Les points chauds des négociations multilatérales du GATT

Bodies competing with GATT where the problems of the production and exchange of agricultural produce are debated are increasing in number, making negotiations even more difficult. The conflict between the USA and the EEC is of vital importance for the Geneva negotiations. The USA's attacks on the EEC's exports and their restitutions are not new, but since the recent monetary and economic events they have become clearer : the American market if it is saturated can be closed to subsidized exports and they are threatened in third-party countries where they compete with American exports. The American authorities consider wheat and soya as «r strategic weapons » capable of impressing raw-material-producing countries (in particular oil-producing countries). The EEC, on the other hand, above all France, hopes to reduce the balance of payments deficit, increased by the energy crisis, and wishes to increase its agricultural exports. This leads to conflict between France and the USA. The other 80 countries taking part in the negotiations share on or other of these views. The developing countries, moreover, are trying to have their particular interests recognized. If a common agricultural policy is to continue, Europe must choose one negotiating body and speak with one voice. Any parallel negotiations carried on by one of the member countries would play into America's hands.