NOTE:  When Seattle trade talks broke down, farm negotiators were working from a draft text prepared by the WTO staff on the basis of negotiations up to that point.  This text, never officially released by the WTO, is printed below.  The paragraph numbering reflects the fact that it is one part of a draft ministerial declaration that covered many other subjects.  The underlined sections reflect language that was new in this draft, while the overstricken language reflects a deletion from an earlier version.  This text was NOT agreed to by negotiators, and U.S. and European officials have differed over whether it would be the starting point for any future talks.

27. The negotiations shall continue the process of fundamental reform of trade in agriculture, through substantial progressive reductions in agricultural support and protection sustained over an agreed period of time, resulting in correcting and preventing restrictions and distortions in world agricultural markets, and the progressive establishment of a fair and market oriented agricultural trading system in conformity with WTO rules and disciplines. This shall be done based on Article 2 and the preamble to the Agreement on Agriculture.

28. Special and differential treatment for developing and least-developed countries, as provided for in relevant WTO provisions, shall constitute an integral and effective part of the results of the negotiations. Special and differential treatment shall be embodied in the Schedules of concessions and commitments, particularly with regard to products deemed of export interest by developing countries, and, as appropriate, in the rules and disciplines to be negotiated, so as to be more operationally effective and so as to enable developing countries, while undertaking commitments and providing concessions in the areas covered in paragraph 29 below, to take account of their development needs, including food security and agricultural and rural development. Particular attention shall be paid to the situation of least-developed, net food-importing developing countries, large agrarian developing economies and small island developing countries.

29. To achieve the objectives in paragraphs 27 and 28 above, the negotiations shall cover:

(i) Market Access

Comprehensive market access negotiations, with no a priori exclusions, leading to the broadest possible liberalisation, particularly with regard to products of export interest to developing country Members;

(ii) Export Competition

Substantial reductions in all forms of export subsidies, and equivalent action in respect of the subsidy component of other forms of export assistance (preserving the international food aid disciplines referred to in Article 10.4 of the Agreement on Agriculture), in the direction of progressive elimination of all forms of export subsidization;

(iii) Domestic Support

Substantial progressive reductions in domestic support;

(iv) Rules and Disciplines

Improvements in the rules and disciplines consistent with the objective of fundamental reform.

Proposals for negotiations on all the above elements shall be submitted by 1 July 2000.

29bis. At the same time, as foreseen in Article 20, the negotiations shall take into account:

Non-trade concerns. These include, in particular, the need to protect the environment, food security, the economic viability and development of rural areas, and food safety, in full conformity with the Agreements on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and on Technical Barriers to Trade. Non-trade concerns should be addressed through WTO-consistent measures, particularly targeted, transparent and non-trade distorting measures.

Other objectives and concerns mentioned in Article 20 and the Preamble to the Agreement on Agriculture, including, subject to paragraph 28 above, making commitments in an equitable way among all Members.

30. Agreement on modalities shall be reached before 1 July 2001. Participants shall submit their comprehensive offer lists no later than 31 January 2002. The negotiations on commitments and legal texts shall be concluded before 15 December 2002.