Trade and agriculture: developing an effective strategy

Australian views regarding OECD work on trade and agriculture have varied over time. They changed from concern at the implications of membership for existing trade policy, soon allayed, to rather disappointed views regarding Australia’s early lack of influence and the mundane nature of much of the OECD’s initial work on trade in agriculture. However, the late 1980s and early 1990s saw greater optimism, based on the greater degree of success achieved in Australia’s continuing drive to persuade members to move towards freer trade in agricultural products. The greater success derived from a more coherent trade strategy developed in 1986_7 and the greater influence engendered by working in cooperation with the USA and, in particular, the members of the Cairns Group. However, again, following the initial success in establishing the WTO, disappointment resurfaced as little or no progress could be achieved at the OECD in relation to the further freeing up of trade in agriculture. Key words: trade; agriculture; strategy; Cairns Group