Special Products and a Special Safeguard Mechanism: Ensuring a Pro-Poor Approach in the Pre-Modalities Stage

16th – 17th June 2005

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WTO Members adopted, on 1st August 2004, the General Council Decision on the Doha Work Programme. Annex A of this Decision sets out a framework constituting the basis for the crafting of full modalities during the next phase of negotiations. Paragraph 41 of the framework clearly states: “Developing countries will have the flexibility to designate an appropriate number of products as Special Products, based on criteria of food security, livelihood security and rural development needs.” The text also indicates that the criteria and treatment of special products will be further specified. In addition, paragraph 42 states that “A Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM) will be established for use by developing countries”, the details of which are presently being negotiated.

In order to facilitate an approach for the selection of Special Products (SPs) and modalities for the Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM) that is responsive to the sustainable development needs and concerns of developing countries, ICTSD has been undertaking a programme of dialogues and research. This included the commissioning of six country studies in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Kenya, Peru, Honduras and Barbados. In addition ICTSD also commissioned four cross-cutting papers on issues related to the crafting of actual modalities on SPs/SSM at the WTO.

The purpose of the Strategy Roundtable in June will be to enable WTO delegates from the G-33 countries and relevant experts to listen to and discuss the approaches and methodologies used for determining SPs/SSM in the six case-study countries as well as the findings from the cross-cutting research on issues directly pertinent to the WTO negotiations. Based on this participants will seek to explore the implications and possible options in terms of SP/SSM negotiating strategies that will ensure that modalities agreed upon in the lead-up to the Hong Kong Ministerial conference is pro-poor and pro-sustainable development and responsive to the rural development, food-security and livelihood needs of these countries.

The conclusions from this Roundtable as well as the outcomes from previous dialogues and research will form the basis for a ‘blue-print’ that will be commissioned by ICTSD and circulated in the near future. In keeping with the objective of earlier dialogues organised by ICTSD, the Roundtable will provide a platform for a frank and open discussion in a non-negotiating setting with the ultimate goal of promoting a better understanding of relevant issues at the interface of agriculture, trade and sustainable development.