As part of the IISD Trade + Sustainability Hub taking place alongside the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference in Cameroon, IATP co-organized this side event with the University of Bern Centre for Development and Environment (CDE) and IISD to discuss the Agreement on Agriculture Reimagined draft model treaty.
Small-scale producers are increasingly recognized as the cornerstone of global food production, yet they often 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 introduced a proposed draft treaty for a reimagined Agreement on Agriculture, built on new principles designed to address 21st-century challenges. Small-scale producers shared their perspectives, while organizers and experts presented the treaty framework, highlighting how it could provide a more inclusive and development-oriented approach to agricultural trade. Participants had 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 aimed 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
- Ruth Bergan - Transform Trade
- Seruwagi Jane Nalunga - Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI) Uganda
- Josephine ATANGANA - PROPAC AFSA
- Elisabeth Buergi Bonanomi - Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern
- Sophia Murphy - Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP)
