64TH SESSION OF THE FAO COMMITTEE ON COMMODITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ROME 001662 SIPDIS USDA FOR FAS/ICD/DHUGHES; FAS/ITP/PSHEIKH, DHENKE, SSCHWARTZ; FAS/EC/MCHAMBLISS, FAS/CMP/FLEE, EBERRY STATE FOR IO/EDA/SKOTOK AND EB/TPP GENEVA FOR USTR FROM U.S. MISSION TO THE U.N. AGENCIES IN ROME E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EAGR EAGR EAGR EAGR ETRD FAO ETRDAORC FAO ETRDAORC FAO ETRDAORC FAO SUBJECT: 64TH SESSION OF THE FAO COMMITTEE ON COMMODITY PROBLEMS, MARCH 18-22, 2OO3 UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 01662 01 OF 04 171534Z ¶1. SUMMARY: THE SIXTY-FOURTH SESSION OF THE U.N. FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE ON COMMODITY PROBLEMS (CCP) MET MARCH 18-22, 2O03 AT FAO HEADQUARTERS IN ROME. MOST DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND CAIRNS GROUP MEMBERS SAW THE MEETING AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF DCVELOPED COUNTRY MARKET ACCESS BARRIERS AND TRADE-DISTORTING DOMESTIC SUPPORT ON DEVELOPING COUNTRY AGRICULTURE. CAIRNS GROUP COUNTRIES AND THE EU ALSO CRITICIZED USE OF FOOD AID DURING DISCUSSION OF REPORTING OF FOOD AID TRANSACTIONS. U.S. DEL DEFENDED U.S. FOOD AID, PARTICULARLY IN THE FACE OF WIDESPREAD FOOD EMERGENCIES IN SOUTHERN AFRICA, AND SOUGHT TO BROADEN THE DEBATE TO RCFLECT THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF AGRICULTURAL TRADE GENERALLY. CHANGES IN THE FINAL REPORT SOUGHT BY THE UNITED STATES TO THIS EFFECT WERE NOT SUPPORTED BY THE COMMITTEE, AND THE UNITED STATES DISASSOCIATED FROM THE CONSENSUS ADOPTION OF THE REPORT. THE COMMITTEE DID AGREE TO A KOREAN PROPOSAL TO CONSIDER REFORM AND SHORTENING OF THE CCP. END SUMMARY. ¶2. THE U.S. DELEGATION TO THE CCP CONSISTED OF: REPRESENTATIVE ELIZABETH BCRRY, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR ANALYSIS, GRAIN AND FEED DIVISION, COMMODITY AND MARKETING PROGRAMS, FAS; ALTERNATE REPRESENTATIVE SARA SCHWARTZ, INTERNATIONAL TRADE SPECIALIST, WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION AND MULTILATERAL AFFAIRS DIVISION, INTERNATIONAL TRADE POLICY, PAS; ADVISOR LUCY TAMLYN, ALTERNATE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE, U.S. MISSION; AND KATIE NISHIURA, ACTING AGRICULTURAL COUNSELOR, U.S. MISSION. UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 01662 01 OF 04 171534Z ¶3. MR. ELHAMY ABDEL MOHAMMED MENAAM (EGYPT) WAS ELECTED CHAIR OF THE MEETING. MR. ADIRAAN PRIJLINK (NETHERLANDS) WAS ELECTED FIRST VICE CHAIR, AND MR. CARLOS POZZO (VCNZUELA) WAS ELECTED SECOND VICE CHAIR. THE DRAFTING GROUP WAS COMPOSED OF AUSTRIA (CHAIR), CANADA (REPRESENTING NORTH AMERICA),FRANCE, GUATEMALA, INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, MAURITANIA, NEW ZEALAND, OMAN, QATAR, REPUBLIC OF KOREA, ROMANIA, AND SOUTH AFRICA. THE SUBSTANTIVE AGENDA ITEMS WERE: STATE OF WORLD AGRICULTURAL MARKETS; MEDIUM-TERM OUTLOOK FOR WORLD AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY MARKETS; POLICY DEVELOPMENTS AFFECTING AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY MARKETS AND TRADE; AND INTERNATIONAL ACTION ON AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES AND TRADE. ¶4. AGENDA ITEM 3 - STATE OF WORLD AGRICULTURAL MARKETS (CCP 03/7). THE U.S. INTERVENTION HIGHLIGHTED FACTUAL ERRORS IN THE SECTION ON BIOTECHNOLOGY. THE UNITED STATES SUGGESTED THAT THE FAO FOCUS FUTURE WORK ON ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF THE EU'S TRACEABILITY REGULATIONS ON DEVELOPING COUNTRY EXPORTS INSTEAD OF FOCUSSING ON "BALANCING CONSUMER CONCERNS WITH DEVELOPING COUNTRY NEEDS", AS SUGGESTED IN THE PAPER. ¶5. MUCH OF THE DISCUSSION AFTER THE U.S. INTERVENTION FOCUSSED ON BIOTECHNOLOGY. THE EU EMPHASISED THAT IT DOES NOT BAN BIOTECH PRODUCTS, HAVING APPROVED 18 EVENTS SINCE 1991. SEVERAL DEVELOPING COUNTRIES CALLED FOR PAO TO ENGAGE IN MORE CAPACITY BUILDING EFFORTS SO THAT DEVELOPING COUNTRIES CAN GET THE FACTS ON BIOTECHNOLOGY VERSUS PROPAGANDA FROM DIVERGENT SOURCES. OTHERS WANTED UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ROME 01662 01 OF 04 171534Z HELP TO DEVELOP THEIR ABILITY TO DO RISK ASSESSMENTS. ¶6. SEVERAL COUNTRIES (AUSTRALIA AND THE EU) TALKED ABOUT THEIR WTO POSITIONS, WITH THE EU HIGHLIGHTING THEIR "EVERYTHING BUT ARMS" AGREEMENT. THAILAND, SURPRISINGLY, RATHCR THAN VOICING ITS CAIRNS GROUP POSITION IN THE WTO, CALLED FOR THE FAO TO INITIATE A STUDY ON HOW TO STABILIZE COMMODITY PRICES, SPECIFICALLY CITING THE RUBBER CARTEL AS A MODEL. ¶7. SEVERAL COUNTRIES (B RAZIL AND CANADA) SAID THE PAPER MIXED UP THE DISCUSSION OF FOOD SAFETY AND FOOD QUALITY ISSUES. CANADA SAID THAT CONSUMER CONCERNS GO BEYOND FOOD SAFETY AND THE ENVIRONMENT AS STATED IN THE PAPER. CANADA SUGGESTED THAT FAO FOCUS FUTURE WORK ON ANALYSING THE IMPACT ON DEVELOPING COUNTRY EXPORTS WHEN COUNTRIES IMPOSE NON-HEALTH RELATED REQUIREMENTS REGARDING PRODUCT ATTRIBUTES, GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS, AND ANIMAL WELFARE. ¶8. AGENDA ITEM 5 - AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS - RECENT EVOLUTION AND CONSTRAINTS ON GROWTH (CCP 03/9). MUCH OF THE DISCUSSION FOCUSSED ON COUNTRIES' WTO POSITIONS AND UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTQ9372 PAGE 01 ROME 01662 02 OF 04 171535Z ACTION IO-00 INFO LOG-00 AID-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00 INL-00 DODE-00 ITCE-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 EXME-00 EUR-00 E-00 UTED-00 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 ITC-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 ACE-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00 DRL-01 G-00 SAS-00 /009W -------------- 577FFE 171542Z /38 R 171537Z APR 03 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9330 USDA FAS WASHDC 2629 USMISSION GENEVA UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 04 ROME 001662 SIPDIS USDA FOR FAS/ICD/DHUGHES; FAS/ITP/PSHEIKH, DHENKE, SSCHWARTZ; FAS/EC/MCHAMBLISS, FAS/CMP/FLEE, EBERRY STATE FOR IO/EDA/SKOTOK AND EB/TPP GENEVA FOR USTR FROM U.S. MISSION TO THE U.N. AGENCIES IN ROME E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EAGR EAGR EAGR EAGR ETRD FAO ETRDAORC FAO ETRDAORC FAO ETRDAORC FAO SUBJECT: 64TH SESSION OF THE FAO COMMITTEE ON COMMODITY PROBLEMS, MARCH 18-22, 2OO3 MARKET ACCESS FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. THE U.S. UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 01662 02 OF 04 171535Z INTERVENTION FOCUSSED ON THE NEED FOR ALL COUNTRIES, INCLUDING DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, TO LOWER TARIFFS. NO OTHER COUNTRY SUPPORTED THIS POSITION. SLOVAKIA GENERALLY SUPPORTED THE U.S. POSITION BUT WANTED SPECIAL PROVISIONS IN THE WTO FOR COUNTRIES IN TRANSITION. ¶9. SEVERAL COUNTRIES REITERATED THEIR WTO PROPOSALS, CLAIMING THAT WHATEVER WAS IN THE PROPOSAL WAS BENEFICIAL TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. JAPAN AND THE EU SUPPORTED THE IDEA THAT LOWER TARIFFS, INCLUDING THOSE PROPOSED BY THE UNITED STATES IN THE WTO WOULD HURT DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. AUSTRALIA CALLED FOR JAPAN AND THE EU TO BE MORE AMBITIOUS IN THE WTO AGRICULTURE NEGOTIATIONS. AUSTRALIA, BRAZIL, MALAYSIA, SOUTH AFRICA AND OTHER CAIRNS MEMBERS SUPPORTED THE PAPER'S PREMISE THAT DOMESTIC SUPPORT AND HIGH TARIFFS IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES WERE THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF LIMITED MARKET ACCESS AND LOW COMMODITY PRICES. SEVERAL OF THESE COUNTRIES SUPPORTED THE PAPER'S VIEW THAT TARIFF PEAKS AND ESCALATION PRESENTED SERIOUS CHALLENGES TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES' ABILITY TO EXPORT PROCESSED PRODUCTS. THE EU EMPHASIZED THE BENEFITS OF PREFERENTIAL TRADING AGREEMENTS. INDONESIA WANTED TO SEE THE WTO EXCLUDE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES FROM ANY TARIFF REDUCTIONS IN ORDER TO PROTECT DOMESTIC PRODUCERS. ¶10. BRAZIL PROPOSED THAT THE COMMITTEE DO A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF "WINNERS AND LOSERS" UNDER THE CURRENT TRADING REGIME, NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF TRADE BUT ALSO FOREIGN DIRCCT INVESTMENTS. ARGENTINA ALSO CALLED FOR MORE FAO FUNDING FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TO UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 01662 02 OF 04 171535Z PARTICIPATE IN THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION AND THE INTERIM COMMISSION ON PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WAS NEEDED NOT ONLY TO HELP DEVELOPING COUNTRIES MEET STANDARDS SET BY DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, BUT ALSO TO HELP SET STANDARDS FOR IMPORTING DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. CANADA SUGGESTED THAT FAO ANALYSE THE IMPACT OF STANDARDS BEING SET BY FOOD RETAILERS ON DEVELOPING COUNTRY PRODUCERS AND EXPORTS. NIGERIA SUPPORTED CANADA'S SUGGESTION. ¶11. AGENDA ITEM 5B- SOME TRADE POLICY ISSUES RELATING TO TRENDS IN AGRICULTURAL IMPORTS IN THE CONTEXT OF FOOD SECURITY (CCP 03/10). THE THRUST OF THE SECRETARIAT'S PAPER WAS TO POINT OUT AN INCREASE IN IMPORT SURGES (BROADLY DEFINED AS A 20 PERCENT INCREASE OVER THE 5- YEAR TREND),PARTICULARLY SINCE URUGUAY ROUND IMPLEMENTATION, AND TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF SUCH SURGES ON THE FOOD SECURITY OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. THIS ASSESSMENT WAS MADE BY COMPARING IMPORT TRENDS TO PRODUCTION TRENDS. WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IMPORT SURGES COULD HAVE EITHER POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR FOOD SECURITY, THE PAPER MAINLY FOCUSSED ON NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR LOW-INCOME FOOD DEFICIT COUNTRIES (LIFDCS),I.E. PRODUCTION IMPACT, INABILITY TO FINANCE SUCH IMPORTS. IN PRESENTING THIS PAPER, THE FAO SECRETARIAT POINTED OUT THAT THERE IS A PROPOSAL FOR THE DOHA ROUND THAT RECOMMENDS A STREAMLINED SAFEGUARD PROCEDURE FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. ¶12. THE U.S. INTERVENTION EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ROME 01662 02 OF 04 171535Z PAPER WAS MISLEADING IN THAT MOST OF THE COUNTRIES HIGHLIGHTED IN "CASE STUDIES" CITED THEREIN WERE NOT SUBJECT TO UR MINIMUM ACCESS DISCIPLINES, PER PARA 2 IN ARTICLE 15 OF THE AGREEMENT ON AGRICULTURE. A LIST OF THE 30 EXCLUDED COUNTRIES WAS SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD. MOREOVER, THE U.S. DEL POINTED OUT THA T THE PAPER'S MAIN PREMISE, THAT FOOD SECURITY COULD BE ENHANCED BY RAISING IMPORT BARRIERS, RAN COUNTER TO THE BODY OF RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING THE FAO ITSELF. FINALLY, THE U.S. DEL SUGGESTED THAT THE FAO FINE TUNE ITS RESEARCH IN THIS AREA SO THAT IT COULD EFFECTIVELY HELP LIFDCS IN TARGETED COUNTRIES ADJUST TO BOTH THE CHALLENGES AND THE OPPORTUNITIES OF THE WORLD'S MORE OPEN TRADING ENVIRONMENT. ¶13. THE AUSTRALIAN DEL ASSERTED THAT IMPORT SURGES WERE DUE TO PRODUCTION SUBSIDIES IN THE EU, U.S. AND JAPAN; AND THAT SUBSIDIES IN CONJUNCTION WITH "INAPPROPRIATE FOOD AID" DISTORTED WORLD AGRICULTURAL MARKETS TO THE DISADVANTAGE OF LDCS (LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES). HE ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE PAPERS SEEMING ENCOURAGEMENT OF LDCS TO INCREASE THE USE OF UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTQ9374 PAGE 01 ROME 01662 03 OF 04 171535Z ACTION IO-00 INFO LOG-00 AID-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00 INL-00 DODE-00 ITCE-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 EXME-00 EUR-00 E-00 UTED-00 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 ITC-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 ACE-00 IRM-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 DRL-01 G-00 SAS-00 /010W -------------- 57800D 171543Z /38 R 171537Z APR 03 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9331 USDA FAS WASHDC 2630 USMISSION GENEVA UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 04 ROME 001662 SIPDIS USDA FOR FAS/ICD/DHUGHES; FAS/ITP/PSHEIKH, DHENKE, SSCHWARTZ; FAS/EC/MCHAMBLISS, FAS/CMP/FLEE, EBERRY STATE FOR IO/EDA/SKOTOK AND EB/TPP GENEVA FOR USTR FROM U.S. MISSION TO THE U.N. AGENCIES IN ROME E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EAGR EAGR EAGR EAGR ETRD FAO ETRDAORC FAO ETRDAORC FAO ETRDAORC FAO SUBJECT: 64TH SESSION OF THE FAO COMMITTEE ON COMMODITY PROBLEMS, MARCH 18-22, 2OO3 UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 01662 03 OF 04 171535Z SAFEGUARD MEASURES. THE CANADIAN DEL ECHOED AUSTRALIAN AND U.S. CONCERN ABOUT SAFEGUARDS AND, LIKE THE U.S., ENCOURAGED THE SECRETARIAT TO FINE TUNE ITS ANALYSIS OF IMPORT SURGES AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE. ¶14. THE JAPANESE, EU AND SOUTH KOREAN DELS UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFEGUARD MEASURES, WITH JAPAN PROPOSING THAT THE LEGITIMATE USE OF SUCH MEASURES BE EXPANDED IN THE WTO. THC EU ENCOURAGED THE FAO TO SHARE ITS PAPER WITH THE WTO AND WENT ON TO ASSERT THAT SPECIAL SAFEGUARDS FOR LDCS SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO DEVELOPED COUNTRIES. THE EU ALSO ENCOURAGED THE FAO TO PROVIDE INSTITUTIONAL ASSISTANCE TO COUNTRIES THAT MIGHT NEED TO MAKE USE OF EXISTING SAFEGUARDS. KOREA ASSERTED THAT IMPORT SURGES HAVE HURT ITS FOOD SECURITY. ¶15. AGENDA ITEM 6 - INTERNATIONAL ACTION ON AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES AND TRADE. INCLUDED IN THIS ITEM WAS FOOD AID (CCP 03/2). THE FAO SECRETARIAT PRESENTED A PAPER THAT LARGELY FOCUSSED ON DONOR COUNTRIES' REPORTING OBLIGATIONS AND A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN THE VOLUME OF FOOD AID TRANSACTIONS BEING NOTIFIED TO THE COMMITTEE ON SURPLUS STOCKS DISPOSAL (CSSD) IN 2000 AND 2001. ISSUES RAISED BY MEMBER COUNTRIES IN THE SEPTEMBER 2002 CSSD MEETING WERE ALSO SUMMARIZED IN THE REPORT. ¶16. THE AUSTRALIAN DELEGATE CONDEMNED THE U.S. GOVERNMCNT'S USE OF FOOD AID, ASSERTING THAT IT IS TRADE DISTORTING, A 100 PERCENT SUBSIDY AND PRIMARILY A SURPLUS DISPOSAL MECHANISM. HE ALSO UNDERSCORED THAT UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 01662 03 OF 04 171535Z DISTRIBUTION VIA PRIVATE VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS (PVOS) SHOULD NOT BE USED TO AVOID POOD AID CONVENTION OBLIGATIONS. HE PROPOSED THAT FOOD AID DONATIONS BE MADE SOLELY IN CASH, WHEREBY THE DONOR COUNTRY WOULD PURCHASE COMMODITIES FROM AN LDC OR EVEN A DIFFERENT REGION OF THE RECIPIENT COUNTRY, AND THAT THE DONATION BE FULLY A GRANT, NOT A CONCESSION LOAN, AND THAT IT NOT BE TIED TO COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS. THE EU DEL, WHILE AGREEING WITH AUSTRALIA THAT FOOD AID SHOULD BE IN FULL GRANT FORM, NOTED THAT THE DEFINITION OF EMERGENCY FOOD AID WAS NOT WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE CSSD AND SUGGESTED THAT THE CSSD AWAIT THE RESULTS OF THE WTO NEGOTIATION TO DETERMINE ITS ROLE. BOTH DELS STRESSED THE NEED FOR INCREASED TRANSPARENCY. OTHER COUNTRIES WERE GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE OF AUSTRALIA AND THE EU, INCLUDING NEW ZEALAND, ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, HUNGARY AND MEXICO. ¶17. THE U.S. STATEMENT UNDERSCORED THE HUMANITARIAN IMPERATIVE FOR FOOD AID AND RESPONDED TO POINTS MADE IN THE PAPER REGARDING REPORTING OF FOOD AID TRANSACTIONS. THE U.S. ALSO CALLED FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY IN FOOD AID TRANSACTIONS FOR ALL DONORS AND ENCOURAGED AN INCREASED ROLE FOR THE CSSD IN THE FUTURE AGREEMENT ON AGRICULTURE WITHIN THE WTO. ¶18. JAPAN SUPPORTED THE U.S. STATEMENT RECOGNIZING THE HUMANITARIAN NEED FOR FOOD AID. JAPAN ENCOURAGES A FLEXIBLE FRAMEWORK (I.E., LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES SHOULD RECEIVE FULL GRANTS, BUT CONCESSION TERMS SHOULD ALSO BE ALLOWABLE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL FOOD AID NEEDS WOULD BE COVERED). UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ROME 01662 03 OF 04 171535Z ¶19. THE LDCS WERE SILENT ON THIS TOPIC WITH THE EXCEPTION OF INDONESIA, WHICH PRESENTED A STATEMENT UNDERSCORING THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND THE N EED FOR SPEEDY DELIVERY. ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE WTO IS TO PROVIDE A DEFINITION OF EMERGENCY FOOD AID, THE INDONESIAN DEL UNDERSCORED THAT DEVELOPING COUNTRIES NEED FOOD AID AND THAT COMPROMISE ON THIS ISSUE IS REQUIRED. ¶20. ADOPTION OF THE REPORT. AS THE UNITED STATES WAS NOT IN THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE (CANADA REPRESENTED NORTH AMERICA),THE U.S. DELEGATION SOUGHT IN THE FINAL PLENARY TO INTRODUCE CHANGES TO THE FINAL REPORT. THE FIRST SUGGESTION SOUGHT TO REVISE A RECOMMENDATION THAT THE FAO IDENTIFY "WINNERS AND LOSERS" FROM "PROTECTIONISM" AND DOMESTIC SUPPORT TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION LESS POLITICALLY CHARGED AND MORE ANALYTICAL IN NATURE. THE SECOND SUGGESTION AIMED AT BALANCING THE RECORD OF THE FOOD AID DISCUSSION TO INCLUDE THE POSITION CXPRESSED BY THE UNITED STATES AND OTHERS THAT FOOD AID DONATIONS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN FOOD SECURITY AND SHOULD BE MADE IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE FOOD AID CONVENTION AND DISCIPLINES TO BE ARTICULATED IN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTQ9377 PAGE 01 ROME 01662 04 OF 04 171535Z ACTION IO-00 INFO LOG-00 AID-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00 INL-00 DODE-00 ITCE-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 EXME-00 EUR-00 E-00 UTED-00 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 ITC-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PER-00 ACE-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 DRL-01 G-00 SAS-00 /009W -------------- 578012 171543Z /38 R 171537Z APR 03 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9332 USDA FAS WASHDC 2631 USMISSION GENEVA UNCLAS SECTION 04 OF 04 ROME 001662 SIPDIS USDA FOR FAS/ICD/DHUGHES; FAS/ITP/PSHEIKH, DHENKE, SSCHWARTZ; FAS/EC/MCHAMBLISS, FAS/CMP/FLEE, EBERRY STATE FOR IO/EDA/SKOTOK AND EB/TPP GENEVA FOR USTR FROM U.S. MISSION TO THE U.N. AGENCIES IN ROME E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EAGR EAGR EAGR EAGR ETRD FAO ETRDAORC FAO ETRDAORC FAO ETRDAORC FAO SUBJECT: 64TH SESSION OF THE FAO COMMITTEE ON COMMODITY PROBLEMS, MARCH 18-22, 2OO3 THE WTO AGRICULTURE NEGOTIATIONS. REGRETTABLE, OTHER UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 01662 04 OF 04 171535Z COUNTRIES FOCUSSED MORE ON THE FACT THAT THE U.S. WAS PROPOSING CHANGES IN THE PLENARY THAN ON THE SUBSTANCE OF THE CHANGES, AND CONSENSUS COULD NOT BE REACHED ON THE PROPOSED U.S. LANGUAGE. RECOGNIZING AFTER SOME DISCUSSION THAT THE LIKELIHOOD OF HAVING ITS PROPOSALS ACCEPTED WAS SLIM, THE U.S. DELEGATION INDICATED TO THE CHAIR THAT IT WOULD NOT BLOCK CONSENSUS BUT WOULD HAVE TO DISASSOCIATE ITSELF FROM IT. COMMENT: UNFORTUNATELY, THE LESS THAN ADROIT CHAIR DID NOT FACILITATE, AND EVEN HINDERED, CONSIDERATION OF THE U.S. PROPOSAL. ¶21. AT THE CLOSING, THE DELEGATE FROM THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA EXPRESSED THE VIEW THAT THE CCP MEETING HAD BEEN POORLY ORGANIZED AND NOT VERY PRODUCTIVE. HE SUGGESTED THAT THE CCP BE FOLDED INTO PAO'S COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE (COAG). THE SECRETARIAT INDICATED WILLINGNESS TO CHANGE THE STRUCTURE OF THE CCP MEETING AND ASKED FOR INPUT FROM COUNTRIES. THE NEXT MEETING OF THE CCP IS SCHEDULED FOR 2OO5. TAMLYN UNCLASSIFIED > 2003ROME01662 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED