Global civil society letter to WTO members regarding public food stockholding programs
To Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO):
As 118[1] organizations of civil society from countries of the global North and South, representing consumer groups, environmentalists, trade unions, farmers’ groups, women’s organizations, and other development advocates, we are writing to you to convey our deep concern over the process and content of what is currently being negotiated at the WTO on the peace clause related to the G-33 Proposal on food security and the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) as part of the Bali package from December 2013. The Bali package was a highly unfair and unbalanced agreement in the first place. It included a permanent Trade Facilitation Agreement that was extracted by the developed countries while including only best endeavour clauses on the development package for least-developed countries (LDCs). In addition, the Bali package included only a “temporary” peace clause on the G-33 proposal on food security, which was further weighed down by stringent conditionalities.[2] The G-33 proposal was a genuine demand by a number of developing countries, led by India, to change the WTO rules to allow domestic subsidies to producers in developing countries and LDCs for public food stockholding programs, to be given without limit.
The current WTO rules have been identified by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food as a barrier to global food security. Given the impacts of global climate change, food price speculation, and rich country subsidies, it is immoral that developing countries and LDCs are still prevented by WTO rules from investing in domestic small-holder production, which has been repeatedly identified as one of the most important globally-agreed poverty-reduction strategies. This shows the importance of changing the WTO rules to allow these public food stockholding programs for the food security of developing countries and LDCs and how essential these subsidies are for supporting food production, procurement as well as for farmers’ livelihoods.
According to news reports, the United States and India have reached a deal on public stockholdings for food security purposes. According to the media,[3] the text of the deal between India and the United States will only be released on 24 November 2014 and countries will be required to decide on it two days later, on 26 November 2014. This process is too rushed for such a vitally important issue and is extremely non-transparent. A deal reached between two countries does not mean that it suits all other countries. There should be a proper process to include the views of all other WTO member countries after having given them long enough to carefully and thoroughly consider all the implications for current and future programs of the deal reached between the U.S. and India.
The text of the U.S.-India deal has not yet been released but for it to be adequate for food security it must contain the following provisions:
An unambiguous statement that the peace clause lasts until there is a permanent solution.
That any peace clause applies to existing as well as new programs. The Bali Ministerial Conference Public Stockholding for Food Security Purposes Decision is grossly inadequate because it only applies to programs existing as of 7 December 2013. This unnecessary restriction punishes those who did not have programs in place at the time they were asked to rapidly agree to this Decision. Many other developing countries and LDCs may want to have these programs in future, for example when the global financial crisis is over and so they are able to afford them. It is very unfair that the Decision does not allow them to start these programs by using the peace clause in the future.
None of the onerous and inappropriate conditions on the peace clause that were in the Bali Decision, including those identified in our previous letter of 20 November 2013, which was endorsed by more than 230 civil society groups globally.[4]
A requirement that the permanent solution should be quickly agreed with a satisfactory permanent solution by June 2015. From our perspective, the permanent solution must allow subsidies to producers for supporting public food programs as part of the Green Box that can be used by developing countries and LDCs without conditions and without limits. This is important because the current system of calculating subsidies based on 1986-88 reference prices would make almost any government purchase from farmers at today’s price a violation of WTO rules by wrongly magnifying the subsidy. Therefore the permanent solution must also correct the outdated reference price date and base the calculation of subsidies on current global prices.
We therefore urge you to ensure that developing countries’ and LDCs’ interests are not sacrificed in the current negotiations and at the special General Council meeting on 26 November 2014 in order to clear the path for the TFA. Crucial development issues in developing countries and LDCs such as food security and farmers livelihoods must be addressed to their satisfaction if the Doha Development Agenda is to truly be a development round of negotiations at the WTO. A peace clause and committed accelerated work program on a permanent solution as outlined above needs to be agreed.
Signed by
International and Regional Organizations and Networks
| 1 | LDC Watch | LDC Watch is a global alliance of national, regional and international civil society organisations (CSOs), networks and movements based in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). |
| 2 | International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF) | The IUF is currently composed of 385 trade unions in 123 countries representing a combined representational membership of over 12 million workers (including a financial membership of 2.6 million). It is based in Geneva, Switzerland. |
| 3 | South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) | An alliance to fight against poverty and injustice in South Asia comprising journalists, academics, trade unionists, human rights activists, NGOs and other civil society actors across the region. |
| 4 | Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) | PANG is a Pacific regional network promoting economic justice in globalisation with specific attention to:1) Accountability and transparency in economic and trade policy processes, 2) Poverty eradication, 3) Equitable development and sustainable livelihoods (opportunity, access, impact) and 4) Food sovereignty and environmental sustainability. |
| 5 | Third World Network (TWN) | Third World Network (TWN) is an independent non-profit international network of organisations and individuals involved in issues relating to development, developing countries and North-South affairs. |
| 6 | Third World Network (TWN) Africa | TWN-Africa co-ordinates the Africa Trade Network which was established in 1998 by TWN-Africa, and has over 25 members from 15 countries in Africa. |
| 7 | ACP Civil Society Forum | The Forum is a coalition of 80 not-for-profit organisations working on issues relating to ACP-EU development cooperation. It seeks to cater for the diverse range civil society development issues within the wide geographic coverage of the ACP group. |
National Organization
| 8 | Australian Fair Trade and investment Network | Australia |
| 9 | Fórum das Organizações Não Governamentais Angolanas (FONGA) | Angola |
| 10 | Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Centre (GARDC) | Antigua and Barbuda |
| 11 | Civil Society Bahamas | Bahamas |
| 12 | Equity and Justice Working Group Bangladesh (EquityBD) | Bangladesh |
| 13 | Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) | Bangladesh |
| 14 | Intergrated community and industrial development in Bangladesh (INCIDIN) | Bangladesh |
| 15 | Barbados Association of Non Governmental Organizations | Barbados |
| 16 | Belize Enterprise for Sustainable Technology | Belize |
| 17 | Groupe de Recherche et d'Action pour la Promotion de l'Agriculture et du Développement (GRAPAD) | Benin Republic |
| 18 | Botswana Council of Non Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO) | Botswana |
| 19 | Cadre de concertation des OSC pour le suivi du CSLP (CdC/CSLP) | Burkina Faso |
| 20 | Civil Society Organization Network for Development (RESOCIDE) | Burkina Faso |
| 21 | Action Développement et Intégration Régionale (ADIR) | Burundi |
| 22 | Conseil des ONG Agrees du Cameroun (CONGAC ) | Cameroon |
| 23 | Council of Canadians | Canada |
| 24 | National Farmers Union | Canada |
| 25 | Association Commerciale, Agricole, Industriel et du Service (ACAISA) | Cape Verde |
| 26 | Conseil Inter ONG En Centrafrique (CIONGCA) | Central African Rep. |
| 27 | Centre d’Information et de Liaison des ONG (CILONG) | Chad |
| 28 | Conseil de Concertation des ONGs de Développement (CCOD) | Congo |
| 29 | Cook Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (CIANGO) | Cook Islands |
| 30 | Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País | Cuba |
| 31 | Conseil National des ONG de Développement (CNONGD) | D.R. Congo |
| 32 | Kalingo Carib Council | Dominica |
| 33 | Alianza ONG | Dominican Republic |
| 34 | Forum des ONG pour le Développement Durable (FONGDD) | Eq. Guinea |
| 35 | Cotonou Task Force | Ethiopia |
| 36 | Poverty Action Network in Ethiopia (PANE) | Ethiopia |
| 37 | Concertation Nationale Des Organisations paysannes et des Producteurs (CNOP) | Gabon |
| 38 | Worldview | Gambia |
| 39 | Agricultural Workers Union of TUC | Ghana |
| 40 | Inter Agency Group of Development Organizations (IAGDO) | Grenada |
| 41 | Federation de Femmes Enterpreneurs et Affairs de la CEDEAO (FEFA) | Guinea |
| 42 | Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisa (INEI) | Guinea-Bissau |
| 43 | Women Across Differences (WAD) | Guyana |
| 44 | Programme de Plaidoyer Pour une Intégration Alternative (PPIA) | Haïti |
| 45 | All India Union of Forest Workers and People (AIUFWP) | India |
| 46 | Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) | India |
| 47 | FDI Watch | India |
| 48 | Initiative for Health & Equity in Society | India |
| 49 | Diverse Women for Diversity | India |
| 50 | Feminist Learnig Partnerships | India |
| 51 | New Trade Union Initiative (NTUI) | India |
| 52 | Sunray Harvesters | India |
| 53 | Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture (ASHA) | India |
| 54 | Rashtriya Raithu Seva Samithi (RRSS) | India |
| 55 | Centre for Community Economics and Development Consultants Society (CECOEDECON) | India |
| 56 | Kirishak Biradari | India |
| 57 | Indonesia for Global Justice | Indonesia |
| 58 | Farmers Initiative for Ecological Livelihoods and Democracy (FIELD) | Indonesia |
| 59 | Aliansi Petani Perempuan Indonesia (APPI) | Indonesia |
| 60 | Aliansi Petani Indonesia (API) | Indonesia |
| 61 | Seknas Jokowi | Indonesia |
| 62 | Fairwatch | Italy |
| 63 | Alliance Pour la Reconstruction et le Developpement Post-Conflit (ARDPC) | Ivory Coast |
| 64 | National Council of NGOs | Kenya |
| 65 | Kiribati Association of Non-Governmental Organisation (KANGO) | Kiribati |
| 66 | Lesotho Council of NGOs (LCN) | Lesotho |
| 67 | West African Women Association (WAWA) | Liberia |
| 68 | Plate-Forme Nationale des Organisations de la Societe Civile de Madagascar | Madagascar |
| 69 | Malawi Economic Justice Network | Malawi |
| 70 | Consumers Association of Penang | Malaysia |
| 71 | Sahabat Alam Malaysia | Malaysia |
| 72 | Foundation pour le Developpment au Sahel (FDS) | Mali |
| 73 | Marshall Islands Council of NGOs (MICNGOS) | Marshall Islands |
| 74 | Mauritius Trade Union Congress | Mauritius |
| 75 | Federation of Democratic Labour Unions | Mauritius |
| 76 | Migration and Sustainable Development Alliance | Mauritius |
| 77 | Mauritius Council of Social Service (MACOSS) | Mauritius |
| 78 | FSM Alliance of NGOs (FANGO) | Micronesia |
| 79 | National Forum for Mozambiquan NGOs and CBOs (TEIA) | Mozambique |
| 80 | Namibia Non-Governmental Organisations Forum Trust | Namibia |
| 81 | Nauru Island Association of NGOs (NIANGO) | Nauru |
| 82 | Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN) | Nepal |
| 83 | National du Réseau des Ong de Développement et Associations de Défense des Droits de l'Homme et de la Démocratie (RODADDHD) | Niger |
| 84 | Association Nigérienne des Scouts de l Environnement du Niger | Nigeria |
| 85 | National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) | Nigeria |
| 86 | Niue Island (Umbrella) Association of NGOs (NIUANGO) | Niue |
| 87 | Baluchistan Rural Development & Research Society (BRDRS) | Pakistan |
| 88 | Institute for Development Initiatives (IDI) | Pakistan |
| 89 | NOOR | Pakistan |
| 90 | Creed Alliance | Pakistan |
| 91 | Melanesian NGO Centre for Leadership (MNCL) | Papua New Guinea |
| 92 | Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services (IDEALS) | Philippines |
| 93 | Rwanda Civil Society Platform | Rwanda |
| 94 | Samoa Umbrella for Non Governmental Organisation (SUNGO) | Samoa |
| 95 | Forum das Ong de São Tomé e Principe (FONG-STP) | Sao Tomé and Principe |
| 96 | Plate-forme des acteurs non étatiques pour le suivi de l'Accord de Cotonou au Sénégal | Senegal |
| 97 | Liaison Unit of the non-governmental organisations of Seychelles -(LUNGOS) | Seychelles |
| 98 | Civil Society Movement of Sierra Leone | Sierra Leone |
| 99 | Development Service Exchange (DSE) | Solomon Islands |
| 100 | Southern and Eastern African Trade Information and Negotiations Institute - (SEATINI) - South Africa Chapter | South Africa |
| 101 | South African NGO Council (SANGOCO) | South Africa |
| 102 | Iyanola (St.Lucia) Council for the Advancement of Rastafari Incorperated (ICAR) | St. Lucia |
| 103 | Windward Islands Farmers’ Association (WINFA) | St. Vincent and the Grenadines |
| 104 | Stichting Projekta | Suriname |
| 105 | Council for NGOs (CANGO) | Swaziland |
| 106 | Tanzania Association of NGOs | Tanzania |
| 107 | The Asia Foundation | Timor-Leste |
| 108 | Groupe d'Action et de Reflexion sur l'Environnement et le Développement (GARED) | Togo |
| 109 | Civil Society Forum of Tonga (CSFT) | Tonga |
| 110 | Grassroots Organisations of Trinidad & Tobago (GOTT) | Trinidad & Tobago |
| 111 | Tuvalu Association of NGOs (TANGO) | Tuvalu |
| 112 | Southern and Eastern African Trade Information and Negotiations Institute - (SEATINI) | Uganda |
| 113 | Consumer Education Trust | Uganda |
| 114 | Food & Water Watch | US |
| 115 | Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) | US |
| 116 | Vanuatu Association of NGOs (VANGO) | Vanuatu |
| 117 | Zambia Council for Social Development | Zambia |
| 118 | National Association of NGOs (NANGO) | Zimbabwe |
[4] https://ourworldisnotforsale.net/en/signon/global-civil-society-calls-permanent-solution-g-33-food-security-proposal-wto