The letter also drew attention to the opportunity to make progress on this issue at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial in December.
When it became clear earlier this year that WTO members were not able to reach a full ‘Doha deal’, the director general Pascal Lamy suggested pushing for an ‘early harvest’ package. This was a package of measures aimed at benefitting least developed countries, including ‘a step forward’ on the removal of cotton subsidies.
However, last week it became clear that a lack of political will has meant that the WTO is unlikely to even agree to this narrow deal. Once again rich countries have been unable to overcome their narrow self interest to take on the challenge of the Doha development round to make trade work for poor countries.
While we welcome the government’s support for the removal of the US’ trade-distorting cotton subsidies, 'a solution to the cotton problem' must be kept on the agenda at the WTO ministerial.
In order to restore faith in the multilateral trade system and allow millions of poor cotton farmers around the world to trade on a fair basis, we must keep up the pressure on the US to put an end to its illegal, unfair and damaging cotton subsidies.
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