronomique Mediterraneen in Montpellier, France, and is the former director of rural development at the World Bank. http://www.agritrade.org/blog/2007/04/03/agriculture-is-special-after-all/ Tue, 03 Mar 2007 18:30:00 GMT As the Doha Round of global trade talks continue, doubts have emerged as to whether successful negotiations, which can help lift millions out of poverty, are possble by the summer. Recent media reports have identified key constraints to progress on the talks, including a nearing expiration deadline of Trade Promotion Authority, and the need for political will amongst the G-4 to reach an agreement on market access issues. While negotiating morale is at a low ebb, a recent speech by IPC Member Timothy Groser of New Zealand helps to put the current situation into historical context, and provides insightful suggestions for the way forward in the multilateral talks. Read a summary and the full speech on Trading Ideas. http://www.agritrade.org/blog/2007/03/30/saving-doha-and-delivering-on-development/ Thu, 30 Mar 2007 19:30:00 GMT IPC Chairman Piet Bukman spoke at the 26th European Agricultural Outlook Conference held in London during the 27th-28th of March, titled "Towards 2013: The Prospects for CAP Reform." He spoke on the historic context of the creation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and the multiple domestic, international, political, and economic forces shaping its future. Most interestingly, Bukman highlighted how the challenges of the modern era have called into question the efficacy of the agricultural support regime in Europe, and the need to modernize it to better meet the needs of Europe and the world. Among the challenges and forces influencing CAP reform that Bukman identified are: climate change, global demographic trends, emerging energy needs, and globalization and liberalization. Read Buckman's speech, and a summary of the speech, on Trading Ideas. http://www.agritrade.org/blog/2007/03/28/the-past-and-future-of-cap-reform/ Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:00:00 GMT As the Farm Bill debate is currently underway in the U.S. Congress, IPC has published the first of five IPC Policy Focus briefs highlighting the key topics in the debate, including: developments in the Doha "Development" Round, the U.S. budget, trade promotion authority, energy and the Farm bill, white commodities and the global implications of domestic reform, and food aid. In this first brief, "The Farm Bill, Doha, the Budget (and Ethanol!)," IPC Member Timothy Josling gives a concise overview of the domestic and international forces at play in influencing the future of U.S. agricultural policy. Future briefs in this Farm Bill series will focus on what implications Farm Bill reform has on developing countries. http://www.agritrade.org/Publications/PolicyFocus/Farm_Bill_1.pdf Wed, 21 Mar 2007 19:00:00 GMT The "Food Miles" argument is gaining traction. So far, it has sprung up mostly in the UK, but it is finding resonance in other European countries, and groups in the US are also beginning to find it attractive. The UK discussion has mostly focused on food imports from New Zealand, but horticultural imports from Kenya have now also come under scrutiny. http://www.agritrade.org/blog/2007/03/13/the-food-miles-debate/ Tue, 13 Mar 2007 19:00:00 GMT In 2002, Brazil initiated a WTO dispute settlement case against the US, claiming that its subsidies for upland cotton were illegal under WTO rules, and unfairly hurt cotton farmers in developing countries. The WTO ruled in favor of Brazil, which was seen as a symbolic victory for developing countries. It remains unclear, however, whether the US has taken sufficient steps necessary to reform its farm programs to bring itself into compliance with international trade rules. In light of an upcoming WTO compliance panel ruling expected at the end of March 2007, IPC Member Pedro de Camargo Neto has shared the following insight with what the panel ruling means for rich and poor countries, and the legitimacy of the WTO itself. Mr. Camargo Neto is the former Secretary of Production and Trade for the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture. http://www.agritrade.org/blog/2007/03/01/wto-cotton-compliance-ruling-qa-with-pedro-de-camargo-neto/ Thu, 01 Mar 2007 15:20:00 GMT IPC has published Issue Brief 22, by Daniel Sumner, the director of the University of California Agricultural Issues Center, titled "US Farm Programs and African Cotton." The Brief describes the domestic and international factors influencing US cotton policy: the US Farm Bill, the US-Brazil WTO cotton case, and the WTO's sectoral initiative on cotton. Sumner discusses how each of these factors might impact future US cotton production, and, in turn, developing country farmers. The report suggests that cotton subsidy reform in the US would translate into positive benefits for rural communities in African countries, given that fifteen million African cotton farmers derive their livelihoods from cotton production. Sumner concludes with concrete recommendations for what developing countries can do to advocate for cotton reform. IPC has also published a conference report of an International Conference on Cotton, "The Next Steps for Africa," held in October of 2006, which details the trade, competitiveness, and donor coordination challenges related to enhancing cotton production in Africa. http://www.agritrade.org/Publications/US_Farm_Programs_African_Cotton.html Fri, 08 Feb 2007 18:00:00 GMT IPC Communications Director Yvonne Siu has contributed this post about the changing nature of microfinance in the private sector, and how it is being integrated into corporate business models to achieve increased profitability and sustainability. It draws from a New York Times feature article about a multinational cotton company, Dunavant Enterprises, which has established an economic presence in Africa, and is investing in the capacity-building of African farmers. The article suggests that social programs, like microfinance, and business, do not necessary serve mutually exclusive goals. http://www.agritrade.org/blog/2007/01/25/microfinance-boosts-business-and-sustainability-in-africa/ Thu, 25 Jan 2007 20:00:00 GMT IPC Chief Executive Charlotte Hebebrand has contributed the following piece about recent biofuel legislation on both sides of the Atlantic, and suggests that in the midst of promoting domestic biofuel production, we should not rule out future trade in the increasingly appealing commodity. http://www.agritrade.org/blog/2007/01/22/biofuels-across-the-atlantic/ Mon, 22 Jan 2007 22:00:00 GMT IPC Member Michael Gifford, former chief agricultural trade negotiator, has commented on Canada's recent challenge to US corn subsidies, and the implications for US farm reform. Gifford suggests in this Trading Ideas blog piece that the US should see Canada's move as a political indication that its current program of farm support is unsustainable in the long-run. http://www.agritrade.org/blog/2007/01/11/canadas-request-for-wto-consultations-on-us-farm-subsidies/ Thu, 11 Jan 2007 17:00:00 GMT New Trading Ideas blog post--"Biofuels as an Engine for Growth" outlines the existing opportunities and challenges that biofuels hold for rich and poor countries alike. It concludes that the best way for biofuels to be an engine of growth in developing countries is for the sector to advance in step with trade liberalization. http://www.agritrade.org/blog/2006/12/22/biofuels-as-an-engine-for-growth/ Fri, 22 Dec 2006 20:00:00 GMT In seeking to address concerns about energy supply, national security, climate change, and economic development, numerous policymakers--and those who seek to influence them--are turning to biofuels as a solution to these cross-cutting issues. However, while biofuels do have the potential to provide an alternative to fossil energy, their beneficial aspects are countered by their own issues related to food security and economic and environmental sustainability. Therefore, the promises of biofuels must be weighed against their costs. This IPC Discussion Paper, by IPC Policy Associate Kara Laney, puts forth the potential benefits of biofuels, as well as their plausible drawbacks, to present a thorough overview of the policy issues. It explores the deeper issues related to such questions as: Will biofuels generate rural economic development? What are the possible effects of government support to biofuels production? What impacts will biofuels have on the food and animal feed markets? The purpose of this Discussion Paper is not to provide solutions, but to raise questions in order to illustrate the complexity of the biofuels issue for policymakers. http://www.agritrade.org/Publications/biofuels_promises_constraints.html Fri, 15 Dec 2006 19:00:00 GMT WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy recently gave the "green light" for informal discussions to resume on all issues in the WTO Doha Round, which is encouraging. With a successful Doha Round vital to the economic health of rich and poor countries alike, WTO Members need to overcome the impasse in the agricultural negotiations, which requires compromises from all sides. IPC's new Issue Brief "Unblocking the Doha Round Impasse," by IPC Member Michael Gifford, identifies the significant progress made to date in the negotiations, as well as the remaining challenges, especially in the market access and domestic support pillars. The Brief suggests solutions are possible, if the political will exists. Michael Gifford is the former Chief Agricultural Negotiator for Agriculture in Canada. Visit www.agritrade.org to view IPC's repertoire on agricultural trade negotiations. http://www.agritrade.org/Publications/unblocking_Doha_impasse.html Fri, 01 Dec 2006 22:00:00 GMT IPC announces the release of its Winter 2006 newsletter, the Agritrade Forum. Inside this issue: IPC Urges 'Constructive Participation' in Biofuels Debate; Launch of New Website and Blog, Trading Spaces; IPC Calls for Rapid Resumption and Conclusion of Doha "Development" Round; "The Next Steps for Africa," IPC's 38th Annual Seminar; New Staf at IPC; IPC Publishes Report on Environmental Impacts of Sugar Production; Forthcoming Papers and 2007 meetings in Geneva and Zambia. Visit the IPC website to download the online newsletter [PDF]. http://www.agritrade.org/Publications/index.html#newsletter Mon, 27 Nov 2006 21:00:00 GMT IPC chief executive Charlotte Hebebrand writes on Tim Groser's views about the latest environmental/trade issue: food miles. The argument that it is environmentally damaging to ship food products long distances is finding increased resonance with the suspension of the Doha Round among groups who would like to see more food self sufficiency in countries and regions and less reliance on food imports. While this argument at first glance may sound quite rational, there is actually a lot more to this debate than meets the eye. http://www.agritrade.org/blog/?p=6 Fri, 17 Nov 2006 19:30:00 GMT Kicking off the IPC blog, IPC chief executive Charlotte Hebebrand would like to bring your attention to an IPC think piece, titled "Doha Suspension," summarizing the discussion among IPC members on the present state of affairs in the Doha Round. From the paper: "Focusing therefore on the agricultural negotiations, this paper briefly sets forth the areas of agreement that have been reached in the Doha Negotiations as well as the areas where agreement proved elusive. We then analyze the commitments made to date, ask whether these are sufficient for concluding the Round and point the way towards some additional steps that would further improve the outcome of the Round. There is general consensus that agreement reached to date on export competition is quite significant. There are more divergent views on the significance of progress made to date on domestic support. Divergences of opinion are arguably the greatest in the market access arena." http://www.agritrade.org/blog/?p=5 Fri, 17 Nov 2006 19:00:00 GMT This timely IPC discussion paper analyzes how WTO trade rules apply to the biofuels sector. With the potential for future trade in biofuels rising as demand for alternative energy sources grows, the issues raised in this paper are important to consider going forward. http://www.agritrade.org/Publications/wto_biofuels.html Mon, 23 Oct 2006 17:30:00 GMT