Work on new multilateral agricultural trade negotiations is underway in the World Trade Organization as prescribed by the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture (AoA). These discussions will continue the process of reforming agricultural trade rules that began in the Uruguay Round.  

The AoA brought varied degrees of freer trade and reduced support to commodity markets, and issues that are likely to be important in the new negotiations on agriculture are consequently different for each commodity. Trade liberalization impacts vary according to the characteristics of each commodity, the degree of trade impediments remaining in the commodity's world market, the degree of substitution among commodities, the role of major countries as market participants, and the growth in the world market for the commodity. 

New readings relating to commodity market issues in agricultural trade negotiations will be posted as they become available.

• China's Corn Exports: Business as Usual, Despite WTO Accession, Feed Outlook supplement, December 2002
• The New WTO Agricultural Trade Negotiations: Background and Issues for the U.S. Coarse Grain Market, Feed Situation and Outlook Yearbook, April 2001
• The New Agricultural Trade Negotiations: Background and Issues for the U.S. Wheat Sector, Wheat Situation and Outlook Yearbook, March 2000
• Upcoming World Trade Organization Negotiations: Issues for the U.S. Rice Sector, Rice Situation and Outlook Yearbook, November 1999
• Rice Tariffication in Japan: What Does It Mean for Trade?, Agricultural Outlook, April 1999

• Upcoming World Trade Organization Negotiations: Issues for the U.S. Oilseed Sector, Oil Crops Situation and Outlook Yearbook, October 1999
• Issues Facing the U.S. Peanut Industry During the Seattle Round of the World Trade Organization, Oil Crops Situation and Outlook Yearbook, October 1999
• U.S. Tariff-Rate Quotas for Peanuts, Oil Crops Situation and Outlook Yearbook, October 1999
• Impacts of the U.S. Marketing Loan Program for Soybeans, Oil Crops Situation and Outlook Yearbook, October 1999

• The New Agricultural Trade Negotiations: Background and Issues for the U.S. Cotton Sector, Cotton and Wool Situation Yearbook, November 2000
• International Trade Agreements Bring Adjustments to the Textile and Apparel Industries, Rural Conditions and Trends, May 2000
• The Global Spin on Trade Policy for Cotton, AgExporter, March 2000

• Assessing Economic Impacts of Liberalizing WTO Sugar Tariff Rates and Minimum Access Commitments by the United States, Sugar and Sweetener Situation and Outlook Yearbook, May 2001
• Auctioning Tariff Quotas for U.S. Sugar Imports, Sugar and Sweetener Situation and Outlook Report, May 1998

• Regulatory Barriers in International Horticultural Markets, WRS-04-01, January 2004
• Trade Issues Facing U.S. Horticulture in the WTO Negotiations, Vegetables and Melons Outlook supplement, August 2001
• Barriers to Trade in Global Apple Markets, Fruit and Tree Nuts Situation and Outlook, August 1997

• International Dairy Markets and the WTO, Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Situation and Outlook Report, August 29, 2000, pp. 7-15

• The New Agricultural Trade Negotiations: Background and Issues for the U.S. Beef Sector, Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook supplement, December 2001

for more information, contact: Linwood Hoffman
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page updated: January 15, 2004