Navigating the trade landscape: A Latin American perspective building on the WTO 13th ministerial conference

Valeria Piñeiro, Adriana Campos Azofeifa and Martin Piñeiro

in IFPRI books from International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Abstract: This publication-a joint effort by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)-is being released in the context of growing changes and fragmentation in global economic and trade relationships. Countries are increasingly adopting protectionist measures in response to recent crises and the decreased competitiveness of value chains, due to rising production, marketing and transportation costs. The complex multilateral trade system and the urgent need to implement concrete actions in this area are prompting countries to work towards the adoption of new standards that aim to protect and preserve the environment but could also become barriers to trade that impose a significant economic and social cost on other countries. The countries of the Americas must continue to support efforts to strengthen the multilateral trade system, ensuring that it is open, transparent and science-based, as well as to effectively participate in discussion forums such as the ministerial conferences of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Amidst this scenario, international trade plays a vital role in transforming food systems, by interconnecting them and contributing to creating a more sustainable global food system. In recent years, the growth of production and exports has converted Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) into the largest net food exporting region in the world. On average, agrifood exports from the region in 2021-2023 accounted for 17% of global agrifood exports, representing one fourth of total exports from the region. During that period, LAC agrifood exports grew by 7.6%. Yet, it bears mentioning that, despite its important role, the region has its share of challenges. During 2023, 85% of LAC agrifood exports were directed at external markets and 53% of the value of exported agrifood exports was concentrated among only 10 products. This demonstrates the region’s significant vulnerability and is undoubtedly a challenge that must be addressed. This document is an inter-institutional effort to share ideas and reflections on the main issues to be tackled building on the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference. We hope that it will serve as input in strengthening the participation of the countries of the Americas in WTO multilateral negotiations, while also highlighting the key role of agricultural trade in agrifood system transformation.

Keywords: agriculture; climate change; economics; food systems; international trade; vulnerability; Latin America and the Caribbean (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024-08-19
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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/151786

Chapters in this book:

Ch 1 Introduction: Creating context and unveiling crucial issues , pp p. 5-10

Martin Piñeiro and Valeria Piñeiro

Ch 2 Geopolitical changes and their implications for agricultural trade negotiations , pp p. 11-22

Martin Piñeiro and Valeria Piñeiro

Ch 3 Shaping multilateral trade: The changing institutional landscape , pp p. 23-28

Gloria Abraham Peralta and Adriana Campos Azofeifa

Ch 4 Agriculture negotiations priorities and sustainable development at the WTO , pp p. 29-41

Facundo Calvo

Ch 5 Public stockholding programs and the WTO , pp p. 42-59

Joseph W. Glauber

Ch 6 Transforming agricultural support for a sustainable future: A Latin America and Caribbean view , pp p. 60-81

David Laborde Debucquet, Elsa B. Olivetti and Valeria Piñeiro

Ch 7 Price volatility, export restrictions and the need for transparency , pp p. 82-98

Nelson Illescas and Jimena Vicentin Masaro

Ch 8 Environmental concerns and agricultural trade: Building a responsible and effective relationship , pp p. 99-120

Sabine Papendieck and Brian McNamara

Ch 9 Global food security concerns and agricultural trade: Building a responsible and effective relationship , pp p. 121-145

Adriana Campos Azofeifa and Pablo Elverdin

Ch 10 Proposed pathways for moving forward , pp p. 146-154

Martin Piñeiro and Valeria Piñeiro

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:fpr:ifprib:151786

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