RP seeks FAO support in talks with rich nations

ROME, Italy –The Philippines wants the Food and Agriculture Organization Council (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) to flex its muscles and use its moral suasion in helping developing countries achieve their goal of correcting trade distortions perpetuated by richer members of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

In a speech at the recent 32nd FAO Council Conference meeting where the Philippines was reelected to the council composed of 49 countries chosen from 150 member-countries, Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo Jr. urged FAO to lend its expertise to poor or developing countries that are technically ill-equipped to negotiate for better trade terms with their richer counterparts.

The FAO Council has powers delegated to it by the FAO Conference. Its functions include dealing with food and agriculture situations and related matters, concerns and prospective activities of the FAO, including the program of work and budget, administrative matters, financial management of organization and constitutional questions.

"The FAO Council has no tangible influence on the WTO, but it has the moral suasion which it can use to help poor countries to become technologically-prepared in ongoing negotiations," said Lorenzo.

In previous years, Lorenzo said the FAO has been supportive of developing countries’ quest to address existing trade distortions that have hampered their competitiveness.

"We exhort the continuation of FAO’s valuable assistance and support to enable developing countries to meaningfully engage in these negotiations," said Lorenzo in his speech before the council.

He added that FAO has a long history of consistent and targeted support "that definetely made a difference to Philippine agriuclture and rural development."

Lorenzo cited FAO’s successful programs, from hybrid rice to Farner’s Field Schools to farm systems diversfication.

Through FAO’s assistance, developing countries can also better push rich, developed countries to prioritize support for these poor countries’ food programs and help them meet their commitments to the World Food Summit.

Lorenzo again took aside the rich countries’ persistent resistance to come up with more balanced trade.

"Progressive initiatives of poor countries are being stymied by the grossly unfair trade environment, a cesspool of developed country trade distortions and discriminatory trade barriers, and this remains the most potent retardant against the unborn developmental aspirations of countries like the Philippines."

This has brought undue extreme stress on the country’s agricultural systems and economies.

"We each have our own areas of competitiveness and yet trade distortions, not to mention other non-tariff and technical barriers, have either prevented us from the exploitation of market access opportunities or altogether shut us out," added Lorenzo.