On 1 April, WTO members confirmed the appointment of Ambassador Ali Sarfraz Hussain of Pakistan as the new chair of the Committee on Agriculture in Special Session (CoASS). Ambassador Hussain will lead efforts to build momentum on agriculture negotiations with the goal of achieving a meaningful outcome at the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14), scheduled for 26-29 March 2026, in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
The appointment followed a swift consultation process, during which WTO members expressed their readiness to work with Ambassador Hussain to find common ground and create potential outcomes that consider all members’ interests and sensitivities. Ambassador Hussain replaces Ambassador Alparslan Alcarsoy, the former Permanent Representative of Türkiye to the WTO. In his remarks, Ambassador Hussain acknowledged the valuable contributions of his predecessor, who worked to bridge diverse positions and succeeded in presenting a draft text to ministers at the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi in February/March 2024.
As the new chair, Ambassador Hussain will also preside over the CoASS Subcommittee on Cotton. The appointment has been widely viewed as crucial, given the significance of agricultural negotiations for the upcoming MC14. Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala stressed that agriculture will be a central focus of the MC14, underscoring the broader impact of these negotiations beyond the WTO itself. She noted that the global food security situation remains fragile, adding further urgency to the discussions.
In her statement, DG Okonjo-Iweala highlighted that despite the current challenging trade environment, the WTO has a unique opportunity to make substantial progress on agricultural trade negotiations. She encouraged members to move past entrenched positions and adopt creative, innovative solutions that would help Ambassador Hussain and the WTO Secretariat achieve a breakthrough. This call for flexibility and forward-thinking was echoed as key to the success of the negotiations in the year ahead.
Ambassador Hussain, in his first address as chair, conveyed optimism about achieving a significant outcome at MC14. He emphasized that the goal is to secure a pragmatic step forward, noting that with limited time before the conference, the focus must be on what is both achievable and meaningful. He stressed that the outcome at MC14 should reinforce the role of trade rules in agricultural trade and address the pressing concerns facing global food security.
As part of his initial approach, Ambassador Hussain announced plans to begin his tenure by meeting with delegations and group coordinators in the coming days. Following these consultations, he intends to invite all members to an informal meeting of the special session, as well as dedicated sessions on key topics such as public food stockholding and the “special safeguard mechanism.” These meetings will take place in the third week of April, during which Ambassador Hussain will report on his initial round of consultations and discuss the best path forward for advancing the agricultural negotiations.
With the clock ticking towards MC14, the importance of effective dialogue and collaboration within the CoASS is greater than ever. As the new chair, Ambassador Hussain’s leadership will be pivotal in guiding the WTO members through the complexities of agricultural trade discussions, with an eye towards finding sustainable, inclusive solutions that can have a positive impact on global agriculture and food security.
