Thursday, October 27, 2005

An Update on Agricultural Subsidies

"For France, Cutting Farm Support May Be Last Straw"
International Herald Tribune
October 21, 2005
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/10/21/business/wto.php

Also refer to the WTO's summary of Doha negotiations relating to agriculture: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/
dohaexplained_e.htm#agriculture



The E.U. Trade Commissioner has asked French leadership to lower the country's current agricultural subsidies and import tariffs. With WTO negotiations on this topic moving again and new meetings scheduled for the end of 2005, France's efforts could help progress the WTO's goals of "correct[ing] and prevent[ing] restrictions and distortions in world agricultural markets." But what about France's concerns that eliminating domestic agricultural supports will "undermine the French way of life"?

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