Road to MC14: Agriculture and Food Security

Why It Matters

Decisions at MC14 could shape global food availability and price stability, directly affecting vulnerable countries and billions of livelihoods, and signal whether the WTO can restore confidence to manage future shocks. Clear commitments on agriculture will influence trade policy, aid flows and market access that determine food security for net-importing and least-developed countries.

Summary

World Trade Organization ministers will meet in Yaoundé at the end of March for MC14, with agriculture elevated to a core agenda item as members seek to demonstrate the WTO’s relevance amid mounting strains on the rules-based system. Delegates are confronting a cascade of shocks — the COVID-19 pandemic, armed conflicts, rising trade tensions and climate-driven disruptions — that have destabilized agricultural markets and driven price volatility. With 673 million people still facing hunger in 2024, ministers are under pressure to agree direction on a fair, market-oriented agricultural trading system that safeguards open, predictable trade flows for net food importers and supports rural livelihoods for exporters. The conference aims to deliver political guidance to rebuild trust and set the framework for post-MC negotiations on food security and trade rules.

Original Description

Ahead of the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14), what is the state of play in agriculture negotiations, particularly on food security? Hear from Ambassador Ali Sarfraz Hussain of Pakistan, Chair of the Committee on Agriculture in Special Session.

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https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/webcas_e/webcas_e.htm