WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/AG/NG/S/6/Rev.1
31 January 2001
(01-0519)
Committee on Agriculture
Special Session
AGRICULTURAL TRADE PERFORMANCE BY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
1990-99
Background Paper by the Secretariat
Revision
1. At the fourth Special Session of the Committee on Agriculture on 15-17 November 2000, the
Secretariat was requested to prepare a revision of background paper G/AG/NG/S/6 in line with the
definition of agricultural products under the Ag reement on Agriculture (G /AG/NG/4, pa ragraph 6(c)
refers).  In response to that request, the presen t paper fully revises the information first provided in
document G/AG/NG/S/6 dated 23 May 2000.
2. This paper is based on statistical data contained in a revised Network of world trade prepared
by the WTO Statistics Division according to a definition of agricultural products which matches the
product coverage of the Agreement on Agriculture as defined in Annex 1 thereto. Hence throughoutthe paper, the terms "agricultural products", "agricultural exports" and "agricultural imports" relate to
the definition of agricultural products under the Agreement on Agriculture. The paper covers the
period 1990 to 1999.
3. The paper is organized in four Sections:
(i) Section I  provides information on developing countries' exports of agricultural
products, mining products and manufactures and products not elsewhere specified,
and related world market shares.
(ii) In Section II the regional pattern of agricultural exports from Africa, developing
Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East is presented, including
information on intra-developing country trade.  This Section also provides data on
agricultural imports of developed countries from all origins as well as from
developing countries.
(iii) Section III  takes a look at developing countri es' agricultural exports by product
group. The products specified in Section III were selected on the basis of their
respective ranking, in value terms, in total agricultural exports of the three developing
regions (Africa, developing Asia, Latin America and Caribbean countries) under
consideration for the most recent year for which data was available.  Each of the threedeveloping regions is represented by samples covering only a limited number of
countries  for which a complete set of data and a consistent time-series from 1990 to
1999  were available.
(iv) Section IV  provides information on the trade performance of least-developed
countries.G/AG/NG/S/6/Rev.1
Page 2
4. The statistical information contained in this  paper is based on trade values in current
US dollars (by way of background information, data  on agricultural world price developments are
presented in Annexes 2 and 3).  Average annual growth rates are presented for the periods 1990-94
and 1994-99.  In some cases growth rates for the period 1994-98 are also included.  Hence,
information is provided on trade performance prior to and following the start of the implementation of
the Uruguay Round results on agriculture.  Information on data sources, area definitions and the
definition of "agricultural products" is presented in Box 1 below.
Box 1
Data Sources and Definitions
Data sources
For the purposes of this paper, the Secretariat has used  trade data from the WTO Statistics Division, the United
Nations Statistical Division Comtrade database and national statistics.  The data are classified on the basis of the
Standard International Trade Classification (SITC). The overall methodology is that used for preparing the
standard Network of world merchandise trade by product and by region, which is broadly described in thetechnical notes of the WTO annual report International Trade Statistics 2000.
The paper covers the period from 1990 through the year 1999, i.e. the fifth year of implementation of the
Agreement on Agriculture.
Area definitions
This paper basically uses the area definitions  used by the WTO Statistics Division:
(i) Developed countries  - North America, EU(15), EFTA(3), Japan, Australia, and New Zealand;
(ii) Developing countries   - Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa including  South Africa,
Europe less EU(15) and EFTA(3), the Middle East, and Asia less Australia, Japan, and New
Zealand;  and
(iii) Economies in transition  – Central and Eastern Europe, the Baltic States and the
Commonwealth of Independent States.
It should be noted that in this paper, tables specifying Africa as a developing region include South Africa.
Throughout the paper, the figures used for world exports exclude intra-EU trade.  World , Developing countries
and Asia totals exclude the re-exports of Hong Kong, China in order to avoid double counting.  The term
"country" or "countries" as used in this paper includes separate customs territories.
Product definitions    
As regards Agricultural Products , this paper uses a revised Network of world merchandise trade by product and
by region prepared by the WTO Statistics Division  which defines agricultural products according to the product
coverage of the Agreement on Agriculture as defined in Annex 1 thereto .
The coverage of agricultural products acco rding to the Agreement on Agriculture  is defined in SITC Rev.3. It is
derived from the HS96 product coverage provided in Annex 1 of the Agreement on Agriculture. To minimizediscrepancies due to the imperfect correlation between SITC Rev.3 and HS96, the SITC items 598.91 and598.99 as well as the HS sub-headings 3809.10 and 3824.60 are not taken into account in the Agreement onAgriculture product coverage
1. Annex 1 to this paper provides the Agreement on Agriculture coverage in terms
of SITC Rev3.
                                                     
1Tests indicate that the adjusted Agreement on Agri culture coverage in terms of SITC Rev.3 provides
results that closely match those based on HS96.G/AG/NG/S/6/Rev.1
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SECTION I:     OVERVIEW TABLES
5. Tables I.1 and I.2 provide an overview of the value of developing countries' merchandise
exports by major product group and the growth of agricultural exports by region for the period 1990
to 1999.
6. Tables I.3 and I.4 show the shares of developing countries' exports in world exports of
agricultural products by region and in world merchandise exports by major product group for the
same period.
Table I.1: World Merchandise Exports and Merchandise Exports of Developing Countries
by Major Product Group, 1990-99
(Billion dollars)
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
World
Agricultural products 212 211 226 224 258 297 324 331 306 289
Mining products 416 389 384 368 381 448 530 548 428 486
Manufactures and products
n.e.s1,781 1,852 2,015 2,133 2,440 2,894 3,015 3,198 3,173 3,313
Developing Countries
Agricultural products 86 87 89 89 107 122 134 139 133 125
Mining products 260 238 237 222 224 262 313 322 239 290
Manufactures and products
n.e.s470 517 581 633 756 927 965 1,051 1,035 1,115
Note: Data for World  exclude intra-EU trade.
Source: WTO Secretariat.
Table I.2: Growth of the Value of Agricultural Exports by Region, 1990-99
(Annual percentage change)
Region 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 90-94 94-98 94-99
Developing countries
of which:14½ 9½ 4- 4 -6½ 5½ 5½ 3
Africa 14½ 22½ -1 -3 - 9 2 7½ 4
Developing Asia 14 5 -1½ -4 -3 8½ 32
Latin America and the
Caribbean16½ 10½ 10½ -3 -10 4 8½ 4½
Developed countries 15½ 6 ½ -9½ -4 4½ 3 1½
Other countries 20 33 2½ -14½ -12½ 5 8½ 4
World 15½ 92 -7½ -5½ 5 4½ 2½
Note: "Other Countries" include transition economies and countries not elsewhere specified.
Source: WTO Secretariat.G/AG/NG/S/6/Rev.1
Page 4
Table I.3: Share of Developing Countries in World Agricultural Exports by Region,
1990-99
(Percentage)
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Africa 5½ 5½ 5555 5½ 5½ 6 5½
Developing Asia 15 16 16½ 16½ 16½ 16½ 16 15½ 16 16½
Latin America and  the Caribbean 16 15½ 14 14½ 15½ 16 16 17½ 18 17½
M i d d l e  E a s t 2222222222
Other 2 2 1½ 2 1½ 1½ 1½ 1½ 1½ 1½
All Developing Countries 40½ 41 39 40 40½ 41 41 42 43½ 43
Note:  The figures for " Other " include European developing economies as defined by the WTO Statistics Division:
Malta, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Slovenia,
Yugoslavia and territories in Western Europe n.e.s.
The shares are expressed in per cent of world agricultural exports excluding intra-EU trade.
Source: WTO Secretariat.
Table I.4: Share of Developing Countries in World Merchandise Exports by Major Product
Group, 1990-99
(Percentage)
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Share of developing
countries in world
merchandise exports
of which:34 34½ 34½ 34½ 35½ 36 36½ 37 36 37½
Agricultural
products3½ 3½ 3½ 3½ 3½ 3½ 3½ 3½ 3½ 3
Mining products 11 9½ 9 8 7½ 7 8 8 6 7
        Manufactures and
products n.e.s19½ 21 22 23 24½ 25½ 2526 26½ 27½
Note: The shares are expressed in per cent of world  merchandise exports excluding intra-EU trade.
Source: WTO Secretariat.G/AG/NG/S/6/Rev.1
Page 5
SECTION II:       REGIONAL PATTERN OF TRADE
7. This Section looks at the export performance of developing countries from a regional
perspective.  Tables II.1 and II.2 present the regional pattern of exports of agricultural products from
four developing regions, including intra-devel oping country trade. Export figures of European
developing economies as defined by the WTO Statistics Division (Malta, Turkey, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Slovenia, Yugoslavia and
territories in Western Europe n.e.s.) are not included.
8. Tables II.3 and II.4 show developed countries' imports, and import growth (compound rates),
of agricultural products over the 1990-99 period.  Imports are broken down by the origin of the
trading partner, i.e. from developing countries and from the world as a whole.G/AG/NG/S/6/Rev.1
Page 6
Table II.1: Developing Countries ' Exports of Agricultural Products by Region and by
Destination, 1990-99
(Million dollars)
Origin Destination
Year North
AmericaEU(15) and
EFTA(3)Japan Australia and
New ZealandEconomies in
Transition  Developing
Countries
Africa 1990
19911992
1993
19941995
1996
19971998
1999680
700600
620
720700
920
910
1,010
9107,230
7,0606,770
6,100
7,4008,990
10,060
9,6009,770
8,660560
450410
350
650460
650
520480
45030
3030
30
5060
60
6050
40570
400280
360
470630
940
1,1201,000
9803,090
3,3003,460
3,310
3,9304,190
5,410
5,5105,080
5,040
Developing Asia 1990
1991
1992
19931994
1995
19961997
1998
19992,600
2,890
3,340
3,1603,470
3,800
4,4204,570
4,660
4,6905,870
6,100
6,620
6,1807,170
7,460
7,8508,350
8,080
7,8306,230
7,590
8,060
8,1909,950
9,680
10,220
8,270
7,660
8,400470
500
550
560660
730
730730
730
6802,840
1,810
1,640
2,0301,390
1,710
1,6301,890
1,590
1,50013,380
15,330
16,920
16,77020,500
25,710
26,71026,950
25,920
23,940
Latin
America
and theCaribbean1990
1991
19921993
1994
19951996
1997
199819998,760
8,520
8,6708,980
9,830
11,41012,050
13,680
13,83014,74011,220
11,870
12,08012,020
15,360
15,58016,430
18,360
16,67014,9601,130
1,020
1,020
970
1,390
1,4301,680
1,900
1,8401,52080
110
100120
150
170180
180
1601805,100
2,290
1,140
950
860
1,5002,220
2,270
2,1101,8807,920
8,340
9,0909,280
12,720
16,80019,050
20,730
20,65016,440
Middle East 1990
1991
1992
19931994
1995
19961997
1998
1999130
140
180
180180
220
260260
320
3101,940
1,770
1,780
1,6101,740
1,990
2,1801,950
1,760
1,67060
70
60
6080
110
110100
80
9010
10
10
2020
20
3020
20
20580
290
250
250230
310
310250
230
2101,490
1,460
2,320
2,5802,910
3,210
3,2503,710
3,170
3,210
Total of  4developing regionsabove1990
19911992
1993
19941995
1996
19971998
199912,160
12,25012,800
12,940
14,20016,140
17,650
19,42019,820
20,64026,260
26,79027,240
25,910
31,66034,020
36,520
38,26036,280
33,1107,970
9,1209,550
9,570
12,07011,680
12,650
10,78010,060
10,460590
660690
730
870980
1000
990960
9309,080
4,8003,310
3,580
2,9504,160
5,100
5,5304,930
4,57025,870
28,42031,790
31,940
40,06049,900
54,420
56,90054,820
48,630
Source: WTO Secretariat.G/AG/NG/S/6/Rev.1
Page 7
Table II.2: Developing Countries ' Exports of Agricultural Products by Region and by
Developing Region Destination, 1990-99
(Million dollars)
Origin Destination
Year Africa Developing Asia Latin America
and the
CaribbeanMiddle
EastDeveloping
Countries
Africa 1990
1991
1992
19931994
1995
19961997
1998
19991,640
1,690
1,930
1,7901,780
2,010
2,4102,450
2,310
2,420890
1,010
910
820
1,250
1,400
1,8501,910
1,740
1,74080
70
50
150240
170
450420
280
270350
440
510
440540
460
490500
510
4503,090
3,300
3,460
3,3103,930
4,190
5,4105,510
5,080
5,040
Developing Asia 1990
1991
19921993
1994
19951996
1997
199819991,140
1,440
1,5001,480
1,640
2,0001,830
1,940
2,1102,3509,740
11,050
12,32012,250
16,090
20,17021,010
21,180
20,03017,720420
440
370380
390
400550
580
5304801,920
2,250
2,5602,480
2,180
2,8703,050
2,940
2,9803,17013,380
15,330
16,92016,770
20,500
25,71026,710
26,950
25,92023,940
LatinAmericaand the
Caribbean1990
19911992
1993
19941995
1996
19971998
1999940
820
1,210
970
1,0801,730
1,910
2,1302,090
1,6601,530
1,7601,370
1,020
2,8203,870
4,200
4,8404,050
3,4904,040
4,4105,050
5,790
7,4909,200
10,460
11,06011,820
8,8801,150
1,0601,230
1,270
1,2001,690
1,920
2,2502,290
2,1107,920
8,3409,090
9,280
12,72016,800
19,050
20,73020,650
16,440
Middle East 1990
1991
19921993
1994
19951996
1997
19981999100
170
150110
200
280240
410
420440170
200
320400
440
420300
360
31032040
40
5040
70
5060
50
60401,110
990
1,6901,900
2,100
2,3302,480
2,650
2,1902,1901,490
1,460
2,3202,580
2,910
3,2103,250
3,710
3,1703,210
Total of  4developing regions
above1990
1991
1992
19931994
1995
19961997
1998
19993,810
4,120
4,790
4,3504,700
6,020
6,3906,930
6,930
6,88012,330
14,000
14,920
14,49020,610
25,860
27,36028,290
26,140
23,2804,570
4,960
5,520
6,3708,180
9,810
11,52012,120
12,680
9,6704,520
4,740
5,990
6,0806,010
7,350
7,9308,330
7,970
7,91025,870
28,420
31,790
31,94040,060
49,900
54,42056,900
54,820
48,630
Source: WTO Secretariat.G/AG/NG/S/6/Rev.1
Page 8
Table II.3: Developed Countries ' Imports of Agricultural Products by Origin, 1990-99
(Million dollars)
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
From All
Origins114,295 114,952 120,024 118,877 137,278 148,791 156,437 158,978 151,437 148,786
From
DevelopingCountries49,211 51,305 52,091 51,208 61,191 65,407 70,492 72,317 69,804 67,832
Note: Imports are valued f.o.b..
Source: WTO Secretariat.
Table II.4: Average Annual Growth of Developed Countries ' Imports of Agricultural
Products by Origin, 1990-94, 1994-98 and 1994-99
(Percentage change)
1990-94 1994-98 1994-99
From All
Origins4½ 2½ 1½
From
Developing
Countries5½ 3½ 2
Source: WTO Secretariat.G/AG/NG/S/6/Rev.1
Page 9
SECTION III:           PRODUCT PATTERN OF EXPORTS
9. This Section provides information on the product pattern of developing countries' agricultural
exports over the period 1990 to 1999.  For the purpose of this section, the respective leading
agricultural export items, for Africa, developing Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean areidentified on the basis of the 2-digit level of SITC Rev.3 (for product descriptions see Box 2 below).
10. The aggregate export figures in Table III.1 (Africa), Table III.4 (developing Asia) and
Table III.7 (Latin America and the Caribbean) represent, in each case, only a sample of countries in
the relevant region.  These samples include, for each of the concerned regions, all countries for which
a full series of data for the period 1990-1999 was available.
11. For Africa, total exports of agricultural products of the 10 sample countries combined
accounted for  43 per cent  of Africa's total agricultural exports in 1999.  Total exports of agricultural
products of the 12 Asian sample countries combined accounted for  96 per cent  of total agricultural
exports of developing Asia in 1999.  For Latin America and the Caribbean, total exports of
agricultural products of the 14 sample countries combined accounted for 86 per cent of the total
agricultural exports of Latin America and the Caribbean in 1999.
12. Tables III.
3, III.6 and III.9 present average annual growth rates (compound rates) of the US$
value of agricultural exports for the periods 1990-94 and 1994-99 (and 1994-98 where relevant).
Box 2
Product Descriptions
 SITC Division Code -
2-digit level SITC Division Heading –
DescriptionAbbreviations used in Tables
01 Meat and meat preparations Meat
04 Cereal and cereal preparations Cereals (incl. rice)
05 Fruit and vegetables Fruit & vegetables
06 Sugar, sugar preparations and honey Sugar
07Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and
manufactures thereofCoffee, tea, cocoa & spices
08Feeding stuff for animals (not incl.
unmilled cereals)Feeding stuff
12 Tobacco and tobacco manufactures Tobacco
26Textile fibres (other than wool tops)
and their wastes (not manufactured
into yarn or fabric)Natural fibres
42 Fixed vegetable oils and fats Vegetable oils and fatsG/AG/NG/S/6/Rev.1
Page 10
Table III.1: Agricultural Exports of Ten Af rican Countries by Product Group, 1990-99
(Million dollars and percentage)
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
value
Coffee, tea, cocoa & spices 590 644 594 701 912 934 925 964 950 860
Natural fibres 649 433 316 239 537 547 494 566 535 601
Fruit & vegetables 1,468 1,723 1,756 1,647 1,631 2,066 2,095 1,974 2,065 2,162
Sugar 770 675 539 487 632 694 992 805 903 717
Tobacco 388 506 509 443 757 604 859 759 568 811
Sub-total 3,864 3,980 3,713 3,517 4,470 4,844 5,366 5,068 5,022 5,151
Other agricultural products 909 1,249 1,304 1,414 2,307 2,076 2,376 2,222 1,920 1,915
Total 4,773 5,229 5,017 4,931 6,777 6,920 7,741 7,290 6,942 7,066
share in total
Selected products (Sub-total) 81 76 74 71 66 70 69 70 72 73
Other agricultural products 19 24 26 29 34 30 31 30 28 27
Note: The data represent the agricultural exports of Algeria,  Egypt, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Morocco, Seychelles,
South Africa, Tunisia and Zimbabwe.
Source: United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretariat estimates.G/AG/NG/S/6/Rev.1
Page 11
Table III.2: Agricultural Exports of Ten African Countries, 1999
(Million dollars and percentage)
Value of agricultural export s Share in total agricultural
exports from Africa
South Africa 2,351 14
Zimbabwe 1,119 7
Kenya 1,053 6
Morocco 910 6
Egypt 595 4
Tunisia 575 4
Mauritius 345 2
Madagascar 90 0.6
Algeria 26 0.2
Seychelles 1 0
Total of above  7,066 43
Total Africa 16,255 100
Source: United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretariat estimates.
Table III.3: Average Annual Growth of Agricultural Exports of Ten African Countries by
Product Group, 1990-94 and 1994-99
(Percentage change)
1990-94 1994-99
Coffee, tea, cocoa & spices 11½ -1
Natural fibres -4 ½ 2½
Fruit & vegetables 2½ 6
Sugar -5 2½
Tobacco 18 1½
Other agricultural products 26 -3½
Note: The data represent the annual change in the aggregate agricultural exports of Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Madagascar,
Mauritius, Morocco, Seychelles, South Africa, Tunisia and Zimbabwe.  
Source: United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretariat estimates.G/AG/NG/S/6/Rev.1
Page 12
Table III.4: Agricultural Exports of Twelve Asian Developing Countries by Product Group,
1990-99
(Million dollars and percentage)
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
value
Coffee, tea, cocoa &
spices2,795 3,811 4,351 4,231 4,674 5,070 5,144 5,833 6,519 6,078
Cereals (incl. rice) 3,151 2,993 2,782 2,963 3,894 4,176 3,979 4,492 4,555 4,220
Fruit & vegetables 3,863 3,768 3,948 3,731 4,935 7,237 6,959 5,467 4,068 3,550
Meat 2,771 3,022 3,702 3,783 5, 599 6,723 6,444 7,760 7,144 6,497
Natural fibres 3,350 3,199 3,189 2, 917 3,388 3,862 4,249 4,011 2,994 3,233
Vegetable oils & fats 5,586 6,163 6, 505 6,404 7,172 7,675 7,715 7,190 6,467 7,385
Sub-total 21,515 22,957 24,478 24,028 29, 662 34,743 34,491 34,754 31,748 30,962
Other agricultural
products11,271 13,231 14,839 14,923 16,225 17,273 19,161 17,206 16,063 14,376
Total 32,786 36,188 39,317 38,950 45,88 6 52,015 53,651 51,960 47,811 45,338
share in total
Selected products (Sub-
total)66 63 62 62 65 67 64 67 66 68
Other agricultural
products34 37 38 38 35 33 36 33 34 32
Note: The data represent the aggregate agricultural exports of China;  Chinese Taipei;  Hong Kong, China;  India;
Indonesia;  Macau, China;  Malaysia;  Pakistan;  Philippines;  Republic of Korea;  Singapore; and Thailand.
Source: United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretariat estimates.G/AG/NG/S/6/Rev.1
Page 13
Table III.5: Agricultural Exports of Tw elve Developing Asian Countries, 1999
(Million dollars and percentage)
Value of agricultural export s Share in total agricultural
exports from Developing Asia
  
China 10,570 22
Malaysia 6,763 14
Thailand 6,309 13
India 4,900 10
Indonesia 4,459 9
Hong Kong, China 4,032 9
Singapore 3,029 6
Korea  Rep. 1,748 4
Philippines 1,334 3
Pakistan 1,124 2
Chinese Taipei 1,031 2
Macau, China 38 0.1
Total of above   45,338 96
Total Developing Asia 47,240 100
Source: United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretariat estimates.
Table III.6 Average Annual Growth of Agricultural Exports of Twelve Asian Developing
Countries by Product Group, 1990-94, 1994-98 and 1994-99
(Percentage change)
1990-94 1994-98 1994-99
Coffee, tea, cocoa & spices 13½ 8½ 5½
Cereals
(incl. rice)5½ 4 1½
Fruit & vegetables 6½ -4½ -6½
Meat 19 6½ 3
Natural fibres ½ -3 -1
Vegetable oils & fats 6½ -2½ ½
Other agricultural products 9½ -½ -2½
Note: The data represent the annual change in the aggregate agricultural exports of China;  Chinese Taipei;  Hong Kong,
China;  India;  Indonesia;  Macau, China;  Malaysia;  Pakistan;  Philippines;  Republic of Korea;  Singapore;  and Thailand.
Source: United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretariat estimates.G/AG/NG/S/6/Rev.1
Page 14
Table III.7: Agricultural Exports of Fourteen  Latin American and Caribbean Countries by
Product Group, 1990-99
(Million dollars and percentage)
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
value
Cereals
 (incl. rice) 1,799 1,498 1,970 2,007 2,026 2,764 3,761 4,505 4,394 3,155
Meat2,027 2,194 2,377 2,412 2,681 2,978 3,170 3,319 3,220 3,454
Feeding stuff3,827 3,831 4,387 4,551 4,853 4,976 7,088 7,210 4,841 4,736
Fruit & Vegetables5,809 5,925 6,347 6,111 6,914 8,362 9,192 9,184 9,787 9,768
Sugar1,251 1,113 1,257 1,498 1,841 3,116 3,017 3,210 3,495 3,153
Coffee, tea, cocoa &
spices 4,187 4,259 3,566 3,727 6,573 6,557 5,977 7,951 6,669 5,785
Sub-total18,901 18,820 19,904 20,307 24,887 28,752 32,206 35,380 32,406 30,052
Other agricultural
products 7,133 7,020 7,041 7,146 9,471 11,544 11,715 13,227 15,331 13,237
Total26,033 25,840 26,944 27,453 34,358 40,296 43,921 48,607 47,737 43,288
share in total
Selected products
(Sub-total) 73 73 74 74 72 71 73 73 68 69
Other agricultural
products 27 27 26 26 28 29 27 27 32 31
Note: The data represent the aggregate agricultural exports of Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia,
Ecuador, Jamaica, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Source: United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretariat estimates.G/AG/NG/S/6/Rev.1
Page 15
Table III.8: Agricultural Exports of Fourteen  Latin American and CaribbeanCountries,1999
(Million dollars and percentage)
Value of agricultural export s Share in total agricultural
exports from Latin America
and the Caribbean
Brazil 14,013 28
Argentina 10,988 22
Mexico 6,964 14
Colombia 3,165 6
Chile 2,796 6
Ecuador 1,596 3
Uruguay 1,089 2
Peru 691 1
Paraguay 594 1
Venezuela 415 1
Bolivia 368 1
Jamaica 310 1
Trinidad and Tobago 223 0.4
Barbados 76 0.2
Total of above   43,288 86
Total Latin American and the
Caribbean50,137 100
Source: United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretariat estimates.G/AG/NG/S/6/Rev.1
Page 16
Table III.9 Average Annual Growth of Agricultural Exports of Fourteen Latin American
and Caribbean  Countries by Product Group, 1990-94 and 1994-99
(Percentage change)
1990-94 1994-99
Cereals (incl. rice) 3 9½
Meat 7 5
Feeding stuff 6 -½
Fruit & vegetables 4½ 7
Sugar 10 11½
Coffee, tea, cocoa & spices 12 -2½
Other agricultural products 7 4
Note: The data represent the annual change in the aggregate exports of Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile,
Colombia, Ecuador, Jamaica, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Source: United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretariat estimates.G/AG/NG/S/6/Rev.1
Page 17
SECTION IV:     LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
13. The United Nations has designated 48 countries as least-developed: Afghanistan, Angola,
Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, the Central African
Republic, Chad, the Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea,Eritrea, Ethiopia, the Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, the Lao People's Democratic
Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique,
Myanmar, Nepal, the Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands,
Somalia, the Sudan, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Yemen and
Zambia.
14. This Section provides information on the trade performance of these least-developed
countries, as a group, during the period 1990 to 1999.  For reasons of data availability, the informationpresented is based on developed countries' import statistics.  It should be noted that therefore only part
of the agricultural exports of least-developed countries are covered, as these countries also trade
among themselves and with other developing countries.
15. Table IV.1 shows the merchandise trade of the European Union, the United States and Japan
respectively with the least-developed countries from 1990 through 1999.  Finally, Table IV.2 presentsdata on the imports of agricultural products of th e European Union, the United States and Japan and
of other developed countries from the least-developed countries.G/AG/NG/S/6/Rev.1
Page 18
Table IV.1: Merchandise trade of the European Union, the United States and Japan with 
the Least-Developed Countries, 1990-99
(Million dollars and percentage)
Value Share
1990 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 1990 1999
Imports from LDCs
European Union (15)
Total merchandise 9,571 7,557 9,422 9,407 9,372 9,685 9,411 100.0 100.0
Agricultural products 1,812 1,776 2,427 2,056 2,171 2,053 1,617 18.9 17.2
Mining products 4,352 1,526 1,480 1,607 1,400 1,350 1,341 45.5 14.2
Manufactures and
products n.e.s3,407 4,255 5,515 5,744 5,801 6,282 6,453 35.6 68.6
United States
Total merchandise 4,603 4,631 4,981 5,685 6,324 6,336 6,982 100.0 100.0
Agricultural products 269 277 258 269 362 276 260 5.8 3.7
Mining products 3,033 2,752 2,843 3,356 3,354 2,850 2,960 65.9 42.4
Manufactures and
products n.e.s1,301 1,602 1,880 2,060 2,608 3,210 3,762 28.3 53.9
Japan
Total merchandise 1,250 1,244 1,579 1,683 1,294 1,069 1,015 100.0 100.0
Agricultural products 211 261 268 225 223 254 213 16.9 21.0
Mining products 645 435 658 722 391 280 237 51.6 23.3
Manufactures and
products n.e.s394 548 653 736 680 535 565 31.5 55.7
Exports to LDCs
European Union (15)
Total merchandise 9,789 7,406 9,000 9,393 9,495 9,134 8,510 100.0 100.0
Agricultural products 1,866 1,667 1,986 2,104 2,057 2,139 1,918 19.1 22.5
Mining products 281 273 270 275 325 235 235 2.9 2.8
Manufactures and
products n.e.s7,642 5,466 6,744 7,014 7,113 6,760 6,357 78.1 74.7
United States
Total merchandise 1,836 1,686 2,291 2,205 2,156 2,338 2,445 100.0 100.0
Agricultural products 574 791 964 691 665 715 667 31.3 27.3
Mining products 19 10 34 38 19 16 23 1.0 0.9
Manufactures and
products n.e.s1,243 885 1,293 1,476 1,472 1,607 1,755 67.7 71.8
Japan
Total merchandise 1,707 1,484 1,689 1,654 1,613 1,440 1,512 100.0 100.0
A g r i c u l t u r a l  p r o d u c t s 81 52 21 61 71 2 8 0 . 5 0 . 5
M i n i n g  p r o d u c t s 554547 1 7 0 . 3 1 . 1
Manufactures and
products n.e.s1,694 1,464 1,663 1,633 1,592 1,421 1,487 99.2 98.3
Source: United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretariat estimates.G/AG/NG/S/6/Rev.1
Page 19
Table IV.2:  Developed countries' imports of ag ricultural products from the Least-Developed
Countries, 1990-99
(Million dollars and percentage)
ValueShare in imports
from LDCs
1990 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 1990 1999
European Union (15) 1,812 1,776 2,427 2,056 2,171 2,053 1,617 76 74
United States 269 277 258 269 362 276 260 11 12
Japan 211 261 268 225 223 254 213 9 10
Other developed
countries87 70 115 95 104 110 90 4 4
TOTAL 2,379 2,384 3,068 2,645 2,860 2,693 2,180 100 100
Source: United Nations Comtrade database and WTO Secretariat estimates.G/AG/NG/S/6/Rev.1
Page 20
Annex 1 – Agreement on Agriculture coverage in terms of SITC Rev.3
0 less 03, 012.93, 081.42
1
22
4 less 411.1
21 less 211.91
26 less 264, 265.4, 265.5, 265.7, 265.8, 266, 267, 268.62, 268.7, 26929 less 297.97
512.15
512.16
512.17
512.22512.24
512.25
592 less 592.29
551.3G/AG/NG/S/6/Rev.1
Page 21Annex 2 – The International Grains Council wh eat price index, January 1987 – March 2000
050010001500200025003000
IGC 04/00* Average wheat prices of seven widely traded varieties of bread wheat: July/Dec 1986=1000 88 89 99 98 97 96 95 94 93 92 91 90 87 00G/AG/NG/S/6/Rev.1
Page 22Annex 3 – IMF indices of non-fuel primary commodity prices, 1982-2000 (1990=100) 1/
7080901001101201301401501601982
19831984
1985
1986
1987
19881989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
19951996
1997
1998
1999
2000708090100110120130140150160
U.S. DollarsReal  2/
1/  Indices comprise 39 price series for 33 non-fuel primary commodities.  Weights are based on the 1987-89 average of world ex port earnings.
2/  Deflated by the export unit value index for manufactures of industrial countries.Source: International Monetary Fund (www.imf.org/external/np/res/commod/index.htm).
__________