Agricultural Policies

Paper

EU Agriculture and the WTO. Doha Development Agenda

European Commission Agriculture and Rural Development Cancun, Mexico (2003)

At the WTO Ministerial Meeting in Cancún, much is at stake. For the agriculture talks, the European Union’s (EU) position represents a middle route between extreme positions. It goes far to meet all interests represented in the WTO: greater market access for all, much less trade-distorting farm subsidies, sharp reductions for all forms of export aid, consideration of non-trade issues such as geographical indications, food safety or the environment - and preferential, targeted measures to give developing countries a better deal. Europe has also shown that we not only talk the talk, we are also ready to walk the walk towards a trade-friendly farm policy. Only some weeks ago, Europe fundamentally reformed its Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). With this decision the bulk of our farm support will no longer be linked to production. We will cut payments and use this money for environmental, animal welfare or quality programmes. In future, our products will be more competitive, and our agricultural policy will be greener, more trade-friendly and more consumer-oriented. And reforms of the sugar, cotton, olive oil and tobacco sector will follow soon.

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