In least developed countries (LDCs), around one in four people are estimated to be undernourished — some 250 million people in total. LDC governments have a number of options to try and ensure that trade rules help improve food security and rural development, both on the road to Nairobi and beyond. With the majority of food-insecure people living in rural areas, trade rules and policies that affect agriculture remain important in tackling rural poverty, raising farm incomes and creating decent jobs. Though governments in poor countries can already take a number of steps under WTO rules to support agriculture and boost farm productivity, distortions on global markets for food and farm goods continue to undermine the viability of farming in the world’s poorest countries, while trade barriers prevent otherwise competitive farmers from accessing markets or adding value to the goods they produce. Arguably, the WTO remains a key forum for LDCs to pursue their negotiating objectives in these and other trade areas. While bilateral and regional negotiations often place LDCs at a disadvantage in talks with stronger trading partners, the multilateral system allows otherwise weaker countries to pursue shared goals on trade together. However, LDCs have yet to see return...
Written by Jonathan Hepburn
