Which World Trade Organization agreement establishes rules for agricultural trade?

The World Trade Organization agreement that establishes rules for agricultural trade is the Agreement on Agriculture.

The agreement took effect with the creation of the WTO on 1 January 1995. It introduced disciplines for market access, domestic support, and export competition in farm trade, areas that had historically received different treatment under the GATT system.

Its market-access rules converted many non-tariff barriers into tariffs and established tariff commitments. Its domestic-support rules classify and limit certain forms of government assistance, while its export-competition provisions address subsidies and related practices.

Agriculture remains one of the most politically sensitive areas in WTO negotiations because farming supports food security, rural employment, and national policy goals. The agreement is not a promise to eliminate all farm support; it sets rules and commitments governing that support.