Abstract: The multilateral trading system is facing growing institutional strain as the divergence between multilateral commitments and the trade policy practices of Members continues to widen. These tensions are particularly evident in the agriculture negotiations, where long-standing differences among Members have prevented meaningful progress despite repeated ministerial mandates. Agriculture remains a uniquely sensitive sector at the intersection of trade regulation, food security, and rural livelihoods, making reform complex.

Abstract: Public stockholding (PSH) for food security purposes remains one of the most persistent and unresolved issues in the agriculture negotiations of the World Trade Organization (WTO). In many developing countries, such programmes play a crucial role in supporting farmers’ livelihoods by ensuring stable prices and demand, stabilizing domestic food markets while enhancing food access for low-income households.