Advocating Fair, Transparent and Predictable Trade for Farmers

Since its early years, the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) has recognised the strategic importance of international trade for the agricultural sector. In 2013, WFO Members adopted the Organisation’s first Policy on International Trade to ensure that farmers had an independent voice in global trade discussions. That same year, WFO presented its position during a farmer-led session at the WTO Public Forum, marking the beginning of a longstanding engagement with the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Over time, the Public Forum has become WFO’s primary platform for interaction with the WTO, complemented by participation in thematic spaces such as the WTO Trade Dialogues on Food and the Virtual Annual Agriculture Symposium. While formal engagement in the WTO’s agriculture negotiations remained limited, WFO’s presence and credibility have continued to grow.

In 2021, in the wake of major trade disruptions linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and rising geopolitical tensions, the WFO General Assembly established an Ad-Hoc Task Force on Trade to lead an internal consultative process to update the 2013 policy. Two years later, in May 2023, the General Assembly unanimously adopted the revised Policy on International Trade and approved the establishment of a permanent Working Group on International Trade to oversee its implementation.

The culmination of this advocacy journey was WFO’s formal inclusion in the WTO Civil Society Advisory Group, established in 2023 to enhance dialogue between the WTO Director-General and civil society. Represented by the WFO Secretary General, the Organisation was formally introduced to the group during the 2024 WTO Public Forum, further consolidating WFO’s position as a legitimate and independent global voice for farmers in international trade, contributing to a more sustainable and beneficial trading system for all stakeholders.