THE SPECIAL STATUS OF AGRICULTURE IN LATIN AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS

This paper provides a review of agriculture-related provisions in free trade agreements signed by Latin American countries and in force by December 2004. It is shown that the exceptional treatment received by the agricultural sector in the WTO is also found in free trade agreements. Many agricultural products are excluded from tariff liberalization or are otherwise subject to long phase-out periods. With respect to technical barriers to trade, most agreements go little beyond the reiteration of multilateral commitments. Furthemore, rules of origin are stricter for agricultural goods. This suggests that market access for some developing countries will remain limited. Conversely, provisions on intellectual property protection in free trade agreements, particularly those signed with the United States, go well beyond WTO commitments.