Statement establishing a Dialogue on Emerging Agricultural Trade Issues
Bern, 31.03.2026 — Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Iceland, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Peru, Switzerland, Ukraine and Uruguay established a Statement on a Dialogue on Emerging Agricultural Trade Issues at the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organization in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The Declaration establishes a forum that is expected to build trust and foster mutual understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with sustainable agriculture, taking into account the diverse realities and approaches of WTO Members. It sends a strong signal that Members are willing to find new ways of engaging on issues of common concern.
Building on a recent series of discussions among WTO Members, the Dialogue reflects growing interest in the intersection of agriculture, trade and sustainability.
The aim of the Dialogue is to structure discussions on emerging agricultural trade issues in an open setting that allows Members to touch upon issues of interest in a non-confrontational setting. The Dialogue aims to fill a perceived void between the negotiating and monitoring functions of the organisation. It acts as a thematic one-stop shop for emerging agricultural trade issues that have in the past been brought up under a variety of WTO Committees and bodies. Rather than launching new negotiations, it aims to foster exchange and shared understanding on sustainability and emerging issues of common interest.
The Dialogue seeks to discuss the interaction between the triple challenge facing modern agriculture, namely i) ensuring food security and nutrition, ii) providing livelihoods and iii) improving environmental sustainability, and trade policy responses and levers available to Members across the world.
The Statement provides a time-bound structure for discussion at the WTO, as well as check points to review the work of Members over the next two years and report to Ministers at MC15.
Participating Members look forward to continuing engagement on these issues and to further contributions from the broader WTO Membership beyond MC14.