  
  
JOB/TNC/88  
 
20 October 2020  
(20-7254) Page: 1/2 
Trade Negotiations Committee  Original: English  
 
INFORMAL TNC AND INFORMAL HEADS OF DELEGATION MEETINGS  
MONDAY, 12 OCTOBER 2020  
STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF G -33 MEMBERS  
 
The following statement is being circulated at the request of the delegation of Indonesia on behalf 
of the G -33. 
 
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1.1.  The COVID –19 pandemic has severely impacted every aspect of livelihood and the agricultural 
sector, particularly in developing countries. Reduced consumer demand  and disruption of agri -supply 
chains are posing considerable challenges to f ood and livelihood security. Levelling the playing field 
in agriculture, ensuring the undisrupted trade flow of food products, enhancement of food 
production, and efforts to ensure the availability of food reserves are essential to address the food 
securit y issue, price volatility, and needs for emergency food distribution during  the crisis.  
1.2.  In this context, WTO Members should ensure the ability of Members to address  the food 
security issue and uninterrupted flows of agricultural goods to promote food secur ity as well as to 
provide to our producers fair trade without distortions. For that purpose, we believe that the 
agriculture negotiation s in WTO should move forward. Effort s need to be redoubled, confidence 
needs to be rebuilt, and cooperation between Memb ers should be enhanced in order to deliver 
meaningful outcome for this important sector since collective actions are imperative during this 
challenging environment.  
1.3.  We, the G –33 Members, are open to dialogue and discussion with the aim to enhance 
cooperati on among Members, in particular to advance the agricultural negotiations taking into 
account the newly revealed challenges as a result of the COVID –19 pandemic. Lack of motivation 
for further negotiation is a fact which Members should be more focused on , with mutual 
understanding of the conditions for each other. We believe that this pandemic has clearly indicated 
the pressing needs for Members to move forward in the reform of agriculture. It includes 
commitments in domestic support in particular on trade d istorting domestic support programs, and 
to work towards delivering the Ministerially -mandated Permanent Solution for Public Stockholding 
for Food Security purposes, effective and operational Special Safeguard Measures and Special 
Products as well as the other pillars of agriculture. It is important to have meaningful outcomes that 
are acceptable and effective to all in the long run.  
1.4.  In domestic support, the G–33 provides  its attention towards the effort in advancing the 
negotiation of this topic, by way of providing more methods to express the needs of G -33 Members 
which may help to create a common base.  
1.5.  On this occasion, we would also appreciate the initiative to establish facilitator –led negotiations 
and to convene smal l group meetings put forward by the CoA –SS Chair. We would underline the 
importance of ensuring that the facilitator -led meetings are efficient, inclusive, transparent and 
provide full opportunity for meaningful participation by smaller delegations. We loo k forward to 
engaging actively on the way forward of this initiative, taking into account the views expressed by 
all Members, and its contribution  to the effort in advancing the agriculture negotiation.  JOB/TNC/88  
 
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  1.6.  To conclude, Chair, we would take this opportunity t o call for commitment, flexibility, and 
commitment by Members to advance and deliver a meaningful outcome in agriculture negotiations.   
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