Country :Republic of Colombia
Committee : World Trade Organization
Topic : The Sustainability of Agreement on
Agriculture During Global Pandemic
COVID-19
Name : Dionisius Inti De Intipunku
Student ID : F1F019026
Background
Since February 2020, all countries around the world have been hitting by the
COVID-19 pandemic. It is affected and emerged any problems in the agricultural
sector. During this pandemic, Colombia occurs to increase the price of all agricultural
product by 16,85%. The main causes are mobility restriction due to lockdown and
increase purchase in the household, people rushed to the wholesale market to stock up
food and essential item, then make product diminish and increase the price. Country
export has dropped until 52,3% exports of food and agricultural products in April
reached the US $ 569.2 million, which meant a drop of 9.4% compared to April 2019.
In the category of food products such coffee drops to8 4.8%, and fruits such as
bananas 6.9%.8In the agricultural sector, the flower industry is the most suffering by
the global Covid-19 pandemic crisis. 90% of Colombian flower is export to the
international market but, the demand decreases about 80% because costumer has
cancelled their order due to the measure taken to control COVID-19.
As a permanent member and gets special treatment from World Trade
Organization (WTO) in the amber box, we recognize in this pandemic, Agreement on
Agriculture is necessary to help each country rise from the crisis in the agricultural
sector. Three pillars in this agreement could inspire the government when they
establish new policy but still take mind the global economic competition. For
example, Colombia could reduce the tariff of trade and reduce export subsidies
expenditure through the Amber Box. The export subsidies in the export competition
also have been eliminated and supported by the government.
Past Action
