Food Security and the World Trade Organization

Maintains that trade on its own is not enough to provide global food security; rather, it must be part of a coherent policy framework embedded in an agreed, stable set of multilateral rules for its conduct. Framing this policy and agreeing on these rules is the role of the World Trade Organization. The WTO’s Agreement on Agriculture was an important step in improving the international trading conditions for agriculture. But more needs to be done to level the playing field for trade and investment in agriculture. Disciplines need to be strengthened and market access improved, both to allow those with a comparative advantage in agriculture greater scope to use that advantage and to facilitate importation by those who need food. The elements for the next step are on the table in the form of the draft modalities for agriculture in the context of the Doha Round. The modalities are just that – a step forward – and important issues would remain, but the prospects for enhancing food security would be enhanced.