World Food Trade and U.S. Agriculture, 1960-1987 (Eighth Annual Edition)

摘要

World grain and oilseed production dropped moderately below utilization in 1987-88, leading to the sharpest decline in global grain carryover stocks on record. Adverse weather in several countries and aggressive U.S. land-idling programs accounted for much of the decline in stocks. However, grain stocks in mid-1988 still were moderately above minimum acceptable levels needed for world food security. Changing U.S. policies, including lower price support levels and an aggressive Export Enhancement Program, along with a weaker U.S. dollar, generated substantially increased U.S. shares of world grain exports and moderately increased U.S. oilseed export shares. Continued U.S. and EC export subsidies and radically changed U.S. farm policies are important elements of the world food trade environment. Various groups of nations have developed their positions for GATT negotiations. GATT discussions will focus on ways of multilaterally reducing agricultural subsidies in major producing nations, as well as on ways of reducing barriers against agricultural imports. Other appropriate agricultural policies might deal with causes of slow growth in the world economy and agricultural trade, and enhancement of global food security.