WTO calls for transparency, equity in tariff quota allotment

Amiti Sen

New Delhi, Oct 3: Taking cognisance of the complaints made by developing countries, including India on the “discriminatory” implementation of tariff rate quotas (TRQs) by developed countries, the World Trade Organisation committee on agriculture (WTO) has asked members to ensure that their TRQs are administered in a transparent, equitable and non-discriminatory manner.

To keep a tab on TRQs disbursed by members, the committee has said that the notifications provided to it should contain all relevant information including details on guidelines and procedures on the allotment of TRQs.

Under the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA), which was signed as part of the Uruguay Round Agreement for increasing trade in agriculture, developed countries had undertaken commitment to establish TRQs
to provide minimum market access opportunities in agriculture.

The TRQ implementation issue is part of the preparation for Doha ministerial conference being undertaken by the WTO. The decision on the need to make TRQ administration more transparent was taken by the WTO committee on agriculture in a meeting last week where it agreed on two other implementation issues including export credits &
insurance and decision on net food importing countries.

In its proposals for negotiations on the WTO Agreement
on Agriculture (AoA) submitted earlier this year, India had pointed out that the non-transparent administration of TRQs and
preferential trade arrangements had contributed to low quota
fill in several commodities.