Agricultural products are unique and
most essential commodities in
every society. Beyond its primary role of producing food and fibre
agriculture also contributes to the viability of rural areas, food security,
the cultural heritage and environmental benefits such as the agricultural
landscape, agro-biological diversity, land conservation and high standards
of plant, animal and public health. These additional functions of the
multifunctional agriculture are often referred to as non-trade concerns
(NTCs) in the World Trade Organization (WTO). Most NTCs are unique to
agriculture and have public goods characteristics that may justify government
intervention. Moreover, most of these public goods cannot be disassociated
from the agricultural production activity itself, as they are provided
jointly with, and therefore depend on, ongoing agricultural production.
Further, agricultural production
is biological and site-specific. All these special and multifunctional
characteristics of the agricultural sector need to be recognised
and call for continued special treatment of the agricultural sector
within the multilateral trading system.
| Agricultural products are unique and
most essential commodities in every society. (Samfoto/Øystein
Sørbye) |
|
