Two-Day International Conference on Legal Dimensions of Agricultural Subsidies in the WTO System!
Organized by: Department of Studies in Law, University of Mysore, India – 570006; UCLouvain, IEE St. Louis, Bruxelles, Belgium; School of Law at Mount Kenya University (MKU), Kenya; JSS Law College (Autonomous), Mysore, India; Greenlife Croptech Pvt. Ltd., Mysuru, India
About the Conference
The Two-Day International Conference on Legal Dimensions of Agricultural Subsidies in the WTO System serves as an important platform for examining one of the most contested areas of international trade law. Agricultural subsidies occupy a central position in global economic relations, shaping food security, rural development, and market competitiveness. Yet they also form a core source of dispute among WTO Members, given their significant influence on trade distortions and domestic policy autonomy. This conference aims to provide a comprehensive exploration of the legal, institutional, and policy challenges associated with agricultural subsidies within the framework of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) and related WTO agreements. The conference also extends its focus beyond traditional subsidy debates to emerging global concerns. Climate change mitigation, sustainable farming, digital agriculture, and environmentally friendly production methods have prompted governments to introduce new forms of support. However, the existing WTO subsidy architecture does not adequately reflect these modern realities. Discussions therefore address the question of whether sustainability-linked support measures such as incentives for low-carbon farming or climate-resilient agriculture should be incorporated into the Green Box or be subject to new, dedicated rules. The Two-Day International Conference on Legal Dimensions of Agricultural Subsidies in the WTO System aims to explore the evolving legal landscape governing agricultural subsidies within the multilateral trading system. As countries negotiate delicate balances between domestic support and global trade fairness, the WTO Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) remains central to global dialogue. This conference examines
DAY 1 — Foundations of Agricultural Trade & WTO Law
- Legal Architecture, Global Frameworks, and Multilateral Principles
- Evolution of Global Agricultural Trade: Historical and Legal Perspectives
- WTO Agreement on Agriculture (AoA): Structure, Objectives, and Challenges
- Domestic Support Measures: Amber, Blue, and Green Box Subsidies
- Market Access, Tariff Reduction Commitments, and Non-Tariff Barriers
- Export Competition and the Elimination of Export Subsidies
- WTO Dispute Settlement Jurisprudence on Agricultural Subsidies
- Balancing Agricultural Protectionism with Trade Liberalization
- Food Security Obligations and Their Interpretation Under WTO Law
- Equity, Fairness, and Asymmetries in the Global Trading System
- Reforming the WTO Agreement on Agriculture: Pathways and Prospects
- Role of Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) in Shaping Agricultural Subsidy Rules
- Public Stockholding (PSH), Minimum Support Price (MSP) Systems, and WTO Constraints
DAY 2 — Comparative and Regional Dimensions of Agricultural Policy
- Developing vs. Developed Countries: Divergent Needs and Policy Capacities
- Agriculture and Climate Change: Legal Duties for Sustainable Support Programs
- Environmental Standards, Green Subsidies, and the Climate–Trade Interface
- Global South Perspectives: Developmental Vulnerabilities and Policy Space
- Agri-Tech, Innovation, and the Legal Status of Digital Agriculture Support
- Gender, Rural Livelihoods, and Social Equity Dimensions in Subsidy Design
- Negotiating a Balance Between Sustainability, Trade, and Development
- Climate-Smart Agriculture and the Evolution of Green Domestic Support
- Strengthening Global Food Systems: Law, Policy, and Governance
- Digital Trade, Data Governance, and Agriculture Supply Chains
- International Cooperation in Agricultural Research,
- Emerging Issues: Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms and Agri-Trade
- Trade Facilitation, SPS Measures, and Global Risk Management
- Building Inclusive, Resilient Agricultural Markets in the 21st Century
Registration Procedures
- Registration Fees: NIL
- Registration Link: https://forms.gle/yGTom9sMHXQ3HTVUA
Dates
- Event date: 19th and 20th December 2025
- The Last Date of Registration: 15 December 2025
Time: 10 AM to 6 PM
Mode: Virtual
Eligibility:
Participants include legal scholars, trade experts, agricultural scientists, policymakers, and students.
Contact Information
