the persistence of agricultural export subsidies /
First Statement of Responsibility
by Ralf Peters.
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Place of Publication, Distribution, etc.
New York :
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
United Nations,
Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.
2006.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Specific Material Designation and Extent of Item
vi, 41 pages :
Other Physical Details
illustrations ;
Dimensions
30 cm.
SERIES
Series Title
Policy issues in international trade and commodities. Study series ;
Volume Designation
no. 32
GENERAL NOTES
Text of Note
"UNCTAD/ITCD/TAB/33 "--Title page verso.
Text of Note
"United Nations publication. Sales no. E.05. II. D.18"--Title page verso.
Text of Note
At head of title: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
INTERNAL BIBLIOGRAPHIES/INDEXES NOTE
Text of Note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 34-35).
CONTENTS NOTE
Text of Note
Introduction -- Regulations and use of export subsidies -- Economic effects of export subsidies -- Agriculture trade policy proposals -- Simulating export subsidy reductions -- Results -- Conclusions.
2
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
Agricultural export subsidies are one of the most distorting of the numerous distortions affecting agricultural trade, and the reluctance of users to make clear commitments for their elimination was a key factor contributing to the deadlock of the WTO negotiations on agriculture. In August 2004 the WTO General Council decided to eliminate export subsidies by a specific yet undetermined date. Export subsidies amount to around $6 billion each year, depending on world price movements. Some countries pay export subsidies in order to dispose of their surplus agricultural production on world markets. These payments impose substantial costs on taxpayers in the subsidizing countries and reduce the world prices of several temperate and competing products to the detriment of producers in developing and least developed countries. However, they also benefit consumers in food-importing countries, many of which are developing. Quantitative analysis using the UNCTAD/FAO ATPSM model suggests that the removal of export subsidies would raise world prices. The major beneficiaries would be EU taxpayers and developing country producers. Since consumers in developing countries probably face higher prices the welfare effects are ambiguous, but most likely only during an initial period until domestic supply capacities can catch up in many of these developing countries. This is because many of them are net importers of wheat, dairy products and beef, and the cheap subsidies imports hinder the production of these products and of substitutes. Although the benefits to some of preferential access to the EU sugar market would also likely be reduced if export subsidy reform led to the reduction of EU domestic sugar prices, increasing world market prices are likely to more than offset the losses. The analysis also points to diverse results regarding specific products for producers and consumers in most countries. This suggests that while longer-term reforms of export subsidies are desirable, the immediate removal of export subsidies is likely to cause some hardships for some developing country consumers, which will need to be addressed with appropriate support mechanisms.--Publisher's description.
TOPICAL NAME USED AS SUBJECT
Agricultural subsidies.
Export subsidies.
Aide de l'État à l'agriculture.
Subventions à l'exportation.
Agricultural subsidies.
Export subsidies.
Export.
Internationale handel.
Landbouwproducten.
Subsidies.
DEWEY DECIMAL CLASSIFICATION
Number
338
.
181
Edition
22
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CLASSIFICATION
Class number
HD1415
Book number
.
P376
2006
OTHER CLASS NUMBERS
Class number
83
.
42
System Code
bcl
PERSONAL NAME - PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY
Peters, Ralf,1968-
CORPORATE BODY NAME - ALTERNATIVE RESPONSIBILITY
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.