The Next Steps for Africa: An International Conference on Cotton The negotiations on cotton in the Doha Development Round have focused the world’s attention on the plight of African cotton farmers, whose income and food security have been affected by the low price of cotton. With the WTO talks at an impasse, the spotlight on cotton risks being diminished. In this light, Ideas Centre, IPC and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, hosted an International Conference on Cotton to gather experts from government, civil society and the private sector to discuss trade and development, as well as African domestic policy and competitiveness issues.

 

October 26, 2006
Washington, DC
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Building

 

Read "US Farm Programs and African Cotton"

Read "The Next Steps for Africa: A Report of an International Conference on Cotton."

	The negotiations on cotton in the Doha Development Round have focused the world’s attention on the plight of African cotton farmers, whose income and food security have been affected by the low price of cotton. With the WTO talks at an impasse, the spotlight on cotton risks being diminished. An International Conference on Cotton, sponsored by Ideas Centre, IPC and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars was held on October 26, 2006 at the Woodrow Wilson Building to convene African, European and American governments, the private sector, NGOs and trade experts to discuss trade and development, as well as African domestic policy and competitiveness issues. Selected speeches and presentations are available for download below.
	Just prior to gathering for the all-day International Conference on Cotton, the Agriculture and Trade Ministers from the C-4 countries held a press conference, sponsored by the IDEAS Centre, urging the US to end generous cotton subsidies for US farmers. President of Burkina Faso Blaise Compaore (seen left) joined via live satellite, saying "Cotton is playing a determining role in the fight against poverty in Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Chad...It seems to me extremely important that we come to a decision to save millions of cotton producers... by [getting] rid of all subsidies on cotton."
	When divergent interests’ representatives take time to meet and discuss together…         François Traoré, President, Africans Cotton’s Producers Association, APROCA and Mark Lange, President, National Cotton Council

 

This Event in the News

• Very Strong Chance Doha Round Doomed (Washington Post)
• African Nations Warn of Trade Cases on Cotton if Doha Fails (Inside US Trade)
• Putting Cotton Back on the Table (Marketplace)
• African Trade Ministers Urge End to US Cotton Subsidies (Voice of America)
• Press Conference on Trade and Development: The Cotton Issue; National Press Club, Oct. 25 (US Newswire)
• Cotton-Picking Subsidies: Corporate welfare for growers is wasting taxpayer dollars and hurting the U.S. image abroad (Los Angeles Times)
  [PDF version]

Conference Materials and Information

• Watch the video
• Agenda
• Press Release

Selected Speeches

International Cotton Advisory Committee (Comments on the Importance of Cotton in Africa):
"The Importance of Cotton in Africa: African Cotton in Perspective"
"African Cotton in Perspective," [PowerPoint]

Pedro de Camargo Neto, former Secretary of Production and Trade, Brazil (Panel on Trade):
Remarks

Daniel A. Sumner, University of California Agricultural Issues Center (Panel on Trade):
"Farm Programs and the Economics of LDC Cotton."

Gobind Nankani, The World Bank (Panel on African Competitiveness):
"Development of the Cotton Sector in West and Central Africa"

Chiedu Osakwe, World Trade Organization (Panel on Role of Donors):
"The Role of Donors and Lessons from Implementing the Mandate on Cotton Development Assistance"

Philippe Chedanne, Agence Francaise de Developpment (Panel on Role of Donors):
"Pilot Operation on Price Risk Management for Cotton Sectors in West and Central Africa"

"A Model for Lowering Inter-Annual Revenue Variability for the Cotton Chain in WCA Countries"

Katoen Cotton, remarks on experiences from South Africa:

"Biotech Cotton in South Africa"

List of internet links relative to the Washington Conference on Cotton

 

Cotton Conference on U.S. Newswire

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=74890

Cotton Conference on NPR's Marketplace

http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/2006/10/25/AM200610253.html

 

Cotton Conference on Development Gateway (World Bank)

http://topics.developmentgateway.org/trade/calendar/showCalendarItemDetails.do~activeCalendarItem=15018199?activeCalendarItem=15018199

 

African Minister Press Conference in Voice of America

http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-10-26-voa1.cfm

Bilateral Meetings in Mail & Guardian

http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=287109&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__business/

Ideas Centre, Rue de l'Arquebuse 10, 1204 Geneva, Switzerland, T. +41 (0)22 807 17 40, F. +41 (0)22 807 14 41, info@ideascentre.ch