Greater market access in agriculture is the key to Doha success

Abstract

Since al policies are so politically sensitive, there are always self-interested groups suggesting they be sidelined in trade negotiations – as indeed has occurred in numerous sub-global preferential trading agreements, and in the GATT prior to the Uruguay Round. Today the groups with that inclination include not just farmers in highly protecting rich countries and food-importing developing countries but also those food exporters receiving preferential access to those markets. The latter groups include holders of tariff rate quotas, members of regional trading agreements, and parties to non-reciprocal preference agreements including all least-developed and ACP countries.