U.S. Agricultural Trade Policy

Trade policy, particularly agricultural trade policy, has been controversial since at least England repealed its Com Laws. Trade policy is controversial because border controls are seldom put in place, except to underpin domestic programs and policies. For trade policy, the essence of the debate is between advocates of freer trade, and those in favor of maintaining or increasing current levels of support and protection. However, the essence of the trade policy debate is between advocates of trade liberalization and those who promote the subsidization and protection of domestic agricultural producers. In the mid-1980s, changes in US agricultural programs and trade policies helped stem the downward trend in US competitiveness and exports. The Uruguay Round of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade negotiations is the latest attempt to “normalize” trading relationships for agricultural products. The nature of world agricultural trade is changing, as is the environment in which trade takes place.