YOUR OPINION

Are nuts fattening?

• Yes
• No
• I don’t know

 

Rome (Italy), 14–16 June 2010

The INC has recently participated, for the first time, as official observer in a meeting of the Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP) of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). CCP’s responsibility is to keep commodity problems of an international character affecting production, trade, distribution, consumption and related economic matters under review.

A selection of some of the issues discussed by CCP members includes the following:

• International commodity markets, situation and outlook
  “Current situation and outlook”

• World Trade Organization (WTO) - update
  An overview on the state-of-play of the ongoing Doha Round–negotiations of the WTO was presented by the CCP Secretariat. It was noted that several issues are currently standing in the way of an agreement between WTO members, including “blue box” domestic support measures, the concept of “sensitive products”, tariff caps, “special products”, “special safeguard mechanisms”, etc. However, there are also a number of positive developments, including the fact that the importance of an agreement in terms of its effect on trade and development is generally accepted by all WTO members.
  “Multilateral trade negotiations in the WTO”

• Commodity price movements
  The CCP Secretariat presented a study into the experiences of a number of developing countries during the 2008 commodity price surge, as well as the policies that were implemented by the various countries in response to these price hikes.
  “Management of wide international commodity price movements – national and international experiences and policy responses”

• Foreign investment in developing country agriculture
  The CCP Secretariat presented a paper discussing the recent surge in foreign investment in developing country agriculture. Acquisitions of agricultural land in Africa have attracted most attention, but are just one of a variety of actual or planned investment flows with different motivations. The CCP Secretariat presented a number of policy options reconcile the investment objectives of investors with the investment needs of developing countries.
  “Foreign investment in developing country agriculture: issues, policy implications and international response”

• Functioning of the CCP and its Intergovernmental Commodity Groups (IGGs)
  There are currently nine IGGs: Rice; Grains; Citrus fruit; Jute, Kenaf and Allied Fibres; Oilseeds, Oils and Fats; Bananas and Tropical Fruits; Hard Fibres; Tea; and Meat and Dairy Products. Their function is to provide a forum for consultations on economic aspects of the production, consumption, marketing and trade for the commodity concerned and for review of related policies. It was noted that the limited scope for involvement of private sector interests constitutes a major weakness of the IGGs, especially since commodity trade is now largely a private sector affair.
  
  The INC will closely monitor any efforts undertaken to promote the involvement of the private sector in the activities of the CCP and IGGs, and will provide its full assistance and cooperation to the CCP and IGG Secretariats to ensure the effective representation of the interests of the global nuts and dried fruits industry in these forums.
  
  Background document: “Roles and working arrangements of the Committee on Commodity Problems and the Intergovernmental Commodity Groups

If you require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact the INC secretariat.