Interviews
Statement from 67th Plenary Session of ICAC at Burkina Faso
21 Nov '08
9 min read
The Committee took note of the recommendation from the Panel to improve national efforts to gather and report objective information about cotton production practices and input use as regards conventional and biotech cotton, taking into account the diversity of social traditions. The Committee noted that cotton production provides sustainable economic opportunities to millions of people, and that the negative impacts of cotton production must be put in context with the benefits.
The Committee received a preliminary report on green house gas emissions and sequestration associated with cotton production and processing and urged that more information be gathered. The Committee appreciated the work of the various programs providing assistance to the cotton industry, and urged that such efforts continue.
The Committee agreed that the challenges of sustainable production faced by smallholder producers were sufficiently distinct that the Panel should study the specific roles of governments and the private sector in ensuring the social, economic and environmental performance of cotton in the smallholder sector. It was agreed that an Open Session devoted to the issues faced by smallholders should be scheduled during the next plenary meeting in South Africa.
5. African Cotton Production can be Competitive:
The Committee observed that cotton has been an economic success story in Sub-Saharan Africa. Cotton is a major source of foreign exchange earnings in more than 15 countries of the continent and is a crucial source of cash income for millions of smallholder farmers and their families. At the same time, cotton is a source of major concern on the continent because of declining production, compounded by unfavorable external factors such as exchange rates and market distortions. The Committee acknowledged the strenuous efforts of governments and the private sector in African countries to ensure long term competitiveness.
6. Urgent Completion of Doha Round Needed:
The ICAC Members acknowledged that the consequences of the on-going global financial crisis were having particularly adverse effects on the cotton sector. Members hoped that an early and successful conclusion of the Doha Round would resolve the outstanding issues of the cotton dossier in the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) and help to mitigate the crisis in this sector. Members agreed that an ambitious and balanced outcome to the Doha Round remains a strategic objective of ICAC.
The ICAC Members welcomed the leadership provided by the G20 Summit as expressed in the Declaration on Financial Markets and the Global Economy, on 15 November 2008 in Washington D.C., particularly the instruction to Trade Ministers to strive to reach agreement on modalities in 2008. The ICAC Members called on WTO Members to engage intensively to achieve modalities this year. They re-affirmed the continued validity of the two-track treatment of cotton in the DDA. They acknowledged the progress made on both the trade policy and the development assistance aspects.
The Committee received a preliminary report on green house gas emissions and sequestration associated with cotton production and processing and urged that more information be gathered. The Committee appreciated the work of the various programs providing assistance to the cotton industry, and urged that such efforts continue.
The Committee agreed that the challenges of sustainable production faced by smallholder producers were sufficiently distinct that the Panel should study the specific roles of governments and the private sector in ensuring the social, economic and environmental performance of cotton in the smallholder sector. It was agreed that an Open Session devoted to the issues faced by smallholders should be scheduled during the next plenary meeting in South Africa.
5. African Cotton Production can be Competitive:
The Committee observed that cotton has been an economic success story in Sub-Saharan Africa. Cotton is a major source of foreign exchange earnings in more than 15 countries of the continent and is a crucial source of cash income for millions of smallholder farmers and their families. At the same time, cotton is a source of major concern on the continent because of declining production, compounded by unfavorable external factors such as exchange rates and market distortions. The Committee acknowledged the strenuous efforts of governments and the private sector in African countries to ensure long term competitiveness.
6. Urgent Completion of Doha Round Needed:
The ICAC Members acknowledged that the consequences of the on-going global financial crisis were having particularly adverse effects on the cotton sector. Members hoped that an early and successful conclusion of the Doha Round would resolve the outstanding issues of the cotton dossier in the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) and help to mitigate the crisis in this sector. Members agreed that an ambitious and balanced outcome to the Doha Round remains a strategic objective of ICAC.
The ICAC Members welcomed the leadership provided by the G20 Summit as expressed in the Declaration on Financial Markets and the Global Economy, on 15 November 2008 in Washington D.C., particularly the instruction to Trade Ministers to strive to reach agreement on modalities in 2008. The ICAC Members called on WTO Members to engage intensively to achieve modalities this year. They re-affirmed the continued validity of the two-track treatment of cotton in the DDA. They acknowledged the progress made on both the trade policy and the development assistance aspects.
Popular News
Leave your Comments
Editor’s Pick
Esteemed Clients
-Ltd..jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Thermore (Far East) Ltd.")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TSllC Ltd)")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF)")
