What is the WTO agreement that sets international rules for agricultural trade?
Answer
Agreement on Agriculture
The WTO agreement that sets international rules for agricultural trade is the Agreement on Agriculture.
The agreement took effect with the creation of the World Trade Organization in 1995. It introduced rules covering market access, domestic support for farmers and export subsidies.
Agriculture had historically received different treatment from many manufactured goods under the multilateral trading system. The agreement brought agricultural policies more clearly into the framework of negotiated trade disciplines.
The Agreement on Agriculture is not the same as an agreement covering all food products or every rural policy. Its rules focus on trade-related commitments, and negotiations about agricultural support and market access have remained an important part of WTO discussions.