The Impact of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture on Food Security of Acceding Countries: The Case of Ethiopia
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Date
2011-11
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Ethiopia, as are most LDCs, had a spasmodic food security problem with in the general
spectrum of other socia economic challenges. The country is among the most severely food
insecure countries of the world characterized by high reliance onfood imports and international
food aid. It is such a high reliance on international food imports that triggered this study of
influence of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture onfood security situation of the country. To that
( end, the study used the relevant polices and laws of Ethiopia and the pertinent WTO agreements
as a primary source. The copious literatures on the area of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture
and its bearing on Food Security have been used as secondmy sources. The most important
findings of the study include: a) the subsidies commitments to be undertaken under the WTO
Agreement on Agriculture provide a sufficient policy space to continue the existing support
programmes which are part of the food security strategy of the countly. Thus, the Subsidies,
domestic or export, provisions of the WTO AoA does not hinder a soundfood security policy; b)
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opening of borders by lowering tariffs, which seems likely, may represent a threat to domestic
food production unless higher bound rates are negotiated.
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Keywords
Food Security of Acceding Countries, Ethiopia