REPORT (2019) ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

REPORT BY THE CHAIRPERSON

1.1.  The present draft report is being circulated by the Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture on her own responsibility. This report provides a summary of the activities of the Committee on Agriculture ("the Committee") during 2019.

1.2.  The Committee held three formal meetings in 2019 on 26-27 February, 25-26 June, and 30 31 October.  Informal meetings were held on 25 February, 24 June and 29 October. Ms. Débora Cumes of Guatemala was the Chairperson for the February meeting of the Committee. The Committee elected Ms. Christiane Daleiden Distefano of Luxemburg as the new Chairperson for 2019 2020 beginning with the June meeting.

1.3.  In accordance with Article 18.1 of the Agreement on Agriculture ("the Agreement") at each of its meetings the Committee reviewed progress in the implementation of Members' commitments. This review process is undertaken on the basis of notifications submitted by Members in the areas of market access, domestic support, export competition, export prohibitions and restrictions as well as under the follow-up to the Marrakesh Ministerial Decision on NFIDCs. Between 1 January and 29 October 2019, 390 agriculture notifications of all types were circulated.

1.4.  In 2019, Members posed 241 questions on 140 notifications during the Committee's review process. These questions were distributed as follows: 70% related to domestic support issues, 22% to market access, and 8% to export competition.  Specific concerns were also raised regarding the outstanding notifications that some Members had yet to submit to the Committee. 

1.5.  The Committee in 2019 received two counter-notifications from Members pursuant to Article 18.7 of the Agreement. The joint communication from Australia, Canada and the United States presented calculations and findings in respect of certain measures by India providing market price support to pulses whereas Indonesia's submission dealt with the trigger price of instant coffee and extracts of coffee notified by the Philippines in G/AG/N/PHL/27 and G/AG/N/PHL/53 for the purposes of invocation of SSG.