NCGA Finds WTO Disappointing on Market Access (12-20-05)

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), while applauding the tireless efforts of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiators to move the process forward and being steadfast in advancing U.S. agricultural needs, said today that not resolving the market access issue – one very important to corn growers – was disappointing.

“Negotiators were resolute in not losing sight of our overall needs in market access in their negotiations in Hong Kong,” said NCGA President Gerald Tumbleson. “We applaud their tireless efforts to move the process forward; however, we are disappointed that resolving market access will now have to be addressed next year. Market access is an issue that connects all countries. We all need more open markets opportunities in order to continue to build our economic futures.”

Further negotiations are now scheduled for early 2006 to address the ongoing contentious issue of market access, which NCGA leaders say is crucial for the upcoming farm bill discussions.

Tumbleson said it is expected that market access will be addressed in the next 90 to 120 days and must be fully addressed in order to avoid further challenges of the agriculture programs that would cause growers to lose market access. “Proper timing will help us ensure we develop programs compatible with trade laws,” he said.

Although all issues were not resolved during the six day conference, Tumbleson said a the positive result of having an NCGA delegation present at the talks was that corn growers’ voices were heard. “NCGA’s presence was felt at the ministerial as we linked with other agriculture groups and non-agriculture groups to resolve trade issues,” said Tumbleson. “We had meetings with producers from Canada, Spain, Italy and France and in our discussions we found common ground on trade issues.”

Negoatiators set a 2013 end date for agricultural export subsides, and extended duty-and quote-free access to 97 percent of imports from the least developed countries.

In hopes that progress will continue to move forward and agreements will be reached, the ministerial set an April 30, 2006, as the deadline countries will agree to a detailed blueprint for negotiating agriculture and industrial market access in the Doha round. Ministers did not set a date for a new ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization before adjourning the meeting. The text does set a deadline of July 2006 for completing schedules of commitments in the Doha Round, which would be dependent on negotiators meeting their modalities deadline.