BAMAKO MINISTERIAL DECLARATION ON COTTON

The following communication, dated 2 December 2025, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of Mali on behalf of the co‑sponsors of the Sectoral Initiative in Favour of Cotton (C‑4) and Côte d'Ivoire.

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We, the Trade Ministers of the four co-sponsors of the Sectoral Initiative in Favour of Cotton (C‑4) plus Côte d'Ivoire, met in Bamako (Mali) on 28 November 2025, in the framework of the 9^th Ministerial Coordination Session of the Co-Sponsors of the Sectoral Initiative in Favour of Cotton (C‑4) and Côte d'Ivoire;

Considering

·_          The vital importance of cotton for the economies and populations of cotton‑producing and ‑exporting countries, particularly those in Africa and least developed countries (LDCs);

·_          That massive support and subsidies continue to disrupt world cotton prices, resulting in lost income for millions of African producers and deepening trade inequalities;

·_          The lack of substantial outcomes in the multilateral negotiations on domestic support for cotton, despite the mandate issued in Hong Kong in 2025;

·_          The outcomes of the Twelfth and Thirteenth Ministerial Conferences of the World Trade Organization (WTO), held in Geneva (2022) and Abu Dhabi (2024), respectively, which failed to meet the expectations of producer countries in a meaningful manner;

·_          The negative impact of trade distortions, exacerbated by global crises (pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, market volatility, climate change);

·_          The crucial role of the cotton sector in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably tackling poverty, achieving food security, addressing climate change challenges, and creating sustainable jobs, in particular for women and youth;

·_          The weakening of the multilateral trading system, which is a matter of concern, and rising protectionist tendencies.

Recalling

·_          The Ministerial Decisions on cotton, adopted at Geneva (2004) and Hong Kong (2005), which provide for the matter to be addressed "ambitiously, expeditiously and specifically";

·_          The successive Declarations of N'Djamena, Ouagadougou, Bamako, Cotonou and Koudougou, reaffirming the centrality of cotton in trade negotiations;

·_          The Nairobi Ministerial Decision (2015) and commitments under the WTO Director-General's Consultative Framework Mechanism on Cotton.

We, the Trade Ministers of the four co-sponsors of the Sectoral Initiative in Favour of Cotton (C‑4) plus Côte d'Ivoire, met in the framework of the 9^th Ministerial Coordination Session of the C-4+, in Bamako (Mali) on 28 November 2025:

1._     Reiterate our pressing demand for a concrete and fair agreement on cotton to be reached at the Fourteenth Ministerial Conference of the WTO (MC14, Yaoundé, March 2026), in order to phase out all forms of trade-distorting support.

2._     Urge WTO Members that grant domestic support to notify up-to-date information on a regular basis, to ensure transparency and allow for an objective assessment of the impact on the global market.

3._     Emphasize the need to explore innovative solutions, taking into account the current realities of world trade, including the integration of climate issues, local processing, and industrialization in Africa.

4._     Consider that MC14 must mark a decisive turning point, 20 years after the Hong Kong mandate, by producing a tangible outcome on the domestic support component.

5._     Reiterate our confidence in our negotiators in Geneva and their mandate to pursue discussions with determination and pragmatism.

6._     Remain committed to concluding the Doha Round, taking into account the concerns of developing countries and LDCs, particularly African cotton-producing countries.

7._     Reaffirm our determination to pursue national reforms aimed at modernizing the cotton sector, enhancing competitiveness, promoting local processing, and developing regional value chains.

8._     Reiterate our commitment to the multilateral trading system based on fair, transparent and inclusive rules.

9._     Express our gratitude to our development partners for their ongoing assistance and invite them to increase their support for development projects, such as the Route du Coton project.

10._   Welcome the support provided to the C-4+ countries through the funding granted by the People's Republic of China to allow their participation in cotton-related activities.

11._   Urge development partners to strengthen the leading role of the C-4 countries and Côte d'Ivoire in international initiatives in favour of cotton-producing countries, in order to consolidate the gains made within the framework of cotton development assistance.

12._   Solemnly request that a high-level event on cotton be organized on the sidelines of MC14 in Yaoundé, designed to mobilize substantial financing for the effective implementation of the Partenariat pour le coton, and to enhance the international visibility of this strategic sector.

13._   Call for the implementation of integrated programmes that promote sustainable production, local processing, market diversification, and equitable access to global markets.

14._   Welcome the observance of World Cotton Day (Rome, 7 October 2025) and call for efforts to raise awareness of the strategic importance of this sector.

15._   Stress the central role of the WTO Director-General's Consultative Framework Mechanism as a multilateral platform for consultation and for monitoring cotton-related commitments.

16._   Reaffirm our determination to defend the interests of African producers and LDCs in international trade negotiations, and to make cotton a lever for inclusive, sustainable and resilient development in the face of global trade challenges.

Done at Bamako on 28 November 2025

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