Post on 31-Dec-2015
description
NCCRInternationalTrade
AGRICULTURAL TRADE: TAKING INTEGRATION SERIOUSLY
Presentation by Elisabeth Bürgi, lic.iur, Attorney at Law
World Trade Institute Berne, Switzerland
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Presentation
1. Introduction
2. Agricultural Trade: Some Features
3. WTO embedded in International Public Law
4. Relevant „Non-Trade“ Legal Benchmarks
5. AoA: Open for Integration?
6. Alternatives
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Agriculture Trade: DiscourseBasic Objective Tools
Before Doha
Raise Agricultural Productivity
Worldwide
Open Market System
Doha (Development Round)
Raise Productivity
+
Fight Poverty
Open Market System
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Trade in Agriculture: Some Features
• Percentage of population engaged in agriculture:-Developing Countries: 50 – 95 %-OECD Countries: 1- 6 %
• Only 10% is traded internationally• Highest share in global agricultural trade by high
income countries• OECD Countries: High Producer Support
Estimates • Agric. Tariffs all-over higher than those applied to
non-agricultural products
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Large Scale vs Small Scale Production
Productivity Difference: 1/500
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Processed Food
•Issue of Tariff Escalation
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Small Scale Agriculture: Sensitivities
• 800 million people undernourished (2000)
• 75% live in rural areas
• Land Concentration / Lack of Access to Land (Gini Index)
• Population Growth
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Substantial Loss of Diversity in PlantGenetic Resources ofFood and Agriculture/ New Varieties by Cultivation and Technology
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Small Scale Agriculture: Sensitivities
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Embedded WTO
• Sub-System of International Public Law
• No self-contained sub-system:
Other legal standards relevant, as long as not „contracted out“ (Art. 3 DSU)
• Art. 20 AoA; Doha Declaration
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Embedded WTO
• Text reflects the Genesis Process
• Preamble of the WTO Agreement:
Reference to Sustainable Development
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Embedded WTO
• Sustainable Development Concept:
Outcome of three development decades
-Brundtland Report 1987
-Rio Declaration 1992 etc.
• Holistic, Integrative, Future-oriented Approach
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Concept of Sustainable Development
• ILA Declaration: 7 Principles
Inter alia:• Principle of Intergenerational Equity• Principle of Common but Differentiated
Responsabilities
• Core Principle: Principle of Integration (s. also Vienna Convention)
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Integrated Framework: 3 Pillars
Social Objectives
Economic Objectives
Environmental Objectives
4th Pillar: Specific Development Concerns?
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Legal Social Benchmarks
Human Rights:
• ICESCR Art. 11 para 2: Right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing, housing.
> Part of Concept of Food Security
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Discrepancies
Example: Human Rights Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 2003:
“39. Please explain why 7 per cent of Brazilian children suffer from undernourishment, in spite of the fact that the national production of the grains would be sufficient to feed one and a half times the total population of Brazil […].”
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Legal Social Benchmarks
CEDAW Art. 14: Specific Rights regarding Rural Women
etc.
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Human Rights and International Cooperation?
Art. 2 para 1 ICESCR:“Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to take steps, individually and through international assistance and co-operation, […]
Treaty Body: International Cooperation• more than development aid• responsability to make sure that international trade
rules do not hinder, but promote the fulfillment of human rights
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Cultural Objectives
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Environmental Objectives
OECD:„Reduction in trade barriers can have both beneficial and harmful effects on the environment.“
World Food Summit 1996:• “We will pursue participatory and sustainable food,
agriculture, fisheries, forestry and rural development policies and practices [..], and combat pests, drought and desertification, considering the multifunctional character of agriculture.”
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Legal Environmental Benchmarks
Legal benchmarks in MEAs:
• Biodiversity: CBD & FAO Seed Treaty
• Fishery
• Forest and Soil Protection (incl. water resources)
• Climate Protection
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Legal Environmental Benchmarks
• Landscape Diversity: eg. Alp Convention
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Legal Developmental Benchmarks
Declaration on the Right to Development (1986; soft law):
Responsabilities of countries to cooperate in order to overcome the gap
etc.
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Others
National Security Concerns:
i.a. UN Charter
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Legal Economic Benchmarks
Basic Principles of International Trade Agreements:-Transparency-Calculability-Non-discrimination (in conflict with ND in Human Rights regimes)-Peaceful Settlement of Disputes-Productivity, Efficiency-Policy Intervention only if necessary
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Integrated Outcome
• Decision Making Process?
• Substantive Provisions?
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
AoA Decision Making Process
AoA: WTO Agreement on Agriculture
PracticeWTO Negotiations• Mercantilistic Approach („give and take“)• Arbitrary Negotiation Procedure, not
following balanced criteria („the louder the better rule“)
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
AoA Decision Making Process: Alternatives
• Structure the process according to clear, transparent criteria
• Identify all the relevant benchmarks• Comprehensive impact assessments ex ante• Look for optimal solutions in expert committees,
among members, UNagencies, civil society• Confront draft with identified benchmarks• Impact assessments ex post etc.
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
AoA Substantive Provisions
• Direction: Towards open world market• “One fit for all“ rules• Exemptions: Only temporary• But Green Box: no time limit; untransparent;
unclear criteria• “No way back“ principle• Like Product Concept: Product differentiation
(protection of special or sensitive products) is alien to system, etc.
• > Incentive for cheapest, but not for „most sustainable produced“ products
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
AoA: Alternatives?
• Open System, but allow for Complexities• Treat different situations differently • Liberalisation as an instrument, not an objective: Way
backward must be possible• Take justified non-trade concerns of all the countries
seriously (also rich countries)• Protective measures: Follow strong non-economic criteria• Tackle whole process chain: intermediary trade • Internalise external environmental costsEtc.
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Agricultural Trade Regulation:Alternatives?
Eg:
-Each Member has Right (and Duty?) to shape its own Rural Development Strategy (RDS)
-RDS: Has to take into account all the mentioned benchmarks
-Protective tools ok, if justified by benchmarks
Tel. +41 31 631 30 80Fax +41 31 631 36 30nccr@wti.org
Hallerstrasse 63012 Berne, Switzerlandwww.nccr-trade.orgwww.wti.org
NCCRInternationalTrade
Reform
Utopian?
Crisis as Chance?