Afghanistan's Wheat Flour Market: Policies and Prospects.

摘要

Afghanistan is among the worlds largest importers of fl our. Afghan fl our producers face challenges from inadequate domestic supplies of wheat and competition from imported fl our, much of it from neighboring Pakistan where wheat producers and fl our millers benefi t from Government support. Efforts to support Afghanistans fl ourmilling sector by increasing border protectionsif enforceable along the countrys rugged borders would lead to higher prices that harm consumers. Similarly, efforts to boost domestic production of wheat for milling through import policies would require a diffi cult-to-enforce combination of fl our and wheat tariffs or other restrictions that would also impose costs on consumers. Free trade, entailing unhindered wheat and fl our imports, including imports from Pakistan, may lead to stronger growth in domestic fl our production and consumption, with relatively small losses in farm output.