WASHINGTON, DC -- According to a new study, several key advanced developing countries have ramped up subsidies to their producers of rice, corn, and wheat, dramatically changing the global trading environment as a result.
Subsidies in Brazil, China, India, Thailand, and Turkey exceed each country's commitment to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and must be addressed as part of a renewed push to complete the Doha Round of trade negotiations, said representatives of the USA Rice Federation and U.S. Wheat Associates at a media briefing here today.
"Our joint study showed that these five advanced developing countries have steadily increased subsidies to their producers to the point of being out of compliance with their WTO obligations," said USA Rice COO Bob Cummings who led off today's briefing. "While we support the WTO and global trade agreements because they work for our members, WTO negotiators must address the trade distortions in today's trading environment if the long-running Doha Round of negotiations is to conclude successfully. Several of these countries are also very likely using export subsidies to dispose of surplus production."
The group delivered this same message earlier this year to more than 50 representatives from WTO member countries at meetings in Geneva, Switzerland, including representatives from Canada, New Zealand, and Australia's missions to the WTO, the Director of the WTO's Agriculture Division, and Ambassador Michael Punke, head of the U.S. Mission.
"Our message is clear - we support the WTO, but the environment has changed and negotiators must deal with the situation in advanced developing countries. It's hard to talk about a new trade agreement when countries are ignoring their existing obligations," said Cummings. "The United States is meeting all international commitments, while many of our trading partners are going in the opposite direction. It's neither fair nor sustainable."
Contact: Michael Klein (703) 236-1458
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