The 2024 BRICS Principles on Trade Facilitation in Agriculture is a concept and a set of provisions agreed upon by the BRICS member states to streamline and enhance the trade of agricultural products among them. It was finalized on July 26, 2024, and endorsed by the BRICS Trade Ministers at their 14th Meeting. The principles originated from the need to address "trade inefficiency" and complex import/export procedures that hinder agricultural trade, especially amid global geopolitical conflicts and supply chain uncertainties. The principles aim to improve the sustainability of the agricultural sector and the resilience of supply chains, which is critical for global food security.
The mechanism works through several key provisions, including the agreement by BRICS members to elaborate concrete measures to facilitate and improve intra-BRICS trade. A central provision is the opposition to unilateral trade-restrictive measures that are inconsistent with existing World Trade Organization (WTO) provisions and affect agricultural trade. The principles also emphasize that trade restrictive measures taken under the pretext of climate change or environmental protection must be science-based and not create unnecessary obstacles to trade. Furthermore, the principles stress the importance of digital technologies in trade facilitation, encouraging the use of smart solutions like e-certification, traceability, and paperless customs clearance, building on the BRICS Digital Economy Partnership Framework (2022). The principles connect directly to the Action Plan 2021-2024 for Agricultural Cooperation of BRICS Countries, which promotes trade facilitation and cooperation on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures. The principles also recognize the importance of reducing trade costs and enhancing access to finance for food imports by vulnerable developing countries.