Springer The WTO and Food Security: Implications for Developing Countries

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. From the Back Cover 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. … is an important input into the debate surrounding the attempts of several countries to negotiate a change in these rules in the face of strong resistance from those that aver that trade liberalisation is a sine qua non for food security ... - Rajeev Kher, Member, Competition Appellate Tribunal and Former Commerce Secretary, Government of India … offers a timely analysis, with detailed supporting data, of one of the most contentious issues in the WTO: the attempt to limit much-needed policies to address food security in developing countries ... - Timothy A. Wise, Global Development and Environment Institute, Tufts University, USA Price support schemes used by the US, UK and the EU in the past, are currently being used by at least twelve large developing countries to ensure food and livelihood security for their poor farmers... This book analyses the problem in depth and provides solutions for the way forward. It is a valuable addition to the literature on the subject. - Dr. Jayant Dasgupta, Former Ambassador of India to the WTO …Highly recommended for international economists, policymakers and researchers who are interested in understanding the complexities involved in food security and international trade. - Dr. Rajan Sudesh Ratna, UN ESCAP, Bangkok About the Author 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 autho