Variable Levies: Barriers to Grain Imports in France, the Netherlands, Federal Republic of Germany, and United Kingdom

摘要

The European Community protects its grain farmers by assessing a levy on imports of soft durum wheat, barley, maize, oats, and rye from nonmember countries. The levy increased the price of imported grains by an average of 150 percent between 1974 and 1978. Differences in border taxes and subsidies, and the strength of different currencies cause the levy to vary from one country to another. The levy offers the most protection to West Germany and the least to the United Kingdom.