Tuesday, July 01, 2025

How trade impacts farmers

 Professor Alan Matthews of TCD reports: 

'The number of new studies, reports and policy briefs is now so overwhelming it is impossible to keep up, and I have only just come across this briefing for the European Parliament International Trade Committee on 'Trade aspects of the Strategic Dialogue on the future of EU agriculture and the impact of trade on the competitiveness and sustainability of European agriculture' https://lnkd.in/dhtEBim4 that was published in February this year. 

This short paper nicely captures the dual role of trade as both acting positively for farmers as a source of inputs and creating new markets, and acting negatively where it increases competition and introduces market volatility. A significant gap is that the paper discusses the need for a level playing field on regulatory standards with third countries to ensure fair competition, but surprisingly without mentioning mirror clauses or reciprocity or suggesting guidelines when they might be appropriate. Still work to be done here.'

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