No. 9 A special safeguard mechanism for developing countries
06/09/2005
The July 2004 WTO Framework Agreement foresees a Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM), to protect against depressed import prices and import surges for agricultural products, that is available to all developing countries. The SSM would in principle be applicable to all products. However, limits on the number of products for which a country can simultaneously apply additional duty under the SSM could be applied to prevent abuse
No. 7 Agricultural preferences: issues for negotiation
01/09/2005
Access for developing country exports to developed country markets on preferential terms has been a long standing component of multilateral trading arrangements. The main purpose of preferences is to promote increases in the volume and value of exports from developing countries, thereby contributing to their growth and development the logic being that through greater volumes of sales, on a more stable basis and at higher prices than would otherwise be obtained, development and growth can be realized in the recipient country.
No. 6 Sugar: the impact of reforms to sugar sector policies a guide to contemporary analyses
09/08/2005
This technical note is intended as a guide to assist in the interpretation of a range of existing analytical studies of the impact of current sugar sector policies on world market conditions and on developing country producers, and of the insights that these studies can provide (and those that they cannot) in determining the potential impacts of future reform initiatives. This is especially important in the case of the sugar sector, since recent announcements of major reforms are yet to be fully incorporated into contemporary analytical studies.
No. 5 Domestic support: trade related issues and the empirical evidence
12/07/2005
This Technical Note seeks to address two central questions relating to negotiations towards further disciplines on domestic support measures: (i) what are the characteristics of domestic support measures that cause such measures to have a potential trade distortionary effect? and (ii) will further the World Trade Organization(WTO) disciplines on domestic support measures be effective in reducing levels of trade-distorting support.
No. 7 Non-reciprocal agricultural trade preferences
05/07/2005
Access for developing country exports to developed country markets on preferential terms has been a long standing component of multilateral trading arrangements.
Special Report - FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission to Zambia - 24 June 2005
24/06/2005
An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission visited Zambia from 1 to 21 May in order to assess and forecast the 2005 harvest of the main cereal and root crops, and to estimate the country’s cereal import requirements for the 2005/06 marketing year (May/April), including food aid needs.
Special Report - FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission to Swaziland - 23 June 2005
23/06/2005
Over the past decade, Swaziland has repeatedly experienced droughts or inadequate rainfall and resultant poor harvests. The rainfall this ending season, though more favourable overall, was characterized by a late start in October and deficits in December at crop establishment stage and in February at tusselling stage. Concerned about the potential impact of these breaks on the nation’s food production, the Government of Swaziland requested FAO and WFP for assistance in assessing crop performance and overall food supply situation for the 2005/06 marketing year (April/March). Accordingly, an FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission (CFSAM) visited the country from 30 April to 12 May and carried out the requested task.
Special Report - FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission to Malawi - 20 June 2005
20/06/2005
An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission (CFSAM) visited Malawi between 24 April and 15 May 2005 following a request by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Government of Malawi (GOM). Early indications showed that the country may face severe food shortages for the ensuing year and, therefore, the CFSA Mission was requested to assess the situation and the impact of the perceived food shortages on the population at large and the vulnerable groups in particular. Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Food Security (MAIFS) accompanied the Mission, while a representative from the European Union (EU) participated as an observer.
Special Report - FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission to Lesotho
20/06/2005
During March 2005, a mid-season crop assessment was carried out by an agronomist at the request of FAO and WFP Country Offices. This was not the usual FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission (CFSAM) which in addition to crop assessment evaluates the prospective overall food supply and demand situation and the food needs of vulnerable population groups. It was subsequently proposed that a full but relatively short CFSAM be fielded at near harvest time to update the crop assessment and to collect socioeconomic data for an overall food security evaluation. This was the task of the CFSAM that visited the country from 12 to 19 May 2005.
Special Report - FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission to Mozambique - 20 June 2005
20/06/2005
Following the reports of poor harvests in southern and central provinces due to drought, an FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission (CFSAM) visited all the production areas in the country from 25 April to 13 May 2005. The Mission evaluated food crop production in the 2004/05 agricultural season, assessed the overall food supply situation, forecast cereal import requirements and possible exports in marketing year 2005/06 (April/March) and determined the eventual food aid needs.
No. 4 Export competition: selected issues and the empirical evidence
07/06/2005
There is broad agreement that interventions to support exports of agricultural commodities have the potential to distort competition on world commodity markets. In particular, the use of export subsidies can displace not only third-country exporters but also domestic producers in importing countries, with particularly detrimental effects to the development prospects of developing countries. In principle, it is also possible that other government interventions, e.g. through the use of export credits, the activities of state trading enterprises, or the use of food aid to dispose of surplus production, could have similar effects to direct export subsidies in distorting markets and trade flows.
Food Outlook - June 2005
03/06/2005
Prospects for the 2005 global cereal crop remain favourable. Latest production forecasts indicate a decline from the record output of 2004 but not as large as anticipated earlier. FAO’s first forecast of world cereal trade in the 2005/06 marketing season points to a slight decrease from the revised 2004/05 level, mainly due to lower wheat import demand. Global cereal utilization is expected to increase somewhat in 2005/06, which coupled with the forecast decrease in production will result in a drawdown in global cereal stocks after a substantial build-up in 2004/05. However, stocks held by major exporting countries are anticipated to increase. Prices of cereals remain well below their levels of a year earlier. This mainly reflects large exportable supplies of wheat and coarse grains and for rice, seasonal downward pressure from the 2004 secondary crops harvests. World milk output is forecast to grow in 2005, mainly in developing countries, but prices remain high due to lower supplies from major exporting countries. A record 2004/05 oilcrop harvest is limiting the potential for increases in prices for oilseeds and meals, while prices for oils and fats are expected to remain firm due to strong demand and below average stock levels. Another good world pulse crop is expected in 2005, although somewhat lower than last year’s bumper harvest. World sugar production is forecast to expand in 2004/05 but to fall short of growing consumption. As a result, prices of sugar remain at high levels. Coffee prices that started to recover in late 2004 surged in the first quarter of 2005 and by late May were almost 60 percent higher than a year ago. Prices of fertilizers have continued to increase in the past months. Urea quotations by late May were between 74 and 90 percent above the corresponding period last year.
No. 3 Bananas: is there a tariff-only equivalent to the EU tariff rate quota regime? Insights from economic analysis
10/05/2005
Following its enlargement to include ten Central and Eastern European countries in May 2004, the European Union (EU) has now become the largest banana market in the world. It is forecast to import some 3.8 million tonnes of bananas in 2005, which would account for almost a third of world banana imports. As bananas enter freely into United States territory, and Japanese banana imports originate mainly in Asia, the rapidly approaching change in the EU banana import regime has raised considerable interest and debate amongst ACP and Latin American countries.
Special Report - FAO/WFP Food Supply and Demand Assessment for Aceh Province and Nias Island (Indonesia)
05/05/2005
The 26 December 2004 earthquake and ensuing tidal waves was the world’s strongest natural event, in terms of energy, since the Krakatoa volcano eruption of 1883. The estimated number of people either dead or missing in northern Sumatra’s mainland and northwest islands is 250 000, with over 500 000 internally displaced, many of whom are in refugee or Temporary Lodging camps (TLCs).
No. 2 Tariff reduction formulae: Methodological issues in assessing their effects
12/04/2005
The current round of WTO negotiations on agriculture initiated in Doha in 2001 produced a range of suggestions as to the appropriate approach for further cuts in, and disciplines on, the use of agricultural tariffs. Subsequent analyses have provided crucial information for negotiators and policy analysts on the relative implications of these approaches on the tariff profiles of their individual countries as well as on those of their main trading partners. However, it is essential that these analysts and negotiators are aware of a number of key methodological issues and assumptions which can fundamentally affect analytical results.
Food Outlook - April 2005
04/04/2005
Another good world cereal crop is forecast in 2005, although lower than the exceptional harvest in 2004. Dry weather in several Asian countries since late last year has negatively impacted the 2004 secondary paddy crop season, which is nearing its conclusion. Nevertheless, the 2004 aggregate rice production is still estimated to be the second highest on record. World cereal stocks at the end of crop seasons ending in 2005 are expected to be almost 10 percent higher than their opening levels. International prices of rice have increased following concerns about the secondary paddy season. By contrast, prices for wheat and coarse grains remain below last year reflecting large availabilities in the major exporting countries, generally favourable prospects for the 2005 crops and relatively slack demand. The forecast for global cereal trade in 2004/05 has been revised up since the previous report, mainly on account of higher wheat imports. Meat trade in 2005 is expected to recover from the exceptional decline in 2004 but market uncertainties persist, mainly over food safety concerns. World banana and sugar prices recovered in 2004, mainly reflecting sustained import demand.
No. 1 Cotton: impact of support policies on developing countries - a guide to contemporary analysis.
15/03/2005
Subsidies maintain cotton production at otherwise unprofitable levels in industrialized countries Excess supply induced by domestic subsidies has a depressing effect on the world market price Subsidy reductions will reduce poverty in developing producing countries Estimates of the magnitude of the impact of subsidies on the global pattern of cotton production, world market prices and cotton trade vary due to the range of assumptions used by different studies.
Special Report - FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission to Ethiopia - 28 January 2005
28/01/2005
An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission visited Ethiopia from 8 November to 8 December 2004 to estimate the main meher season cereal and pulse production; review the final estimates of the 2003 meher and 2004 secondary belg season harvests; forecast the 2005 belg season production; assess the overall food supply situation; and estimate cereal import requirements, including food aid needs, for the 2005 marketing year (January/December). Accompanied by experts from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD) and an EU observer, the Mission, in six teams, visited fifty zones and special woredas (districts), over a 20-day period, in all the grain producing regions. Parallel to the crop assessment teams but spread over a longer period, 23 teams, led by the Government’s Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission (DPPC) and with members comprising WFP, bilateral donor agencies and NGO personnel, visited marginal localities and vulnerable zones and woredas to determine their current and prospective food security situation.
Special Report - FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission to Eritrea - 18 January 2005
18/01/2005
An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Assessment Mission visited Eritrea from 15 November to 3 December 2004 to estimate the 2004 main season harvest, assess the overall food supply situation and forecast import requirements for 2005, including food assistance needs.
GIEWS Updates - Volume 2005
14/01/2005
The GIEWS Updates are issued by FAO’s Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS) from mid-2004. The updates focus on developing anomalous conditions aimed at providing early warnings, as well as latest and more elaborate information than other GIEWS regular reports on the food security situation of countries, at both national and sub-national levels.