1. Formulation of Rice Strategy Regional cooperation on rice Roehl Briones and Ramesh Sharma 28-29 November 2013

2. Questions asked Where are added values from Regional Cooperation (RC)? What would be some strategic choices for countries?

3. Range of arrangements for cooperation  Bilateral (and tri-, pluri-lateral)  Regional (within REOs)  Multi-REOs  Global plurilateral arrangements (e.g. G20, ICBs)  WTO

4. What are some prominent areas of cooperation relevant to rice?  Sharing of technology, knowledge etc  Infrastructure, watersheds, connectivity (e.g. Mekong)  Market information system, policy forum (e.g. AMIS)  Trade  Stocks/reserves

5. List A - less divisive arrangements – relatively easier to cooperate  Sharing of technology, knowledge (e.g. IRRI-NARS, and within REOs)  Infrastructure, connectivity (e.g. Mekong GMS)  Food safety, harmonization (e.g. within ASEAN)  Information systems (e.g. ASEAN AFSIS, AMIS)  Reserves for emergencies (APTERR, SARC Food Bank)  Rice futures market (being discussed in ASEAN region)

6. List B - more divisive arrangements – relatively difficult to cooperate Trade lib. (ATIGA, SAFTA) – rice sensitive; many NTBs Food reserves for calming markets (at regn. & global) Policy coordination – e.g. effective ASEAN Rice Trade Forum (& AMIS RRF) Common positions in WTO (on divisive issues) Bilateral supply/price assurance agreements –1970s - US-USSR grains; Japan-US soybeans; Japan-Australia sugar –2010s – G2G rice sales in Asia ICBs (international rice agreement, OREC in Asia)

7. Strategic/policy choices/options on RC  1 st intensify RC on non-divisive arrangements (build trust)  Pursue a combination of voluntary (APEC) and legal (ASEAN) approaches, moving from V with a Code of Conduct to L eventually  Establish “forums” for continued dialogues on divisive issues (e.g. ASEAN Rice Trade Forum, AMIS RRF, OECD)  Deepen REOs by removing NTBs, restraint on export restrictions – Examples (next slide)  Use WTO, not REO, to address most divisive issues (e.g. export restrictions, farm subsidies, STE import monopoly)  Also recognize limits to RC (e.g. OREC, reserves for price risks, international stocks and ICBs for rice)

8. Examples of regional approaches to limit supply disruptions Works best in a CU e.g. EU, also ECOWAS, EAC (there is no CU in Asia) NAFTA – no tax/restrictions allowed except under GATT XI(2a) (Mexico some exemptions) MERCOSUR – trying, yet unresolved (Argentina) APEC - principle of open access ( “a guarantee of non- discriminatory sales”)