World Agri-Trade Policy Readjustment since the Uruguay round and the Policy Implications

Abstract

This paper reveals the main policy factors hindering the progress of free and fair world agricultural trade, through in-depth analyses and study of the adjustment of agri-trade policies during the past decade since the Uruguay Round. It covers domestic support, market access and export support in 10 major countries or groups of countries, namely the EU, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Brazil, Israel and Mexico. The study concludes that (1) domestic support reduction according to the WTO commitment is slow and has even rebounded in some countries, (2) grain crops are still the major recipients of domestic subsidies, (3) tariff barriers are varied and food security is the primary goal of border protection in all countries, and (4) export subsidies are present in disguised forms in some countries. Policy implications are identified.