African trade minister calls for safeguards to protect ag sector
Put in place by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) that regulates international trade, the SSM is a protection measure allowed for developing countries to take contingency restrictions against agricultural imports that hurt domestic farmers.
Kanimba said the agriculture sector, being the backbone of the continent, African countries should have placed it at the centre of negotiations.
Kanimba said agriculture distorting subsidies are still unaddressed and “expose our small-scale farmers to unfair competition” from subsidised imports from rich countries.
Rich countries spend billions of dollars subsidising their farmers, leading to chronic overproduction and dumping surpluses on global markets, a trade practice that reportedly impoverishes farmers in most African countries, he explained.
source: newtimes.co.rw
