WTO members discuss action plan for cotton sector after MC14, World Cotton Day 2026

WTO members reviewed global cotton market trends and the path ahead for the cotton sector at meetings in Geneva on 4 May. The meetings follow the high-level cotton event at the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Cameroon in March. Delegations noted commitments announced at MC14 to invest in African countries moving up the cotton value chain and stressed the vital contribution of cotton to international trade and its potential to foster sustainable development.

WTO members discuss action plan for cotton sector after MC14, World Cotton Day 2026

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• Cotton
• Agriculture
• #WTOAg
• #WTOCotton

• Mali
• Benin
• Côte d'Ivoire
• Chad
• Burkina Faso
• Uzbekistan

• Committee on Agriculture, Special Session

Deputy Director-General Jean-Marie Paugam welcomed members and observers to WTO headquarters in Geneva for the first of two sessions. Discussions in the morning focused on development assistance to the cotton sector, while those in the afternoon considered trade-related developments. Both meetings are part of a series of consultations organized biannually by the WTO, with participation from other international organizations. WTO members, including the Cotton 4+ countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and C�te d'Ivoire), updated each other on latest developments in the cotton sector.

Referring to investment plans announced at MC14 by Afreximbank, the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) and ARISE IIP, DDG Paugam noted that the time is ripe for attracting investment in cotton processing activities. Recalling the C-4+ vision of mobilizing USD 5 billion over the next 10 years to create around 500,000 decent jobs, he encouraged C-4+ countries to act decisively on mobilizing the required resources, with the support of the�Partenariat pour le Coton (PPC). Developing a two-year workplan defining the complementary roles of partners would be key in guiding efforts and ensuring results for beneficiary countries, he said.

DDG Paugam also welcomed the presentation by the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) on carbon sequestration in cotton cultivation, and on opportunities for farmers to raise income using carbon credits.

Global cotton market outlook

On emerging challenges, members learned about the latest developments in cotton-producing countries, as well as new challenges facing the cotton sector in C-4+ countries.

Members, including China and India, took the floor to share their activities within the framework of South-South cooperation. Several noted the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has caused a rise in energy costs and a drop in fertilizer availability. They also noted that crop protection from pests, and political unrest in the Sahel region and other regions in Africa were also hurting the African cotton industry.

The ICAC also provided an overview of the global cotton market for the 2026-27 season.�World cotton production is projected to reach 25.9 million tonnes, surpassing consumption which is projected to be 25.2 million tonnes. Both production and consumption projections are expected to be very close to the current season. Trade is projected to be 2.7% lower in the 2026-27 season at 9.6 million tonnes while ending stocks are expected to be 4% higher at almost 18 million tonnes, including 10 million tonnes in China.

The ICAC also provided its latest data on the level of governmental support provided to cotton production, based on its methodology which differs from that used by the WTO. These data confirmed the inverse relationship between the level of support and the level of international cotton prices.

Cotton events scheduled for 2026

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced that the 2026 World Cotton Day�will take place on 7 October in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The event aims to boost visibility of the cotton sector and promote investment in African cotton through the work of the PPC as well as to encourage discussion of climate challenges to cotton.

The ICAC made a presentation on the first-ever Global Cotton and Textiles Investment Summit to be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on 19-21 November 2026. The event, which is organized by the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), will bring together over 20 countries, and is expected to host pavilions showcasing investment opportunities for 800+ participants.

The C-4+ countries and other WTO members expressed support for the cotton sector, focusing on the importance of job creation, economic diversification, de-risking investments, tailored cooperation, and the elaboration of regional strategies. Delegations also discussed industrialization, global value chain integration, investment clarity, and progress on regional development projects.

Other issues

The C-4+ countries voiced their deep disappointment over the lack of outcomes from MC14 on agricultural issues, especially regarding cotton. The Chair of the WTO agriculture negotiations, Ambassador Ali Sarfraz Hussain of Pakistan, informed members that he had�started consulting informally with members on how to resume the discussions in the agriculture negotiations, including cotton. His intention is to hold at least one meeting of the agriculture negotiating body before the summer break.

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) briefed members on key outcomes and the way forward following the high-level cotton event at MC14. It updated participants on efforts by the ITFC, Afreximbank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to mobilize capital, including through the newly launched AfricaTextileInvest-CottonPartnership.com portal, which seeks to pair potential investors with cotton projects in Africa.

The financial partners, including Afreximbank, the ITFC and the AfDB, provided updates on their financing mechanisms and outlined the concrete actions they are undertaking to support the work of the PPC. The ICAC shared a presentation about carbon sequestration in cotton cultivation and opportunities for farmers to raise income using carbon credits. Benin also pointed out that African farmers use various methods to increase carbon sequestration, including crop rotation and returning biochar to the soil.

The WTO Secretariat noted the importance of public-private partnerships in supporting the development of Africa's cotton and textile sector. �FIFA's Football for Schools programme will encourage the use of C-4+ cotton for apparel, and plans to distribute 75,000 T-shirts and polo shirts designed and made in Benin from cotton grown in West Africa.

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