Conference on Cotton – The Next Steps for Africa
Overview
The negotiations on cotton in the Doha Development Round have focused the world's attention on the plight of African cotton farmers, whose income and even food security have been affected by the low price of cotton. With the WTO talks at an impasse, not only is the outcome for cotton uncertain but the spotlight on cotton risks being diminished. It would be a pity to lose the momentum that has gathered around the cotton issue. WTO members agreed to the unusual step of dealing with cotton as a sectoral negotiation within the Agricultural negotiations and to forming a special Subcommittee on Cotton, which was given the mandate to address both trade and development aspects.
On the trade front, the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration called for a more ambitious, expeditious and specific treatment of cotton within the three pillars of the agricultural negotiations: export subsidies, market access and domestic support. Although more far reaching reforms in cotton than for agriculture in general are thus called for, the outcome is far from certain, in particular given the suspension of the talks. Moreover, African governments and the private sector have a role in boosting the competitiveness of African cotton so that producers can actually benefit from trade reforms. The WTO sectoral initiative has also rightly stressed the need for improved policy coherence between trade and development assistance, but has not yet clearly pointed the way on how to achieve such convergence. To help African producers take advantage of new market access opportunities, "aid for trade" specific to cotton should be debated.
The conference will cover trade and development, as well as African domestic policy and competitiveness issues.
Please join us for a discussion of the next steps for African cotton.
Conference Agenda
WE HAVE THE PLEASURE OF WELCOMING THE PARTICIPATION OF:
H.E. MR. YOUSSOUF ABBASSALAH,
MINISTER OF TRADE, INDUSTRY & CRAFT, CHAD;
H.E. MR. CHOGUEL KOKALA MAIGA,
MINISTER OF INDUSTRY & TRADE, MALI;
H.E. MR. MOUDJAÏDOU ISSIFOU SOUMANOU,
MINISTER OF INDUSTRY & TRADE, BENIN; AND
H.E. MR. BONOUDABA DABIRE,
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, BURKINA FASO.
8:30 - 9:00 a.m.
COFFEE AND REGISTRATION
9:00 - 9:15 a.m.
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
Robert Thompson, Gardner Chair in Agricultural Policy, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and IPC member
9:15 - 9:45 a.m.
IMPORTANCE OF COTTON IN AFRICA
9:45 - 11:30 a.m.
TRADE ISSUES
Moderator: Robert Thompson, Gardner Chair in Agricultural Policy, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and IPC member
Crawford Falconer, Chairperson of the WTO Agriculture Negotiations
Pedro de Camargo Neto, former Secretary of Production and Trade, Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, and IPC member
Dan Sumner, Director, University of California Agricultural Issues Center
Mark Lange, President, National Cotton Council
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
LUNCH
Crawford Falconer
Chairperson of the WTO agriculture negotiations
Florizelle Liser, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa, USTR
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
AFRICAN COMPETITIVENESS
Moderator: Sara Rogge, Senior Trade Policy Advisor, DATA
Gobind Nankani, Vice President, Africa Region, World Bank
Francois B. Traore, President, Association des Producteurs de Coton Africains (Aproca)
David Blackwell, Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Global Procurement, Wal-Mart
3:00 - 3:15 p.m.
COFFEE BREAK
3:15 - 5:15 p.m.
ROLE OF DONORS
Moderator: Ambassador Tertius Zongo, Ambassador of Burkina Faso to the United States
Chiedu Osakwe, Doha Development Agenda Special Duties Division, World Trade Organization
Ambassador Samuel Amehou, Ambassador of Benin to Switzerland
Philippe Chedanne, Agence Française de Développement (AFD),
Mary Barton-Dock, Sector Manager, Agriculture, Environment and Social Development, West Africa, The World Bank
Hannele Tikkanen, Counselor (Trade), Delegation of the European Commission
Elena Bryan, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Trade Capacity Building, USTR
5:15 - 6:00 p.m.
CONCLUSIONS
Nicolas Imboden, Executive Director, Ideas Center
Robert Thompson, Gardner Chair in Agricultural Policy, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and IPC member
6:00 - 6:30 p.m.
RECEPTION AND CONVERSATION
Documents & Downloads
Hosted By
Africa Program
The Africa Program works to address the most critical issues facing Africa and US-Africa relations, build mutually beneficial US-Africa relations, and enhance knowledge and understanding about Africa in the United States. The Program achieves its mission through in-depth research and analyses, public discussion, working groups, and briefings that bring together policymakers, practitioners, and subject matter experts to analyze and offer practical options for tackling key challenges in Africa and in US-Africa relations. Read more
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