TREATING FOOD SECURITY AND FOOD AID ISSUES AT THE GATT

Some food-importing GATT members are concerned that multilateral agricultural policy reform as proposed in the Uruguay Round would their food security, particularly if reform results in higher world commodity prices, lower government stock levels and weaker incentives for food aid supplies. This paper elaborates a set of international policies in support of food security that would be consistent with GATT's main objective of reducing interference by national policies in the free flow of goods. This set includes commitments to maintain global food stocks and food aid, disciplines for stockbuilding and food ald distribution, and support for certain programmes aimed at reducing instability of food production and supply. While a guarantee of food security is beyond GATT control - and depends ultimately on sustained economic development - there are food security enhancing mechanisms that the GATT can support without encouraging new trade distortions.