___________________
*In English only/En anglais seulement/En inglés solamente.WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DU COMMERCE
ORGANIZACIÓN MUNDIAL DEL COMERCIOG/AG/GEN/49
28 February 2002
(02-0996)
Committee on Agriculture Original:  English/
anglais/
inglés
ANNUAL MONITORING EXERCISE IN RESPECT OF THE FOLLOW-UP TO
THE MINISTERIAL DECISION ON MEASURES CONCERNING THE POSSIBLE
NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF THE REFORM PROGRAMME ON LEAST-DEVELOPED
AND NET FOOD-IMPORTING DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Attached are copies of statements* made by the representatives of the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO), the International Monetary  Fund (IMF), the UN Conference on Trade and
Development (UNCTAD), and the World Food Programme (WFP) at the meeting of the Committee on
Agriculture on 6 December 2001 (agenda Item Part II.A(i) refers).
Comité de l'agriculture
EXERCICE ANNUEL DE SURVEILLANCE DE LA SUITE DONNÉE À LA DÉCISION
MINISTÉRIELLE SUR LES MESURES CONCERNANT LES EFFETS NÉGATIFS
POSSIBLES DU PROGRAMME DE RÉFORME SUR LES PAYS LES MOINS
AVANCÉS ET LES PAYS EN DÉVELOPPEMENT IMPORTATEURS
NETS DE PRODUITS ALIMENTAIRES
On trouvera ci-joint la copie de s déclarations* faites par les représentants de l'Organisation des
Nations Unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture (F AO), du Fonds monétaire international (FMI), de la
Conférence des Nations Unies sur le commerce et  le développement (CNU CED), et du Programme
alimentaire mondial (PAM) à la réunion du Comité de  l'agriculture du 6 décembre 2001 (point A(i) de la
deuxième partie de l'ordre du jour).
Comité de Agricultura
EJERCICIO ANUAL DE VIGILANCIA DEL SEGUIMIENTO DE LA DECISIÓN
MINISTERIAL SOBRE MEDIDAS RELATIVAS A LOS POSIBLES
EFECTOS NEGATIVOS DEL PROGRAMA DE REFORMA EN
LOS PAÍSES MENOS ADELANTADOS Y EN LOS PAÍSES
EN DESARROLLO IMPORTADORES NETOS
DE PRODUCTOS ALIMENTICIOS
A continuación se adjuntan copias de las declar aciones* formuladas por los representantes de
la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la  Agricultura y la Alimentación (FAO), el Fondo
Monetario Internacional (FMI), la Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre Comercio y Desarrollo
(UNCTAD), y el Programa Mundial de Alimentos (PMA) en la reunión del Comité de Agricultura
celebrada el día 6 de diciembre de 2001 (véase el punto A(i) de la Parte II del orden del día).G/AG/GEN/49
Page 2
STATEMENT BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FOOD
AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO)
This Statement provides a brief overview of FAO's assessment of developments in the global
cereal supply and demand balance and, in particular, on trends in cereal import bills of the LDCs and
the NFIDCs.  It also reports briefly on some activities of the Organization of interest to theCommittee.
World supply/demand situation
World cereal production  in 2001 is forecast to reach 1 870 million tonnes (including rice in
milled equivalent), up 13 million tonnes, or 0.7 per cent, from 2000.  Given the forecast for a 1.6 per
cent expansion in total cereal utilization  in 2001/02, stocks  would need to be drawn down by as
much as 75 million tonnes, or 12 per cent, for the third consecutive year.  Most of the decline instocks is expected to occur in China, where ov erall cereal production is lower than last year.
World cereal trade  in 2001/02 is forecast to remain unchanged at previous season's estimated
volume of around 233 million tonnes.  Total cereal  imports by the developing countries are also
expected to remain close to 2000/01, at around 171 million tonnes.  On individual commodity basis,wheat trade is expected to expand slightly, while trade in coarse grains could decline.  Overall, higher
cereal imports in Asia could offset the anticipated declines in other regions.
Given the lack of any significant improvemen t in world import demand, along with relatively
large export supplies in a number of countries, cereal prices  have remained weak and under
downward pressure.
Food aid
Preliminary indications point to an increase in total cereal food aid shipments  in 2001/02
(July/June) to 9.5 million tonnes, up 1 million tonnes from 2000/01.  This increase is likely to come
from the United States and Japan, while Pakistan and India, usually among food aid recipient
countries, could also emerge as donors this season.  The anticipated increase in food aid shipments
can be partly explained by two factors:  on the demand side, larger needs in Afghanistan;  and on the
supply side, weak international prices and relatively large stocks in some exporting countries.
World Imports of Cereals
050100150200250
95/96 96/97 97/98 98/99 99/00 2000/01 2001/02
Wheat Coarse Grains Ricem il lion tonnes
forecast0100200300400500600700800
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002Rice C o ars e Grain s Wheatmillion tonnesWorld Stocks of Cereals
       (1997/ 98-2001/02)
forec astG/AG/GEN/49
Page 3
Cereal import bills of LDCs and the NFIDCs
The combined cereal import bill of the Least-Developed Countries  (LDCs) and the
Net-Food Importing Developing Countries  (NFIDCs), is expected to be about US$5.9 billion in
2001/02, down 4 per cent from 2000/01.  Most of this decline would reflect two factors:  first, a
reduction in the expected volume of their total cereal imports (by 2.5 million tonnes) and, second, ananticipated increase in the level of cereal food aid shipments to the LDCs from 3.6 million tonnes in
2000/01 to 4.5 million tonnes in 2001/02, most of  which as a result of larger shipments to
Afghanistan, as already mentioned.  At the current forecast levels, the per unit import cost for the
LDCs is likely to stabilize at the previous season's level of around US$122 per tonne while, for
NFIDCs, which receive less food aid, the per unit import cost could rise to US$133 per tonne in
2001/02, up US$4 per tonne from the previous season.  Nevertheless, in both cases, the per unit
import cost continue to remain well below the peaks observed during the cereal price hike periods ofthe mid-1990s.  More details on these statistics can be found in the Table accompanying this
statement.
Overall, while the situation in the LDCs and NFIDCs, as reflected by recent levels of cereal
import bills, has improved somewhat compared to the mid 1990s, the food security situation in manyof these countries remains precarious.  Of the 31 developing countries currently facing serious food
shortages and emergency situations, the majority are in the LDC and NFIDC category.
Trade-related technical assistance
FAO continues to make a substantial effort to assist developing countries and countries in
transition to adjust to the new trading environment and, in accordance with the mandate of the World
Food Summit, "to be well informed and equal partners in the current negotiations on agriculture".
FAO is providing trade-related assistance at the Regional and Sub-Regional levels and
through country specific activities.  These activities in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry include
normative as well as operational field activities with a direct impact on supply-side constraints which
aim at raising food and agriculture production and productivity and hence increasing competitiveness
in these sectors.
FAO's trade-related assistance culminated in a major Umbrella Training Programme  on
Uruguay Round Follow-up, launched in 1999 with the generous support of many FAO Members (the
overall expenditure on this Programme amounted to some $US2.3 million).  Some 846 individuals
from 151 countries have received training under this Programme which covered all the
UR Agreements of relevance to FAO's mandate:  the Agreement on Agriculture, the Agreements on0481216
Wh ea t Co arse Grains Ri ceCere al Food Aid Shipme nts by Type
(1990/91-2000/01)
9 0/9 1 9 2/9 3 94/95 96 /97 98/99 2000/01m il lion tonnesCereal import bills (US$ million)
0100020003000400050006000700080009000
1993/94 1995/96 1997/98 1999/00 2001/02LDCs NFIDCsG/AG/GEN/49
Page 4
the SPS and TBT, the Agreement on TRIPS, and the Marrakesh Ministerial Decision on Measures
Concerning the Possible Negative Effects of the Reform Programme on Least-Developed and Net
Food-Importing Developing Countries.
In addition to this outreach Umbrella Programme, FAO's assistance includes analytical
support to countries to be better prepared to engage in the on-going negotiations on agriculture .
Some of this assistance is of a continuing nature as part of FAO's regular programme activities, and
some is ad hoc, addressing immediate urgent needs as they arise.  In this connection, FAO has been
sponsoring a series of meetings in Geneva on issues debated at the Special Sessions of the CoA.  The
last such meeting took place last Friday and addressed food aid. An earlier meeting this spring
addressed the issue of how to improve the Operational Effectiveness of the Marrakesh  Decision.  This
has been followed up by analysis of the size a nd possible modalities of the Revolving Fund proposal.
More analytical work is under way and this could be drawn upon by the inter-agency panel of expertsto examine the feasibility of the establishment of such a Fund.
Developing countries are increasingly calling for " hard " forms of technical assistance  to
strengthen their physical and institutional trade-rela ted capacities.  FAO is responding to such needs,
within available resources.  Examples of such assistance include activities to establish or adaptlegislation and regulations to comply with the WTO agreements;  upgrading and strengthening
domestic SPS/TBT capacity to meet the standards and norms of the international market place;
setting up of trade information and export marketing systems;  supporting the formulation and
implementation of projects to improve competitiveness (e.g. commodity and trade development
projects, including for vertical and horizontal diversification, productivity enhancement andproduct/market development);  and assisting developi ng countries, through F AO's Investment Centre,
in preparing agricultural and rural development projects for international financing.
Of particular relevance to removing supply-side constrains is FAO's Special Programme for
Food Security  (SPFS).  This is a major activity, going beyond trade-related concerns, aimed at rapid
increases in productivity and food production in a large number of Low Income Food Deficit
Countries (LIFDCs)
1.  Projects funded under the SPFS include activities in small-scale water control,
crop productivity, diversification in small animal production, artisanal fisheries and aquaculture,
analysis of socio-economic constraints and policy ad vice.  The transfer of technology and experience
is promoted, particularly through the South-South Cooperation scheme.  Under this scheme, moreadvanced developing nations send experts and technici ans to work directly with their counterparts and
farmers in other developing countries.
FAO's assistance is  funded from its regular programme and in partnership with bilateral
donors, multilateral institutions, other organizations of the United Nations system, as well as with the
private sector and civil society
2.
The Trust Fund Facility
Finally, in this context of the UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries, where FAO
had been assigned the task of organizing substantively the thematic session on Enhancing Productive
Capacities:  the Agricultural Sector and Food Security , FAO proposed the setting up of a Trust Fund
                                                     
1 At October 2001, the Special Programme for Food Security is operational in 66 countries covering more than 2/3 of the
LIFDCs.  The regional division is as follows:  Africa 38 (LIFDC coverage 86 per cent), Asia 14 (58 per cent), Europe2 (67 per cent), Latin-America 9 (86 per cent) and Oceania 3 (50 per cent).  SPFS is in various stages of formulation in
another 17 countries.
2 During the 1992-2000 period, 31 per cent (about US$849 million) of FAO field assistance was devoted to LDCs.  In the
year 2000 alone, more than 700 field projects, with a total budget value of US$423 million, were ongoing in 46 of the48 LDCs.  The field assistance met a wide range of needs, from emergency relief and agricultural rehabilitation to practical
assistance to government programmes for food security, sustainable agricultural growth and rural development.  Although
the FAO field programme is making a substantial contribution, the needs are far greater than what those resources can meet.G/AG/GEN/49
Page 5
Facility, with voluntary contributions from interest ed bilateral and multilateral donors to support the
rapid and sustainable upgrading of the food safety and quality assurance capabilities of LDCs, their
ability to adapt to and conform with internationa l food safety and quality requirements and their
enhanced participation in international standard -setting bodies, such as the Codex Alimentarius
Commission.  This proposal has since been endorsed by other relevant agencies and the heads of
FAO, WHO, WTO, OIE and the World Bank issued a joint statement to the Doha Ministerialsoliciting the support of the international commun ity to this Fund.  An inter-agency meeting is
planned to take place at the WTO on 11 January 2002 to discuss a draft document prepared by FAO
on a Conceptual Framework for Capacity Building in Food Safety, Animal and Plant Health.G/AG/GEN/49
Page 6
Cereal imports of LDCs and NFIDCs (1993/94 to 2001/02) – as of November 2001    
1993/94 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 2001/02
estimate f'cast
Import bill (US $ million)
LDCs 1365 2147 2495 2023 2468 2214 1773 1871 1882
NFIDCs 3567 4238 5806 5344 4941 4363 3828 4240 4007
LDCs & NFIDCs 4932 6384 8301 7367 7409 6576 5601 6110 5889
% change over 1993/94-1994/95 -12.8 12.8 46.7 30.2 30.9 16.2 -1.0 8.0 4.1
Total volume imported (000 tonnes)
 LDCs 11764 14068 13296 11772 15281 16927 15981 15264 15409
NFIDCs 26584 26783 26601 28525 31955 33437 30588 32886 30226
LDCs & NFIDCs 38348 40851 39897 40297 47236 50363 46569 48151 45635
% change over 1993/94-1994/95 -3.2 3.2 0.8 1.8 19.3 27.2 17.6 21.6 15.2
Food aid (000 tonnes)
LDCs 3970 4344 3313 2699 2863 4006 4139 3568 4505
% of total imports 33.7 30.9 24.9 22.9 18.7 23.7 25.9 23.4 29.2
NFIDCs 1830 1310 645 503 631 780 773 1149 1149
% of total imports 6.9 4.9 2.4 1.8 2.0 2.3 2.5 3.5 3.8
LDCs & NFIDCs 5800 5654 3958 3202 3493 4786 4912 4717 5654
% change over 1993/94-1994/95 1.3 -1.3 -30.9 -44.1 -39.0 -16.4 -14.2 -17.6 -1.3
 Commercial imports (000 tonnes)
LDCs 7794 9724 9983 9072 12418 12920 11842 11696 10904
NFIDCs 24754 25473 25956 28022 31324 32657 29815 31737 29076
LDCs & NFIDCs 32548 35197 35940 37095 43743 45577 41657 43433 39980
% change over 1993/94-1994/95 -3.9 3.9 6.1 9.5 29.1 34.6 23.0 28.2 18.0
Per unit import cost  (US $/tonne) 1/
LDCs 116.0 152.6 187.6 171.9 161.5 130.8 110.9 122.6 122.2
NFIDCs 134.2 158.2 218.3 187.4 154.6 130.5 125.1 128.9 132.6
LDCs & NFIDCs 128.6 156.3 208.1 182.8 156.8 130.6 120.3 126.9 129.0
% change over 1993/94-1994/95 -9.7 9.7 46.1 28.3 10.1 -8.3 -15.6 -10.9 -9.4
Wheat export price (US $/tonne)
US no.2 hard winter 143 157 216 181 142 120 112 128 127
% change over 1993/94-1994/95 -4.7 4.7 43.6 20.6 -5.4 -20.3 -25.3 -14.6 -15.6
Totals computed from unrounded data
1/ Based on per unit cost of total imports
2/ Average July-November
Source:  FAOG/AG/GEN/49
Page 7
STATEMENT BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)
Thank you for the opportunity to speak to the Committee.  As an observer, the IMF
participates in the Committee's annual monitoring exercise of the Marrakesh Ministerial Decisionregarding Least -Developed and Net food-importing Developing Countries,  and has provided a
detailed account of the facilities available to assist these countries in time of balance of payments
need.  Today, allow me to update Committee members on the  Fund staff's assessment of recent
developments in the international prices of basi c food items, and to return to the issue of Fund
resources available to meet the needs of these countries.
The International Monetary and Financial Committee of the IMF's Board of Governors noted
in its communiqué of 18 November 2001, that the September 11 terrorist attacks would exacerbate  the
already evident slowdown in the world economy.  Bold policy action has already been taken to
support a robust recovery during 2002, but the outlook remains subject to considerable uncertainty.
Developing countries, in particular, are facing a weakening of global demand, reduced capital flows,
higher risk aversion in financial markets, reduced income from tourism, and lower and more volatilecommodity prices.
Recent Food Market Developments
During the first half of 2001, primary comm odity prices, almost exclusively with the
exception of energy prices, remained depressed as they reacted to the slowdown of the world
economy.  The tragic events in the United States have prompted a more pronounced fall in commodity
prices.  By October 2001, the index of non fuel -commodity prices was 20 per cent below its 2000
level.  Major contributors to the overall decline in 2001 were the price of coffee and some agricultural
raw materials—timber, cotton and rubber—and metals.  Energy prices were not immune from theprice volatility.  By the end of October, crude oil prices were around US$18.00 per barrel, 35 per cent
below their level in January, but recovered somewhat by early December.
Supply conditions have been generally favorable for basic food commodities.  Weather was
favorable in the major producing regions for cereals and soybeans for a number of consecutive years,supplies have been more than ample to meet the growth in food consumption.  Nonetheless, although
world soybean  production is expected to be higher than a year earlier, estimates of the world's cereals
crops in the 2001/2002 agricultural season show a decline from the previous year and have been
reduced further in recent weeks, with adverse weather reported in both China and the United States.
In this context, prices of cereals  have remained at, or near, their lowest levels for many years.
The price of wheat  in September-October 2001 remains only marginally above  its lowest level in 25
years.  The price of maize  in September-October is barely above the low levels of the mid-1980s.  The
price of  rice  continues to fall.  The record crop and the expectation of some increase in stocks have
kept prices of soybeans near their 1999 level, although the price of soybean meal has increased
somewhat on account of strong growth in consumption.  The price of sugar  also remains at a low
level because of generally favorable supply conditions.  Ample supplies have also characterized themarkets for vegetable oils.   Soybean and palm oil prices are at their lowest levels in fifteen years.
While beef prices remain above 1998 levels, the increases in 2001 have not been sustained.
Given the price movements outlined above, the cost of basic food imports incurred by net
food-importing developing countries is likely to remain comparatively low.  The oil import bill forthose countries, which are also substantial net oil-importers, will be somewhat less than in 2000, as
world oil prices are on average lower in 2001.  Nonetheless, the purchasing power of net food-
importing developing countries would likely have weakened, since a large component of their exportsG/AG/GEN/49
Page 8
are primary commodities with soft prices.  Particularly vulnerable remain those net food importers
that depend heavily on exports of cotton and coffee, commodities for which demand growth has been
sluggish, supplies abundant, and prices have continued to slide.
Fund resources available
As mandated by its Articles of Agreement, the IMF stands ready to assist its members,
including least -developed and net-food importing countries, through balance of payments financial
support, technical assistance, and policy advice.  Critical aspects of the provision of Fund financial
resources, as decided by its membership, include the revolving nature of these resources and sound
economic policies followed by borrowing countries.
Let me mention briefly our main financial facilities available for countries experiencing
balance of payments problems stemming from commodity price fluctuations.
• The Fund provides concessional resources under the Poverty Reduction and Growth
Facility  (PRGF) to low-income member countries at 0.5 per cent annual interest;
77 low-income countries are eligible to use PRGF resources.  Currently 39 of thesecountries are receiving financial support through the PRGF, and the IMF will review
and augment these resources as appropriate.
• For members not ready to undertake a three-year structural reform program but where
stabilization policies can be agreed, the IMF may consider regular Stand-By
Arrangements.
• For some net-food importing developing countries, the Fund's Compensatory
Financing Facility (CFF) can provide assistance in the case of temporary export
shortfalls or temporary increases in the value of cereal imports.  The resources are
normally made available in the context of a regular Fund arrangement.
The IMF regularly reviews its existing financial instruments and their modalities and stands
ready to adjust and adapt them as  necessary, in the light of new developments.  But at the present
juncture, the IMF Executive Board, representing the whole Fund membership, considers that the
existing financial facilities remain adequate to  respond to the current needs of the membership.
Thus, Mr. Chairman, I reiterate the IMF's earlier statements to the Committee that, with
existing facilities and resources, the Fund is in a position to meet any additional balance of payments
needs of our members that may arise from higher world food prices.G/AG/GEN/49
Page 9
STATEMENT BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF
THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERNENCE ON TRADE AND
ENVIRONMENT (UNCTAD)
I would like to take this opportunity to make a brief summary of this year's UNCTAD
activities concerning special needs and problems of LDCs and NFIDCs in light of ongoingmultilateral trade liberalization on agriculture.
As a part of UNCTAD mandate  to provide tec hnical assistance, on the basis of development
impact assessment and empirical evidence, UNCT AD organized sub-regional workshops such as one
on "Food Security and Agricultural diversification in Countries of Central Asia", which focused on
the links between market reform, increasing exposure to international trade via accession to the WTO,
and domestic food security in six Central Asian Countries.
UNCTAD also cooperated with the high Commissioner for Human Rights in preparing a
report on Human Rights and the Agreement on Agriculture , as a part of the Commissioner's
comprehensive report on "Globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of human rights".  This
report examines the plight of food security in  LDCs and NFIDCs, with a particular focus on
vulnerable people and groups, such as small small-scale or household farmers, farm labourer and rural
communities.
UNCTAD looks forward to actively participating in the inter-agency panel of experts to
explore ways and means to operationalize the Marrakesh NFIDC Decision.G/AG/GEN/49
Page 10
STATEMENT BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF
THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME (WFP)
WFP is pleased to be invited to the Agricultural Committee's Annual Monitoring Exercise of
the Marrakesh Ministerial Decision. regarding Least Developed and Net-Food Importing DevelopingCountries.  The Marrakesh Decision is important for WFP as it concerns food security in the world's
poorest countries.  WFP's mandate as the food aid ar m of the United Nations is to alleviate hunger in
all of its forms.
WFP
WFP is the world's largest humanitarian organization.  In 2000 WFP assisted 83 million
people in 83 countries.  WFP provided approximately 3.5 million 
tonnes  of food, out of a global total
of almost 11 million tonnes  last year.  On average, WFP distributes between one third and one fourth
of the world's global food aid flows.
In 2000 WFP's operational expenditures amounted to 1.5 billion dollars of which just over
90 per cent were spent in the world's poorest countries, LDCs and Low-Income Food Deficit
countries.  This is important as it corresponds to a key element of the Marrakesh Decision – that of
targeting the poorest countries.  Lastly, all of WFP's food assistance is in grant form, another element
of the Marrakesh Decision.
Importantly, WFP assistance is targeted, an element that WFP thinks is missing from the
Decision but which should be taken into account in Decision's implementation.  Targeted food aid
means that it is directed to those people who need it the most, as opposed to being sold on the open
market like programme food aid.  Programme food aid is bilateral balance of payments or budgetary
support and does not have the objective to alleviate hunger.  Approximately one quarter of global foodaid flows in 2000 was for programme food aid.  WFP does not distribute programme food aid.
Global Food Aid Flows
Global food aid flows give a snapshot of how food aid is being used and distributed
worldwide, and sheds light on the internationa l community's efforts to implement the Marrakesh
Decision.
In 2000, global food aid flows amounted to 11 million metric 
tonnes , about the same level as
in 1995.  It is interesting to note that in 2000, emergency and project food aid as a percentage of
global food aid flows jumped up to74 per cent, up dramatically from 48 per cent in 1999.  The
increase in the share of targeted food aid in global deliveries was due to a large increase in emergencyfood aid.  In 2000 emergency food aid comprised almost half of global food aid deliveries.  Although
emergency food aid is targeted to those in need, the increase in food aid levels as requested by
members of the WTO was not intended to be a response to civil wars and natural disasters.  It was
intended to address longer-term food security issues provoked by the reform process.
Food aid flows to priority countries follow a similar trend.  Emergency food aid to priority
countries increased over the past year, accounting for 61 per cent of overall flows to these countries.
WFP believes that a greater emphasis needs to be placed on project development food aid to priority
countries in order to fulfill the intentions of the Marrakesh Decision.
A key element in the Marrakesh Decision relates to the grant element of food aid.  All food
aid, especially that directed at the poorest countries, should be in grant form.  Global food aid flowsG/AG/GEN/49
Page 11
for 2000 show that 14 per cent of food aid that year was given on concessional terms, showing that
although not an enormous proportion, more  food aid should be in grant form.
If the objective is to reach populations most affected by the reform process, then an emphasis
should not only be put on the grant element of food aid but also on providing food aid in a form which
has the greatest impact on food insecure populations.  WFP believes that this means there should bemore focus in implementing the Marrakesh Decision on transferring targeted development food aid to
priority countries affected by the reform process.
What WFP is doing
WFP is interested in seeing the implementation of both the Marrakesh Decision and the
outcome of the Singapore Ministerial Meeting.  We are working on analysis to ensure that appropriatefood aid reaches those in need in priority countries.  WFP will continue to assist the WTO secretariat
on issues concerning food aid and is also availabl e to provide assistance to member countries on food
aid matters.
__________