GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Last week, USA Rice joined the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for WTO Reform for a series of meetings here ahead of the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Cameroon next year. During the trip, the group sought to assess preparations for MC14, underscoring the need for reform, and reiterating the coalition's support for the World Trade Organization (WTO).
WTO rules have been instrumental in the growth and success of American agriculture, supporting export growth from $52 billion in 1994 to $176 billion in 2024. However, the coalition supports comprehensively improving the rules of trade in the Agreement on Agriculture to reduce trade distortions and better support trade liberalization. India remains deeply entrenched in its own priorities, thereby limiting the real chance of achieving the consensus needed to move the negotiations forward. While the coalition discussed the topic of reform with several delegations from developed and developing countries alike, many countries remain divided and pessimistic about prospects for a near-term outcome on agriculture and most other issues.
Of concern to the U.S. rice industry are India’s rice-related policies and practices, including its domestic support and market price-support practices. Over the last two decades, U.S. imports of Indian rice have increased by more than 958 percent, reaching a record $395 million in 2024. These practices not only influence global rice prices and market access in third markets, but have also created a significant point of contention during WTO agricultural negotiations. According to a scenario by the U.S. International Trade Commission’s 2025 report on the competitiveness of U.S. rice, if all countries eliminated their tariffs, and thereby committed to market access provisions under the WTO, U.S. rice exports could increase by 41 percent.
The meetings came at an important time as Ambassador Joseph Barloon was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 8 and is slated to arrive here in the near future. Additionally, many countries were interested in the coalition’s perspective on WTO participation—particularly if the United States doesn’t pay its dues in arrears by the new year. The coalition and its members have been active in communicating with the Trump Administration and lawmakers in support of U.S. funding for the WTO. Now that USDA and USTR have deputies responsible for trade, USA Rice will seek to engage directly with them to support U.S. leadership at the WTO once the U.S. government is reopened.
“The trip was incredibly insightful as we met with several country delegates to not only understand their political positions, but to foster cooperation in areas of mutual interest,” said Jake Westlin, USA Rice vice president of government affairs. “It is important that the United States and like-minded nations remain active in efforts to encourage solutions towards a level playing field.”
The Coalition is led by DTB AgriTrade and AgTrade Strategies and the following members joined USA Rice in the meetings last week: CropLife America, American Seed Trade Association, and U.S. Wheat Associates.