The WTO and Food Security

This book examines the public stockholding policies of selected developing countries from the perspective of WTO rules and assesses whether the provisions of the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) could hamper these countries' efforts to address the challenges of food security. Further, it highlights the need to amend the provisions of the AoA to make WTO rules just and fair for the millions of people suffering from hunger and malnutrition in developing countries. This book highlights that 12 countries namely China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Zambia and Zimbabwe are facing or will face problems in implementing the food security policies due to the provisions under AoA. These provisions need to be amended for permitting developing countries to address hunger and undernourishment. Progress in WTO negotiations on public stockholding for food security purposes are also discussed and analysed.  The findings of this study greatly benefit trade negotiators, policymakers, civil society, farmers groups, researchers, students and academics interested in issues related to the WTO, agriculture and food security.

Sachin Kumar Sharma is working at the Centre for WTO Studies, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi.  He completed his PhD in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He has undertaken research on various issues related to WTO, International trade and agriculture negotiations. He has authored many reports for the Government of India on various issues related to Green box, India's domestic support notifications, food security, Agreement on Agriculture, G-33 proposal on food security, among others. Currently, he is actively engaged on issues relating to food security and WTO.  His research interests include WTO, subsidies, food security, free trade agreement, CGE modelling and agriculture negotiations.