IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE ASPECTS OF THE

COTTON-RELATED DECISIONS IN THE 2004 JULY PACKAGE AND
PARAGRAPH 12 OF THE HONG KONG MINISTERIAL DECLARATION

Item 2C - Coherence between Trade and Development Aspects:
Update on the Development Aspects of Cotton

Report of the 27^th Round of the Director-General's

Consultative Framework Mechanism on Cotton^[1]

24 July 2017

1  INTRODUCTION

1.1  The 27^th Round of the Director-General's Consultative Framework Mechanism on Cotton (DGCFMC) took place on 24 July 2017, under the chairmanship of Deputy Director-General David Shark.

STATEMENT BY THE C4 COORDINATOR

1.2  The Ambassador of Mali, speaking on behalf of the C4 countries expressed concern on the slow progress on the work related to Domestic Support in Agriculture which the Group considers to be at the crux of the stalemate in the negotiations. 

1.3  She recalled the decisions made at the C4 Coordination Meeting held in Cotonou, Benin from 18-21 April 2017, which called for a follow-up on the effective implementation of all Ministerial Decisions taken in favour of cotton. She added that those decisions included a call for substantial reductions and eventual elimination of all forms of support which had trade-distorting effects on cotton and its derivatives. She mentioned that the C4 would undertake consultations with other Members in order to submit a draft Ministerial Decision for consideration at the Eleventh WTO Ministerial Conference (MC11) which would be in line with the Hong Kong mandate of 2005, calling for ambitious, rapid and specific treatment for cotton.

1.4  She reaffirmed the C4's commitment to the multilateral trading system (MTS) and the merits of this system to enable its greater integration into the global economy. She maintained that trade was important in order to fight against under-development and to create inclusive development in their countries. The C4 was delighted with the initiatives and encouraged other Members to work towards achieving a negotiated solution for cotton, in particular African cotton producers.

1.5  She welcomed the new Executive Director of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), Mr. Kai Hughes, who took up his position on 1 September 2017 and assured him of the C4's commitment to support ICAC's work under his stewardship. She acknowledged the contributions made by Members to facilitate the updating of their database. She thanked China for its financial support which made it possible for the Focal Points from the capitals to participate in the meeting. She thanked Mr. Gerardo Melogno, who retired in August 2017, for his services especially in support of C4 work on development assistance aspects on cotton and wished him great success in his future endeavours.