How Can the World Trade Organization Foster Climate-Resilient Food Systems in Least Developed Countries?
This brief explores how World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and processes on agricultural subsidies, intellectual property, and export restrictions could be improved to foster climate-resilient food systems in least developed countries (LDCs).
Key Messages
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Catalyze financial support and policy advice through Aid for Trade to help LDCs optimize their public budgets for food and agriculture.
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Clarify existing disciplines on export competition so that food aid and concessional sales to LDCs are not treated as prohibited export subsidies.
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Enhance the effectiveness of existing provisions in the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights relevant to technology transfer to LDCs, in particular Article 66.2.
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Prohibit the imposition of export bans by food-producing countries that adversely affect LDCs.
WTO rules and processes on agricultural subsidies can be leveraged to help LDCs design subsidies that promote climate-resilient food production, including through subsidies conditional upon the use of climate-resilient agricultural practices or the adoption of climate-resilient crops. Similarly, better rules and processes on intellectual property could facilitate the transfer of climate technologies to support adaptation efforts in LDCs. Meanwhile, stricter rules on export restrictions could contribute to open, predictable, and transparent global agri-food markets by limiting the impacts of export bans on net food-importing countries, many of which are LDCs. Finally, firmer WTO rules could reduce the risk of sudden supply disruptions in global agri-food markets, ensuring that LDCs with limited agricultural production capacities have steady access to food and fertilizers.
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