overview
The European Union (EU) accounts for about 15 percent of the world's
agricultural exports and about 20 percent of the imports. The EU is
one of the most important trading partners and competitors of the
United States in world agricultural markets. European agricultural
policy has long played a major role in world agricultural markets,
and the EU is one of the key participants in World Trade Organization
(WTO) negotiations on agricultural trade.
ERS research on the EU focuses on analysis of policy issues of
interest to a broad range of stakeholders. Among the issues policymakers
address are EU agricultural policy and pressures for reform; the
effects of the EU's Uruguay Round commitments on their agricultural
sector; the expected impact of EU enlargement; and EU monetary union
and single currency. ERS provides information and analysis on the
EU agricultural sector as well as extensive data and projections
on EU agricultural and commodity-specific production, use, and trade.
contents
features
European
Union Adopts Significant Farm Reform. The EU continued to reform
its Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in 2003-04 and will continue
in 2005, building on earlier reforms enacted since 1992. The latest
reforms move to fully decoupled payments through a single farm payment,
which has important implications for WTO negotiations and EU farmers
decisions on what to produce. For the full report, see CAP
Reform of 2003-04.
EU Enlargement:
Implications for the New Member Countries, the United States, and
World Trade. This is part one in a series of forthcoming reports
on the integration of the transition economies of Central and Eastern
Europe and the Newly Independent States into global commodity markets.
The report presents a medium-term forecast of the changes that EU
enlargement will bring to commodity production and trade in Poland,
Hungary, and the Czech Republic as well as to the enlarged EU, and
to U.S. and world trade.
recommended readings
U.S.-EU Food and Agriculture Comparisons.
The European Union and United States are the world's largest agricultural
traders and among the largest producers and consumers. This report
provides information and analysis that reflects the similarities
and differences in their agricultural sectors when comparing farm
structure, production, consumption, trade, productivity, farm policy,
and responses to environmental issues. Implications of EU enlargement
for U.S. trade are also addressed.
European Trading Arrangements
in Fruits and Vegetables. The EU participates in regional and
preferential trading arrangements more than any other country or
region. Over 70 percent of EU fruit and vegetable imports are from
countries benefiting from preferential treatment for some portion
of trade. Exports from countries without preferences, including
the United States, are at a disadvantage in EU markets.
Global Trade Patterns in Fruits
and Vegetables. International trade in fruits and vegetables
has expanded at a higher rate than trade in other agricultural commodities,
and the variety of commodities has increased. Over the years, three
regionsthe EU, the North American Free Trade Agreement area,
and Asiahave remained as both the major destinations and sources
of supply. A substantial share of their trade is intraregional,
particularly that of the EU.
See all recommended readings...
recommended data products
ERS offers data on EU agricultural trade,
supply, and use for crop and livestock products, and data related
to EU agricultural policy.
WTO Agricultural Trade Policy Commitments Database
contains data on implementation of trade policy commitments by WTO
member countries. Data on domestic support, export subsidies, and
tariffs are organized for comparison across countries. This queriable
database offers various options for viewing and downloading data.
Agricultural Baseline Projections
provide longrun projections for the U.S. agricultural sector, including
trade with the EU and other countries.
Foreign Agricultural Trade of the United
States (FATUS) provides U.S. agricultural exports and imports,
volume and value, by country, by commodity, and by calendar year,
fiscal year, and month, for varying periods, such as 1935 to the
present or 1989 to the present. Updated monthly or annually.
Production, Supply, and
Distribution (PS&D) contains official USDA data on production,
supply, and distribution of agricultural commodities for the United
States and major importing and exporting countries. The database
provides projections for the coming year and historical data for
more than 200 countries and major crop, livestock, fishery, and
forest products.
recent research developments
WTO: Competing
Policy Issues and Agendas for Agricultural Trade, a conference
on September 17, 2003, brought together researchers, policymakers,
and industry representatives. Sponsored by ERS and the Farm Foundation,
the conference addressed trade policy issues and their implications.
In addition to the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations,
other trade policy developments such as the proliferation of bilateral
free trade agreements and enlargement of the European Union are
likely to have lasting impacts on agricultural producers, consumers,
industry, and global food markets.
related briefing rooms
World Trade Organization
Agricultural baseline projections
U.S. agricultural trade
related links
Additional information on the European Union is available from USDA's
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), other U.S. Government, international
organizations, and EU official sites.
Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS).
Wide range of information and data on U.S. agricultural trade and
the agriculture and agricultural policy of the EU and other foreign
countries.
Office of Agricultural
Affairs (FAS), U.S. Mission to the European Union. Information
on U.S.-EU agricultural policy and bilateral trade issues, EU food
import rules, animal product import rules, fruit and vegetable standards,
and import duties and quotas.
European
Commission, Agriculture. The Agriculture Directorate of the
European Commission, the administrative and regulatory body of the
European Union responsible for agricultural policy, agricultural
markets, agricultural statistics, and international agricultural
trade relations.
See all related links...
glossary
Trade-related
terms
for more information, contact:
David Kelch
web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov
page updated: September 16,
2004
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