Agricultural Liberation and Protection in WTO Member Countries - Coursework Example

Agricultural liberation and protection in WTO member countriesIntroductionAgricultural products account for a large percentage of earnings in both developed nations and developing countries. The trade barriers imposed on markets, therefore, have a great effect on the development of the economy. The use of trade controls and tariffs on agricultural products aims at controlling the prices and protecting the income of producers. In developed countries, the protection of agriculture thwarts economic growth in countries that are less developed since they are often the main exporters of agricultural products.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement on agriculture is geared towards setting guidelines that are in line with trade policies aimed at boosting agricultural efficiency and growth. Member countries of the WTO have different positions with regard to agricultural protection. Furthermore, the Uruguay round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), provided the most substantial agreement on trade liberalization with the aim of improving market access to agricultural commodities.

The Uruguay negotiations among the contracting parties to the GATT were very influential to the agricultural negotiations and the liberalization outcomes, particularly in developing countries. Nevertheless, the liberation of agricultural trade is to some extent determined by the WTO agreements on agriculture. In addition, under the WTO and GATT laws, there are certain safeguards that influence the liberation of agricultural trade.

Agricultural Protection in European CommunitiesAgricultural protection refers to the use of trade controls and tariffs on agricultural commodities in order to keep prices at a certain level and protect the returns of producers. In developed countries, the protection of agriculture thwarts economic growth in countries that are less developed since they are often the main exporters of agricultural products. The most recognizable form of protection was the Corn Laws in the United Kingdom which were enacted to regulate the prices of grains and impose import tariffs on grains.