207-404 Agricultural Policy&International Trade

207-101 Economics of Resource Use, or 316-102 Introductory Microeconomics, 208-301 Agricultural Marketing.

At completion of this subject students should be able to:

• understand the reasons for government intervention in the agricultural sectors of several countries, including Australia, and have knowledge of the policy objectives being pursued, together with the policy instruments employed;

• analyse the effects of agricultural protectionism on international trade and be knowledgeable about the outcome of the Uruguay Round in the GATT;

• analyse environmental issues as they relate to trade issues in food and fibre; and

• understand the issue of world food security.

The subject covers the following topics:

• the reasons for government intervention in the agricultural sector;

• the principal agricultural policy issues in Australia, the European Union, the United States and Japan;

• the effects of these policies on international trade in agricultural products;

• agriculture on the GATT and the WTO;

• environmental issues as they relate to trade in food and fibre products; and

• aspects of the world food problem.

A three-hour end-of-semester written examination (60%) and two assignments of up to 3000 words worth 20% each.