As part of the IISD Trade + Sustainability Hub taking place alongside the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference in Cameroon, IATP is co-organizing a side event to discuss the Agreement on Agriculture Reimagined draft model treaty.

Small-scale producers are a cornerstone of food production, yet they lack a voice in shaping international trade rules. The WTO Agriculture Agreement, widely regarded as in need of reform, plays a central role in determining how these producers access markets and respond to climate change and other global shocks. This session will examine the challenges and opportunities facing small-scale producers within the multilateral trade system and the need for trade rules that support sustainable and resilient food systems.

The discussion will introduce a proposed draft treaty for a reimagined Agreement on Agriculture, built on new principles designed to address 21st-century challenges. Small-scale producers will share their perspectives, while organizers and experts will present the treaty framework, highlighting how it could provide a more inclusive and development-oriented approach to agricultural trade.

Participants will have the opportunity to engage with the proposal, reflect on the practical implications for food systems, and consider alternative approaches to traditional trade rules such as MFN and national treatment. The session aims to generate fresh thinking, promote dialogue between policymakers and producers, and identify actionable steps to create fairer, more resilient, and sustainable agricultural trade frameworks.

Speakers include:

• Jane Nalunga, SEATINI
• Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Bürgi Bonanomi, CDE, University of Bern
• Josephine Atangana, AFSA

This is an in-person event in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Register for the IISD Trade + Sustainability Hub here.

Read the Draft Model Treaty here.