The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development covers 17 goals, the second of which is “zero hunger”, namely: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. (Click here for details)

Under this major goal, there are eight targets, the seventh of which is “Correct and prevent trade restrictions and distortions in world agricultural markets, including through the parallel elimination of all forms of agricultural export subsidies and all export measures with equivalent effect, in accordance with the mandate of the Doha Development Round”.

● Current Situation

The Doha Development Round refers to the new round of multilateral trade negotiations launched by the fourth WTO Ministerial Conference held in Doha, Qatar, in November 2001. Its purpose is to promote WTO members to reduce trade barriers and promote the economic development of the world, especially the poorer countries, through a fairer trade environment.

Photo source: Xinhua News Agency

Since the Doha Development Round, multilateral trade negotiations have stalled, and countries lack in consensus to promote the Doha Development Agenda.

About the World

Doha Development Round in Constant Difficult Situation

The topics of the Doha Development Round not only include traditional fields such as agriculture, industrial tariffs, service trade, intellectual property rights, anti-dumping, but also cover new fields such as fishery subsidies, trade facilitation, origin identification and biodiversity convention. Due to the extensive and ambiguous issues, the Doha Development Round has encountered a lot of uncertainties, which eventually leave it in constant difficult situation.

Text source: cankaoxiaoxi.com

About China

China Actively Participates in Multilateral Negotiations to Promote Development 

Photo source: Xinhua News Agency

China supports multilateral trade negotiations and is committed to promoting development issues. In the Doha Development Round, China has always called on all parties to pay attention to developing members, give them special and differential treatments, and enhance financial and technical support to developing members, especially the least developed countries. China also asks for further market opening, debt reduction and commitment fulfillment to help them get rid of poverty and achieve comprehensive development.

Text source: people.com.cn

●  Cases

About the World

Agriculture Issue Makes No Substantial Progress

Agriculture is considered as the landmark issue of the Doha Development Round, but it has been isolated from the international trade system for a long time since it touches the central nerve of politics. The Doha Development Round has been suspended, resumed and suspended again, mainly because it is extremely hard to resolve the differences between developed and developing countries on agricultural issues. The special safeguard mechanism for agricultural products and the public reserve for food security are the core concerns of developing members, which should be given priority in future negotiations.

About China

China Takes Practical Actions to Help Other Developing Countries and Regions

Photo source: IFDA website

China has been firmly maintaining the multilateral trading system and supporting the Doha Development Round negotiations. China has taken practical actions on development issues. It has been committed to providing assistance to other developing countries, especially the least developed countries, within the framework of South-South Cooperation. We have focused on helping Africa, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific countries to build bridges, roads, water conservancy and other infrastructure, as well as schools, hospitals and other public services. We have also helped the least developed countries, especially those lack in food, to establish modern agricultural demonstration centers. We have strengthened cooperation with major African cotton producing countries, and provided them with training in improved varieties, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, technology and talents.

Text source: people.com.cn 

●  Background

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Initiated by the United Nations

On January 1, 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 169 targets, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.