The developing and the least developed countries have a significant dependence on agriculture, both in terms of proportion of GDP and provision of livelihood to the majority. The importance of agricultural trade in increasing the global economic welfare in general and that of these poorer countries in particular, has paved the way for agricultural issues assuming key importance in international trade forums like WTO. Recognizing the importance of agriculture, the Uruguay Round of GATT negotiations came up with the Agreement on Agriculture (1994), with improved market access, reduction in domestic subsidies and abolition of export subsidies, as three pillars supporting the move towards agricultural trade liberalization for multilateral equitable trading system. Subsequent WTO ministerial discussions have taken the issue forward, but a consensus has been elusive except for a moderate success for export subsidy abolition. This book tries to illustrate the way the world agricultural trade has evolved under the aegis of WTO and its modalities, the way the trade reform can benefit the poorer countries, some country experiences and instances from select crop sectors.
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