MC14 Countdown: WTO Agriculture Chair Pushes Pragmatism Amid Sharp Divisions

The road to the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Cameroon next March is proving increasingly bumpy, with agriculture negotiations caught between high expectations and deep divisions. Ambassador Ali Sarfraz Hussain of Pakistan, Chair of the agriculture negotiations, has urged WTO members to balance ambition with realism as they attempt to deliver meaningful outcomes on agriculture and food security.

At the Committee on Agriculture in Special Session (CoASS) on September 23, Ambassador Hussain reported on his consultations with members, noting a spirit of pragmatism but also skepticism over whether consensus could be achieved in just six months.

“The current turbulence in the international trading system undoubtedly adds to the prevailing uncertainty,” Ambassador Hussain told delegates.

Divided Positions but Shared Priorities

Delegations, he said, fall into three broad camps:

• Independent negotiators such as the Cairns Group of agricultural exporters and the African Group, who are pressing for stronger commitments on domestic subsidies and public stockholding for food security.
• Cautious members who prefer to finalize internal consultations before engaging other members.
• Market access proponents who have requested the Chair’s help in brokering dialogue.

Despite these divisions, members widely agreed that food security must be the anchor of any MC14 deal. Several delegations suggested that measures to safeguard vulnerable countries — including curbs on food export restrictions and new commitments on stockholding — could form part of an achievable package.

Secretariat Insights: Agriculture vs Non-Agriculture Trade

The WTO Secretariat gave members a presentation on the history of agricultural market access talks since 1999 and another on how regional trade agreements (RTAs) treat farm goods.

Key findings included:

• RTAs often remove tariffs on agricultural products, but at lower rates compared to industrial goods.
• A significant share of farm imports enters duty-free, yet remaining tariffs remain far higher than those on manufactured goods.
• Agriculture continues to be a sector of “harder-to-reach compromises” due to its political sensitivity.

Spotlight on Food Security and Safeguards

Food security emerged as a recurring theme throughout the session. Developing members, in particular, called for urgent action to shield vulnerable populations from global shocks.

One proposal that resurfaced was the Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM) — a tool that would allow developing economies to temporarily raise tariffs if import surges or sudden price drops threaten their farm sectors.

Supporters argue that the SSM would strengthen resilience and protect livelihoods. Critics, however, noted that the mechanism failed to gain consensus in earlier ministerials. Some suggested exploring interim or price-based safeguard mechanisms as potential compromises.

Next Steps to MC14 in Cameroon

Ambassador Hussain confirmed he will not introduce a draft “Chair’s text” ahead of MC14, citing the absence of new submissions and the persistence of sharp divergences. Instead, he urged members to accelerate consultations, share written proposals openly, and take a transparent approach to ensure inclusivity.

“Negotiations must be transparent and inclusive, based on member submissions shared with the whole membership, with the CoASS at the very heart of the process,” he emphasized.

The Cairns Group and African Group reported constructive discussions on domestic support, signaling that a joint contribution may be presented before MC14. Meanwhile, several members proposed more technical, data-driven side events and expert-led dialogues to keep momentum alive.

Outlook: A Test of WTO’s Relevance

With agriculture at the center of global trade politics, MC14 is seen as a litmus test of the WTO’s ability to respond to urgent global challenges. Food security, farm subsidies, and fairer market access are not just trade issues but also matters of survival for millions across developing countries.

The stakes are high: failure to deliver meaningful outcomes could further weaken trust in the multilateral trading system. Success, however modest, would reinforce the WTO’s role in ensuring predictability in agricultural trade during a period of global uncertainty.

WTO agriculture negotiations face tough hurdles ahead of MC14 in Cameroon. Chair Ambassador Ali Sarfraz Hussain urges pragmatism as members push for food security, farm subsidy reforms, and fairer trade rules.