Possible cut in agricultural tariffs. (Washington).(U.S. proposal to World Trade Organization)(Brief Article)

Food Institute Report, The, July, 2002

The Bush administration will present a proposal to the World Trade Organization (WTO), calling for the elimination of export subsidies in five years and for all farm tariffs to be cut to at least 25% in five years, from a worldwide average of 62%, reported The Wall Street Journal (July 25). U.S. Trade Rep. Robert Zoellick announced the new negotiating position in Washington on July 25 and U.S. Agricultural Secretary Ann Veneman informed her global counterparts at a meeting with farm ministers from Australia, Canada and the European Union in Japan on July 26. The U.S. proposal in theory would benefit poorer countries that cannot afford much in export subsidies of their own. While subsidies protect farmers in the U.S., Europe and Japan, they hinder farmers in less...

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