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 27th Round of the Director-General's
Consultative Framework Mechanism on Cotton[1]
24 July 2017
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 The 27th 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.
[1] This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own
responsibility and is without prejudice to the positions of Members or to their
rights and obligations under the WTO.