   
  
WT/MIN(24)/W/13/Rev.1  
 
29 February 2024  
(24-1921) Page: 1/5 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February 2024    
 
DRAFT TEXT ON AGRICULTURE  
Revision  
Emphasizing  the critical role that a rules -based, non -discriminatory, open, fair, inclusive, equitable 
and transparent multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core can play in addressing 
contemporary challenges faced by the food and agricultural systems inclu ding climate change and 
its impacts;  
Expressing  our deep concern that the share of people facing hunger in the world was around 9% of 
the global population, concentrated predominantly in developing countries, including least developed 
countries (LDCs), as recently estimated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the 
United  Nations;  
Underscoring  our determination to make progress towards the achievement of a fair, equitable and 
market -oriented agricultural trading system, ending hunger, achieving food s ecurity and improved 
nutrition, promoting sustainable agriculture and food systems, and promoting the adoption of 
resilient agricultural practices that enhance productivity and production in fulfilment of Sustainable 
Development Goal 2 of the United Nation s, taking into account the interests of small -scale food and 
agriculture producers in developing countries;  
Reiterating  our commitment to take concrete steps to facilitate trade and improve the functioning 
and long -term resilience of global markets for foo d and agriculture, with a view to enhancing global 
food security and ensuring that the agriculture sector continues to make a positive contribution to 
addressing contemporary sustainability challenges;  
Noting  with concern the limited progress on most agric ulture negotiating issues to date, especially 
at the Eleventh and Twelfth Sessions of the Ministerial Conference, and recognizing that much work 
remains to be done to successfully conclude the negotiations;  
Recognizing  the work undertaken by the Committee on Agriculture (CoA), including under 
paragraph  8 of the Ministerial Declaration on the Emergency Response to Food Insecurity in relation 
to the needs of Least -Developed and Net Food -Importing Developing Countries (NFIDCs);  
Reiterating  that trade, along wi th domestic production, plays a vital role in improving global food 
security in all its dimensions and enhancing nutrition; and emphasizing that progress in the 
negotiations will contribute to enhancing global food security;  
We, the Ministers, having met in Abu Dhabi from 26 to 29 February 2024 at our Thirteenth Session 
of the Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (MC13), decide accordingly:  
1. Members reaffirm their commitment to continue the agriculture negotia tions in accordance 
with the reform objective of Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) and subsequent 
Ministerial and other Decisions on agriculture. Members shall accordingly make all concerted 
efforts towards achieving tangible progress and ba lanced outcomes in the negotiations by the 
Fourteenth Session (MC14). [Members hereby agree and adopt a permanent solution to the 
issue of public stockholding for food security purposes.]  WT/MIN(24)/W/13/Rev.1  
 
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  2. Members acknowledge the Report prepared by the Chair of the Special Session of the 
Committee on Agriculture (CoA -SS) under his own responsibility1, which summarizes the state 
of play in the negotiations. Members welcome the work done by the CoA -SS as reflected in 
the Chair's Report and commit to revitalize and int ensify the negotiations after MC13 on 
outstanding issues. The negotiations shall build on the work undertaken thus far and be based 
on discussions among Members, and their existing and future submissions.  
3. Members reiterate the importance of predictable agr icultural and input markets and of 
facilitating trade in these products, including by reducing the time and procedural costs related 
to their importation and exportation, in conformity with WTO agreements. Members may also 
consider discussing the role and impact of trade -restrictive measures, with a view to enhancing 
their transparency and predictability and minimizing negative consequences and risks for 
exporters and importers.  
4. Recognizing the acute challenges faced by the most vulnerable Members, while af firming 
Members' right to apply such measures pursuant to existing WTO disciplines, and without 
prejudice to any future outcomes on export prohibitions or restrictions, Members agree that 
net food -exporting Members2 of a specific foodstuff may refrain fro m imposing export 
prohibitions or restrictions on such foodstuff imported by LDCs [as well as by NFIDCs that are 
net importers of that foodstuff] for their domestic consumption to ensure their current food 
security needs, taking due account of past levels of imports.  
5. Members recognize the importance of the implementation of existing notification and 
transparency obligations under Article 18 of the AoA to provide notifications in a timely and 
comprehensive manner. Members agree to review in the CoA the notif ication requirements 
and formats specified in G/AG/2  to facilitate timely access to clear and relevant information 
by Members , taking into account the capacity constraints of developing country Members. The 
WTO Secretariat shall provide technical assistance to Member s facing capacity constraints in 
fulfilling their notification and transparency requirements, at their request.  
6. Special and differential treatment for developing countries shall be an integral part of the 
negotiations. LDCs shall be exempted from undertaki ng reduction commitments.3 The 
nontrade concerns of Members shall be taken into account in the negotiations.  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT  
7. Members commit to pursue and intensify negotiations on domestic support, with a view to 
reducing substantially and progressively trade -distorting support in a fair and equitable 
manner, to encourage a shift towards less trade -distorting support, and improving disciplines 
in accordance with the reform objective in the AoA within a reasonable implementation period 
to be agreed by Memb ers. These negotiations shall preserve the special and differential 
treatment of developing country Members and LDCs, including support to low -income or 
resource -poor farmers, as well as to encourage diversification from growing illicit crops.  
Members will  agree on the elements and the methodology of implementation of the reform 
according to the  Timeline of Implementation  section below.  
MARKET ACCESS  
8. Members commit to  pursue and intensify negotiations on agricultural market access with a 
view to reducing substantially and progressively protection in a fair and equitable manner, to 
improve market access opportunities for all Members, and improving disciplines in accordan ce 
with the reform objective in the AoA and within a reasonable timeframe to be agreed by 
Members. These negotiations shall take into account exporting Members' interests and 
importing Members' sensitivities, including non -trade concerns. Members will agre e on the 
elements and the methodology of implementation of the reform according to the Timeline of 
Implementation section below.  
 
1 Document TN/AG/58 . 
2 The LDCs are exempted from the commitment contained in this paragraph.  
3 The situation of recently graduated LDCs will be considered.  WT/MIN(24)/W/13/Rev.1  
 
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  SSM 
9. Pursuant to the Nairobi Ministerial Decision (WT/MIN(15)/43 –WT/L/978 ), Members commit to 
pursue and intensify negotiations in Dedicated Sessions of the CoA -SS on a special safeguard 
mechanism for developing country Members, as envisaged under paragraph 7 of the 
Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration ( WT/MIN(05)/DEC ), and to w hich the developing country 
Members will have the right to have recourse under paragraph 1 of the Nairobi Ministerial 
Decision. Members will agree on the elements and the methodology of implementation of the 
reform according to the  Timeline of Implementati on section below.  
EXPORT PROHIBITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS  
10. Members agree to continue discussions on export prohibitions or restrictions with a view to 
enhancing transparency and predictability and to improving the implementation of disciplines 
in Article 12 of the AoA and Article XI:2(a) of the GATT 1994. The discussions shall take into 
account the interests of all Members, with particular attention paid to the needs of LDCs and 
NFIDCs.  Members will agree on the elements and the methodology of implementation of the 
reform according to the  Timeline of Implementation  section below.  
EXPORT COMPETITION  
11. Members reaffirm their commitment to ensure an effective implementation and monitoring of 
the Nairobi Ministerial Decision on Export Competition ( WT/MIN(15)/45 -WT/L/980 ), including 
by reviewing and exploring ways in the CoA to update the existing transparency requirements, 
and by making best efforts to improve the response rate to the export competition 
questionnaire. This takes into account the capacity constrain ts of developing country 
Members, as well as the needs and circumstances of least -developed and net food -importing 
developing countries.  
12. Members agree to continue negotiations to enhance disciplines on export credits, export credit 
guarantees or insurance programmes, agricultural exporting state trading enterprises and 
international food aid to prevent circumvention of export subsidy elimination commitments 
including through non -commercial transactions. Members will agree on the elements and the 
methodology  of implementation of the decision according to the Timeline of Implementation 
section.  
13. Special consideration shall be given to the needs and circumstances of least -developed and 
net food -importing developing countries, including by exploring ways to enhan ce the 
transparency of the implementation of the Nairobi Decision on Export Competition in relation 
to the specific provisions therein for LDCs and NFIDCs on export credits, export credit 
guarantees or insurance programmes and international food aid.  
COTTO N TRADE -RELATED COMPONENT  
14. Members commit to pursue and intensify negotiations on cotton trade -related measures based 
on Members' submissions, and pursuant to the cotton -related elements of the Hong Kong 
Ministerial Declaration ( WT/MIN(05)/DEC ), as com plemented by the Bali Cotton Ministerial 
Decision ( WT/MIN(13)/41 -WT/L/916 ), and the Nairobi Cotton Ministerial Decision 
(WT/MIN(15)/46 -WT/L/981 ) to address it ambitiously, expeditiously and specifically within 
the agriculture negotiations. These negotiations shall seek to reduce substantially and 
progressively the most trade -distorting domestic support for cotton. Members will agree on 
the elements and the methodology of implementation of the decision according to the Timeline 
of Implementation section.  
15. The negotiations shall also seek to significantly reduce market access barriers, pursuant to 
the Ministerial outcomes listed in paragraph 21, for cotton -producing and exporting LDCs. 
Members are encouraged to open their markets allowing greater purchases o f cotton products 
and byproducts from cotton -producing LDCs, including through the offer of duty -free quota 
free market access.  
  WT/MIN(24)/W/13/Rev.1  
 
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  16. Members undertake to continue efforts aimed at enhancing transparency and monitoring of 
cotton -related trade measures affectin g the global cotton market through the Dedicated 
Discussions on Cotton held on a bi -annual basis, as mandated by paragraphs 5, 6 and 7 of 
the Bali Ministerial Decision on Cotton ( WT/MIN(13)/41 -WT/L/916 ) and confirmed in 
paragraph 14 of the Nairobi Mini sterial Decision on Cotton ( WT/M IN(15)/46 -WT/L/981 ). 
Members reaffirm the need to respect their notification obligations in the context of the 
required transparency.  
COTTON DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE COMPONENT  
17. Members reaffirm that development -related aspects of cotton shall be addressed as provided 
for in paragraph 12 of the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration ( WT/MIN(05)/DEC ) and 
paragraphs 10, 11, 12 and 13 of the Nairobi Ministerial Decision ( WT/MIN(15)/46 -WT/L/981 ). 
18. Members reiterate their commitment to the rules -based multilateral trading system, which 
strengthens the possible synergies between trade in cotton, productive investment and 
development assistance for LDCs. They recognize the need for an  inclusive partnership that 
makes cooperation and negotiations the preferred instruments for finding the most 
appropriate solutions to the considerable systemic and cyclical challenges faced by cotton 
producing and exporting LDCs, in particular the C -4 cou ntries.  
19. Members underscore the central role of the WTO Director -General's Consultative Mechanism 
on Cotton as an international forum of reference bringing together the various stakeholders 
of the global cotton community (public and private sectors, and mul tilateral agencies) and as 
an effective multilateral consultation platform for the development of cotton -producing and 
exporting LDCs. As such, they agree to coordinate cotton development assistance 
interventions, follow up on completed and ongoing project s, and use this platform to attract 
and mobilize further investment with a view to promoting and supporting the production, 
processing and marketing of cotton and its by -products in LDCs.  
20. Members welcome the initiatives undertaken with development partners  over recent years 
such as partner conferences, World Cotton Day, or WTO -FIFA Memorandum, aimed at better 
integrating the cotton sector of LDCs, in particular the C -4 countries, in global value chains 
for value -added products deriving from cotton and its b yproducts, and encourage all 
development partners to intensify their efforts in this perspective.  
PUBLIC STOCKHOLDING FOR FOOD SECURITY PURPOSES (PSH)  
21. [Pursuant to the Bali Ministerial Decision ( WT/MIN(13)/38 -WT/L/913 ), the General Council 
Decision ( WT/L/939 ), and Nairobi Ministerial Decision ( WT/MIN(15)/44 -WT/L/979 ), Members 
adopt a permanent solution as set out in Annex […] to this Decision.]  
OR 
21. [Pursuant to Bali Ministerial Decision ( WT/MIN(13)/38 -WT/L/913 ), the General Council 
Decision ( WT/L/939 ), an d the Nairobi Ministerial Decision ( WT/MIN(15)/44 -WT/L/979 ), 
Members commit to pursue and intensify negotiations on PSH in Dedicated Sessions of the 
CoA-SS. A permanent solution on the issue of public stockholding for food security purposes 
shall be ava ilable to all developing country Members. Public stockholding programmes shall 
not distort trade or adversely affect the food security of other Members. Members will agree 
on the elements and the methodology of implementation of the reform according to the  
Timeline of Implementation  section below. ] 
TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION  
22. In order to achieve tangible progress and concrete outcomes, Members instruct the CoA -SS 
Chair to provide, based on Members ' contributions, annual negotiating timetables to discuss 
each of the negotiating topics in this Decision, including their elements and the methodology.  
23. The General Council shall regularly review progress in these negotiations.  WT/MIN(24)/W/13/Rev.1  
 
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  24. Senior Officials will review the progress achieved in the negotiations one year after MC13, 
particularly in relation to the definition of the elements and the methodology of 
implementation of the reform, and make recommendations for the way forward.  
25. [Modalities shall be agreed by MC14 .] / [Members shall agree on an agriculture package that 
balances Members' interests by MC14.]  / [Members shall agree to work towards achieving an 
agriculture package that balances Members ' interests by MC14.]  
26. [Modalities shall be implemented in a timeframe to be decided by Members taking into 
consideration the overall balance of outcomes in Agriculture. ] 
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