WTO members must break the ongoing stalemate in agriculture negotiations and achieve meaningful outcomes at the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaoundé in March 2026, urged outgoing Chair Ambassador Alparslan Acarsoy of Türkiye in his final report on February 6. Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala expressed appreciation for his leadership, encouraging members to remain committed despite the challenges.
Reflecting on the past two years, Ambassador Acarsoy noted the lack of an outcome on agriculture at MC13 in 2024, despite significant efforts. He warned that members remain in a similar position as before MC13 and urged them to consider ways to move forward and avoid repeating past deadlocks. He emphasized the importance of rebuilding trust and setting credible targets to restore the negotiating process and achieve results at MC14. He called for engagement in “evidence-based discussions” and “text-based negotiations.”
Director-General Okonjo-Iweala thanked Ambassador Acarsoy for his contributions and expressed hope that his work would inspire further efforts to overcome divisions. She reiterated that agriculture should remain a priority at MC14 and encouraged members to mobilize the political will and flexibility necessary to advance negotiations. She also confirmed that the General Council Chair is working to appoint a successor to Ambassador Acarsoy to ensure continuity.
The African Group and the Cairns Group provided updates on their joint efforts to promote a more equitable global agricultural trading system. They reaffirmed their commitment to submitting a “modalities” package outlining potential commitments to reduce trade-distorting domestic support for consideration before MC14. While acknowledging the challenges, both groups emphasized the consultative nature of the process and its role in advancing discussions.
Members recognized the Chair’s leadership and the need to appoint a successor promptly. Many stressed that MC14 must deliver results on agriculture, particularly for Africa and least-developed countries (LDCs). Some members called for discussions to move beyond entrenched positions and take a more flexible and innovative approach. Others highlighted the value of both formal and informal negotiation tracks, as well as the importance of incorporating new knowledge, including research on sustainability in agriculture.
Discussions will continue as members seek common ground ahead of MC14.
