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Workshop | Agricultural aspects of accession to WTO: the implications for agricultural and trade policy

21-22 June 2018, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

The workshop “Agricultural aspects of accession to WTO:the implications for agricultural and trade policy” will be held in June.This workshop is organized by FAO and the World Bank as a contribution to the development of the agricultural strategy under the cooperation programme.

The training seminar will facilitate a greater understanding the multilateral trading rules for agriculture as well as the agricultural trade commitments assumed by some post-soviet countries in the context of the WTO accession. Invited speakers from a number of other WTO members will present how their countries have addressed agricultural issues in the WTO accession and have adapted their agricultural and trade policies to the WTO membership.It is also intended to foster a discussion on identifying key reform areas for agricultural trade policy and for support measures that would allow Uzbekistan to take greater advantage of WTO membership for the benefit of agricultural development and food security. 

Understanding and applying the provisions of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture, the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) and other relevant agreements is the first step in the transition to the new trading rules. But taking advantage of the opportunities that WTO membership provides also requires updating regulatory frameworks where necessary and adopting the measures accompanished to improve the overall competitiveness of the agricultural sector.

The workshop will discuss possible trade policy and domestic support policy reforms in Uzbek agricultural sector and necessary steps to maximize the benefits of more open trade in agricultural and food products and minimize the negative effects on producers engaged in less competitive sectors.

The main objectives of the training seminar are to:

  • Improve the understanding of the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan and other relevant government agencies of the key WTO trade rules related to agriculture, mainly Agreement on Agriculture and the Agreement on the application of SPS measures;
  • Discuss the country experiences and lessons learnt in the region with WTO accession process and implementation of accession commitments in agriculture; 
  • Identify and discuss the key areas of concern facing the agriculture sector in relation to the further commitments on accession to the WTO; 
  • Raise awareness among the participants of the relationship between the changes in trade policy and domestic policy reforms in the agricultural sector.

Participants

Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture; food safety, sanitary and phytosanitary authorities; the Ministry of Economy of Uzbekistan, the Strategy Development Centre, the Uzbek State Invetstment Committee, other public sector institutions with responsibility of implementing trade and agricultural policies and support programmes in Uzbekistan, as well as representatives of academia and agro-producer associations.