40.Somedelegates feltthatthesituation wasmoreserious thanpresented inthedocument. Council Ministers expressed theirviewthattheglobaleconomic crisisoftheearly1980shadleftdeveloping countries withtheirfoodandagriculturalsectors lacking ininvestment andtheiroverall development prospects entirelytrimmed. Theyrequested thatfurther workbeundertaken intheareaofinternational trade,resource flows,andinvestment infoodandagriculture,emphasizing theimportance ofthecapacity ofdeveloping countries toconfronttheirfoodproblems. 41.Ministers agreedthatworldeconomic recovery hasbeenencouraging butuneven,anditsimpactondeveloping countries evenmoreso.Therehasbeenaconsiderablerangeofexperience amongcountries ofdifferent developing regions, suggesting a diversity innational economic strength andinth&adequacy ofeconomic policies.Despite theprogress thathasbeenmade,however, thepresent internationaleconomic environment ischaracterized bylargedebtrepayments, adverse termsoftrade,deteriorating tradepolicydiscipline, protectionist pressures thatcouldleadtomorewidespread restrictions onimports fromdeveloping countries andtheneedforstructural adjustment measures. 42.Ministers feltthattheseconstraints imposesevereburdens onmanydevelopingcountries' capacity toreorient economic policyandinvestment priorities forthefoodsector, especially thoseexpenditures intended forlocalproduction andimproved consumption amongthepoor. 43.Somedelegates observed thattherecession experience couldnonethelessencourage theconsolidation andstrengthening ofstrategies thathavebeensuccessful sofar,facilitate achangeofentrenched positions, andpromote thewilltoaddress futuretradepolicyobjectives andadjust~ents. Thisexperienceunderscored theincreasing interdependence ofdevelopment partners andtheevermorepressing needtomeetworldfoodobjectives. 44.Delegates generally agreedthatanumberofpresent trendsareclearlyunsustainable. Aslongascountries mustlimitimporta andpayalargepercentageofexportearnings toservice loans,itisunlikely thatdeveloping countries willbeabletomaintain vigorous economic growthandpolitical stability overthelong -26-that :ial sted ieh the >is :al iven, able a s. f d he ping :le ge 11 ngrun.Itwasobserved thattheabsence ofameaningful settlement ofcertain international tradeissuesconstitutes aserious constraint bothtoimproved export earnings ofdeveloping countries andtosolving worldfoodproblems. 45.MostCouncil Ministers emphasized thatincreased protectionist tradebarriers notonlyreducereturns onpastinvestment butalsoincrease uncertainty concerning thereliability ofmarketaccessinthelongterm. 46.AlIdelegates underscored thatfortheseimbalances tobecorrected inan orderly manner, adequate flowsofdevelopment finance, increased national investment inthefoodandagricultural sector, greater consistency of macro-economic policies reoriented toanexport-import expanding adjustment, and improved international co-ordination arerequired. 47.AlIdelegates emphasized theroleoftheGATTmultilateral framework fortrade adjustments andstressed thecontinued importance ofitsCommittee onTradein Agriculture. Council Ministers recommended thattheGATTCommittee onTradein Agriculture beencouraged toaccelerate progress towards more operationally-effective rulesanddisciplines fortradeanddomestic farmpolicies. 48.Asregards negotiations onfoodandagriculture, aIldelegates supported examination ofdifferent policyinstruments onhowtoincorpora tesubsidies in agriculture, including subsidized exportcredits -withinthepurview of strengthened andmoreoperationally-effective GATTrulesanddisciplines. The Council Ministers underscored thatreversing protectionist tendencies andactions, aseconomic recovery proceeds, willcontribute toexpanded international trade,and thusenhanced worldfoodsecurity. 49.MostCouncil Ministers recommended thatfuilaccount betakenoftheneedfor abalance between rights andobligations underGATT,andofthespecial characteristics andproblems infoodandagriculture ofthedeveloping countries in thelightofspecific provisions fordifferential andmorefavourable treatment. Itwasstressed thattheWorldFoodCouncil shouldexercise itsgoodoffices: on theonehand,tomoderate someofthepresent éonflict ininternational foodtrade and,ontheother,toofferitsguidance inadjustment programmes forresolution of debtproblems tohelpdeveloping countries meettheirfoodandsocialneedsona sustained andlong-term basis.
**Analysis**
The text discusses the global economic crisis, its impact on developing countries, and the need for international cooperation to address food and agriculture issues. The language used is technical and focused on economic policies, trade, and development, suggesting that the category is likely to be related to economics and international relations.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade