WTO

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is engaged with international trade regulations on a global level, being responsible for the negotiations of new trade agreements and their implementation. WTO is the only global institution, which has the right to sign binding agreements, which form the legal basis of international trade. Estonia is a member of WTO since 13 November 1999. The European Commission has the right to speak in the WTO on behalf of EU Member States.

By today, the Doha round has been ongoing for already 9 years with one of the central issues being related to agriculture. The main topics of Doha agricultural negotiations are the decrease of support distorting export and trade, and improving market access.

Since WTO negotiations shape, to a significant extent, the framework of the European Union Common Agricultural Policy and its concrete measures and, therefore also Estonian agriculture, the agreements made in course of the negotiations are very important for Estonia. The main agricultural interest of Estonia in the Doha round is to ensure the continuance of the European Union Common Agricultural Policy and a globally functioning market for agricultural products. The representation of the ministry at WTO helps to keep a better eye on and react timely to important topics and issues, which are vital, considering the large amount of information and the speed of negotiations and the work process.

The specialist knowledge of the Ministry of Agriculture and its divisions is important at every forum, where questions significant to us are being discussed.Participation already in the preparation stage is important. We mostly stress participating in the work of those international organizations, which develop different source documents, technical guidelines, certificates and standards, which fulfillment is either compulsory or a good practice.