OECD Agriculture Ministerial Meeting

from 25-Feb-2010 to 26-Feb-2010

Ministers from OECD member countries and key emerging economies will meet in Paris on 25-26 February to identify action in response to challenges and opportunities facing the food and agriculture sector, such as food security, sustainable development, climate change and water use.

Poverty reduction: the economic importance of agriculture

18-Jan-2010

The Millennium Declaration set 2015 as the target date for halving the number of people living in extreme poverty. Exceptional progress has been made in some developing countries but many others will fall far short, and up to 1 billion people are likely to remain destitute by 2015.

Why are some countries doing better than others? This paper seeks to answer that question by looking for shared characteristics of 25 developing countries posting extraordinary success in reducing extreme poverty over the past 20 to 25 years.

Binding constraints to trade expansion: aid for trade objectives and diagnostic tools

18-Dec-2009

The most common objectives of aid for trade projects (increasing trade, diversifying exports, maximizing the linkages with the domestic economy and increasing adjustment capacity) have the potential to boost growth and reduce poverty in developing countries. This paper sets forth strategies to identify the most binding constraints to trade expansion so countries and donors can channel resources toward reforms and projects that have the largest effect.

Free trade: exchanging ideas in Japan

15-Dec-2009

Ken Ash, Director of the Trade and Agriculture Directorate, gave an open lecture to students in the Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Tokyo on 8 December. His lecture, entitled 'International Trade: Free Fair and Open?', presented key messages from the OECD publication of the same name in the context of the current economic crisis.

Food crisis prevention in the Sahel and West Africa

10-Dec-2009

The Food Crisis Prevention Network in the Sahel and West Africa (RPCA) is a forum for discussion and exchange on food security issues. The RPCA is managed by the Secretariats of the Sahel and West Africa Club (SWAC/OECD) and the Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS).

The RPCA met in Bamako on 8-11 December 2009 for a meeting entitled "Markets, Local Product, Processing and Food Security". Delegates also discussed the current agricultural, food and nutritional situation and policy recommendations for prevention and management of food crises.

Land acquisition in West Africa

10-Dec-2009

Commercial pressures on land in West Africa have an impact on issues such as food security and use of resources. As a response, a regional dialogue has been organised by the Sahel and West Africa Club (SWAC) and a meeting of their Strategic and Policy Group took place in Bamako, Mali on 9 December. 

For further details on this event and the issues for discussion, visit the meeting web page.

Border taxes on carbon are inefficient and costly, says OECD Secretary-General

12-Nov-2009

Based on fears that the competitiveness of their domestic industries will be undermined by weak greenhouse gas emission reduction pledges from developing country trading partners, developed countries are calling for border taxes on carbon. But these fears are often exaggerated, and posturing over border taxes diverts attention away from the fundamental need for broad participation in a climate agreement, according to an article by the OECD Secretary-General published in the Financial Times on 4 November 2009: "Carbon has no place in global trade rules".

Further farm policy reform urgent as public finances remain under pressure, says OECD report

06-Jul-2009

OECD governments provided 265 billion US dollars in support to farmers last year, says a new OECD report. This represented 21 % of total farm receipts, down from 22% in 2007 and 26% in 2006. The falls were due mainly to the rise in agricultural commodity prices, rather than to policy decisions. With higher world prices, lower levels of support were needed to prop up domestic prices.

Trade ... and the road to economic recovery

29-Jun-2009

How can trade contribute to a global economic recovery? Why is it important to avoid protectionist measures? Ken Ash, OECD Director for Trade and Agriculture raises these questions with US Trade Representative Ron Kirk, WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy and Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean.

Agriculture more resilient to global crisis than other sectors, says OECD and FAO

17-Jun-2009

Because food is a basic necessity, the agriculture sector is showing more resilience to the global economic crisis than other industries, according to a new report by the OECD and UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation.

More competition key to future prosperity of Japan’s farm sector, says OECD report

19-May-2009

Improving competitiveness is essential to the future prosperity of Japan’s agricultural sector, according to a new OECD report. Recent attempts to focus support on the more efficient farmers can help, but progress will be limited as long as the sector is protected from competition.

Crisis is an opportunity to revive trade reforms, says OECD report

19-Mar-2009

Resisting protectionism and reviving stalled trade reforms would help the major emerging economies build on the progress achieved over the past two decades and emerge from the crisis with their trade performance strengthened, says a new OECD report.

Freer trade and well targeted support are keys to food security in emerging markets - OECD report

17-Mar-2009

As the global economic slowdown threatens to increase food insecurity among the world’s poor, a new OECD report calls on the major emerging economies to ensure their agricultural policies are focussed on long-term sustainability rather than short-term fixes.

Trade policy response to the global economic crisis

Global economic growth and trade are falling sharply. A prolonged recession is forecast in many countries. International trade policy measures to support open markets are needed now more than ever.