The World Trade Organization's Role in Enhancing Food Security

COMMUNICATION FROM THE UNITED STATES

The following communication, dated 27 March 2023, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of the United States.

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Introduction

1.       The world faces an acute challenge of ensuring food security for all people, for current and future generations, while also assuring economic viability and resilience for all those involved in food supply chains. Vital work aimed at addressing this challenge is underway in various fora and international organizations, with each organization contributing in its own areas of competency. These organizations, along with governments and the private sector, are developing or facilitating the development of innovative approaches and technologies to achieve multiple objectives. Such objectives include: ensuring food security, improving the livelihoods of farmers and those involved in agricultural supply chains, sustaining agricultural productivity growth, climate change resiliency, and long-term agricultural sustainability.

2.       Trade and transparent, predictable, open markets are vital components in addressing each dimension of food security (i.e., availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability). The WTO agreements have a proven track-record of improving the global food security landscape through their core principles and promotion of strong, rules-based trading and science-based regulatory systems. 

3.       To further bolster food security worldwide, WTO Members must focus their efforts on addressing each dimension of food security through trade and trade rules in ways that complement the initiatives of other international organizations. Furthermore, WTO Members' efforts should look to build long-term food security resilience through the promotion of policies that encourage more sustainable and efficient agricultural production, particularly in the context of severe challenges related to climate change.