Jefatura de Gabinete de Ministros 1 - Informe Uruguay

at Doha. Ambitious cuts in domestic support and the elimination of all forms of export subsidies
would also permit a more ambitious outcome on the market access pillar by developing countries.
Ministers noted that elimination of cotton subsidies is of critical interest for a number of developing
and least developed countries, and stressed that effective solutions must be found in the WTO
agricultural negotiations as part of an overall ambitious outcome for all products and implemented
as a matter of urgency.
In concluding, Ministers said the greatest contribution the WTO could make to development was to
conclude the negotiations promptly and produce an outcome that opens international agricultural
markets by substantially removing distortions in world trade.
Ministers expressed their appreciation to the Costa Rican Government for hosting the 26th Cairns
Group Ministerial Meeting.
G-20 Ministerial Communiqué
São Paulo, 12 June, 2004
Ministers from the G-20 met in São Paulo on 12 June, on the occasion of UNCTAD XI.
Delegations from the following countries attended the meeting, which was hosted by Brazil:
Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, China, Cuba, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan,
Paraguay, Philippines, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
2. World Trade Organization Director-General, Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, and Ambassador Tim
Groser, Chairman of the Special Session of the Committee on Agriculture, took part in the meeting as
special guests. Ministers also interacted with the Minister of Cooperation and Trade of Guyana, and
coordinator of the G-90, Clement Rohee, who reciprocated the participation of Minister Amorim in the
Georgetown Ministerial Conference of the G-90, held on 3 June 2004. At that occasion, recalling the
common interests of both groups, Minister Amorim called upon the G-90 to cooperate closely and act
together with the G-20 in order to translate the Doha Development Agenda into reality.
3The meeting took place at a crucial moment in the Doha Round, as WTO Members seek to reach
agreement on a framework for agriculture negotiations by the end of July.
4 Ministers assessed the current stage of the Doha Round discussions, with special emphasis on
agriculture, and considered the next steps in the negotiation. Ministers reiterated that maintaining the
level of ambition of the Doha mandate remains the guiding principle of the negotiations. In this context,
any framework text must be fully consistent with the Doha Mandate and lead to the establishment of
modalities capable of ensuring substantial reductions in trade-distorting domestic support, substantial
increase in market access, phasing-out with a view to elimination of all forms of export subsidies and
operational and effective special and differential treatment, that takes into account food and livelihood
security and rural development needs.
5 Ministers recalled that since Cancun the G-20 has been carrying out intensive work on the three
pillars of the agriculture negotiations. Consultations were also held with a large number of WTO
groups and individual Members. Ministers welcomed the fact that the constructive engagement of the
G-20 has contributed, in recent weeks, to a greater convergence in the negotiations.
6 Ministers reiterated the importance they attach to the WTO and to the multilateral rules-based
trading system. Negotiations on agriculture are central to move the Doha Round to a successful and
timely conclusion. Trade in agricultural products continues to be hindered by all sorts of barriers and
distortions. True liberalization in agricultural trade must include reforms to address these barriers and
distortions. This would be a major contribution to the development objectives of the Round.
7 Ministers recalled that the interests and concerns of developing Members are paramount in the
Doha Development Agenda and in the negotiations. Special and differential treatment for developing
Members must be fully reflected in the outcome of the negotiations. The concerns of least-developed,
small and vulnerable economies, net food importing developing countries and recently acceded
Members must be effectively addressed. The issue of preference erosion must also be fully taken care
of in the negotiations.
8 Ministers welcomed the progress in the negotiations of a credible end-date for the phasing out of all
forms of export subsidies, as called for by the Doha mandate. To achieve this, a precise, effective and
workable definition regarding timeframes and disciplines will be needed so as to ensure that we
eliminate direct export subsidies, as well as all forms of subsidies in export credits, food aid operations
and state-trading enterprises activities.
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