Selected issues

The Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations, concluded at Marrakesh in April 1994, brought a new quality to the rule-based international trading environment. It established the World Trade Organization (WTO) as an intergovernmental platform for trade negotiations and settlements of trade disputes, and it enhanced the disciplines on international trade policies in various sectors. One issue that received serious attention from the negotiating parties was the deeper integration of agriculture into the international trading system, based on market openness and free trade. The negotiations on agriculture were difficult but the final outcome did indicate the way forward. The negotiating parties finally agreed on improved disciplines as well as on comprehensive, binding and reduction commitments in the three broad areas of market access, export competition and domestic agricultural support. All of these were eventually incorporated in the WTO Agreement on Agriculture and in countries’ schedules of specific commitments.

Sustainable Development Goals:

No Poverty

Responsible Consumption and Production

Decent Work and Economic Growth