Agreement on Agriculture
The World Trade Organization was established on January 1, 1995,
as the multilateral institution charged with administering
agreed-upon rules for trade among member countries. The United
States and other countries participating in the Uruguay Round of
Multilateral Trade Negotiations (1986-94) called for the formation
of the WTO to embody the new trade disciplines adopted during those
negotiations. The basic aim of the WTO is to liberalize world trade
and place it on a secure basis, thereby contributing to economic
growth and development.
The Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) was adopted at the conclusion
of the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade talks on April 15, 1994.
It introduced important new disciplines on the trade of
agricultural products. WTO member countries made commitments to
reduce domestic support to agriculture, reduce the use of export
subsidies, and improve access to their markets.