Global Trade Policy Committee (GTPC)
Gafta's Global Trade Policy Committee has 18 representatives from 9 regions of the world and meets virtually four times a year, to consider issues of market access, phytosanitary and international trade policy each quarter. GTPC formally approves all Gafta policy positions and reports to Gafta Council.
The aims of the committee are to:
- identify and prioritise market access and phytosanitary issues in real time which are potentially trade disruptive and which are to be reviewed quarterly by the committee and in collaboration with regional and local associations to promote trade facilitation.
- promote use of international standards where they exist ie Codex, ISO (UN FAO, WTO; IPPC, Codex, etc.) and support sound science-based policy decisions in all fields which takes a risk-based approach to regulatory decision making on food and feed safety to ensure supply of safe, sustainable and nutritious food and feed materials globally.
- engage with many trade associations at local, regional and international inputting Gafta's international perspective in various stakeholder groups including international associations such as Global Pulses Confederation, International Grain Trade Coalition and International Agri Food Network, to strengthen cooperation and align positions across the supply chain.
Joint Gafta-GPC Market Access Committee (Pulses)
The Market Access Committee (the Committee) is a joint committee of Global Pulse Confederation (GPC) and Gafta that provides a unique forum for members to discuss and build understanding of important policy issues and developments in the global trade of pulses. The committee members will be responsible for collaborating to ensure the development of clear, fair and predictable trade policies by governments and regulatory bodies to ensure stable supplies of pulses and maximize global food security. One of the main challenges for this committee will be to continuously monitor and manage existing and new trade issues affecting the global pulses trade.
The aims of the committee are to:
- maintain a global outlook on trade and trade solutions, which is key to the spirit of this committee. The committee will avoid involvement in bilateral trade or trading agreements except to the extent that they involve issues significantly affecting the global trade of pulses.
- advocate for a rules-based and science-based global trade of pulses that protect the interests of importing and exporting nations and consumers.
- identify collaboration opportunities with governments, NGOs or other bodies to share data or information (e.g., data on the production or trade of pulses, pulses research, etc.).
- submit a semi-annual report from the Market Access Committee to the Board of Directors (at annual meeting and board meeting association with ANUGA/SIAL).
Regional committees
The Black Sea committee has 10 representatives from Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania. The main issues include import and export trends, contract terms and problems, arbitration matters, transportation, and training courses.
The China Trade Committee has 14 representatives and meets twice a year. It aims to consider all matters relating to the Chinese grain and feed trade, to discuss matters of common concern, to promote the exchange of information and to discuss issues of common concern. The main issues include import and export trends, contract terms and problems, arbitration matters, transportation, and training courses.
The South East Asia and Pacific Committee has 13 representatives and meets virtually to address the specific trade needs of the South East Asia Pacific region. The main issues include import and export trends, contract terms and problems, arbitration matters, transportation, and training courses. The committee raises and discusses trade policy matters effecting the region, and passes recommendations and requests up to the Global Trade Policy Committee.
The Ukraine Trade committee has 10 representatives and meets three times a year. It aims to consider all matters relating to Ukrainian grain market development, including production and export aiming at the free trade environment, discussing matters of common concern and promoting the exchange of information; to agree common positions based on free trade and sound science and make representation to the Ukrainian authorities. The main issues include import and export trends, contract terms and problems, arbitration matters, transportation, and training courses.
Ad hoc working groups include UK Malting Barley Working Group, UK Tariffs group, UK phytosanitary working group.
The UK malting barley working group decides the test method and testing time for germination of malting barley as required by UK contracts. It also considers quality trials and recommendations by NIAB and to consider contractual and legitimate matters affecting malting barley, and provides these decisions and recommendations to the UK Trade Committee. The UK tariffs and phytosanitary working groups are examining trade issues in relation to EU exit.