Les leçons et les problèmes des négociations multilatérales du GATT

The « Tokyo Round » was the most important trade negotiation in the history of GATT. Agriculture played an important role in these negotiations because of its importance in world trade. The principal dim of these negotiations was « ... the ever greater liberalization of world trade » but « as regards agriculture an approach... which in line with the general objectives ... was also to take account of the special characteristics in this sector ». The initial aim of the U.S. was to create conditions where agricultural policies would be more liberal and the adjustment of market imbalances would depend more on market forces than on governmental intervention. The EEC, by contrast, insisted on the special characteristics of agriculture. Without excluding a reduction in tariff and non tariff barriers for certain products, the EEC envisaged commodity agreements for the principal products (grains, sugar, meat and dairy products). Within these agreements the conduct of world trade was to be coordinated, in the initial discussions basic questions of principle were raised, in particular as regards the special characteristics of agriculture, the international division of labor, the validity of the principle of comparative advantage, the role of export subsidies and the feasibility and efficacity of commodity agreements. While recognizing special economic and technical characteristics of agriculture, those who favored a uniform approach in the negotiations pointed to the special characteristics of various industrial sectors which, nevertheless, do not justify a special negotiating approach for each sector. The discussions on the international division of labor focused on the question whether this division should be enlarged or maintened within present limits but facilitated through international agreements. This question was also Jinked to the demands by importers for greater world food security which found their counterpart in the assertion of exporting countries that guarantees of supply presuppose guarantees of market access. Export subsidies were an important issue in the negotiations. It was not possible to achieve an international grains agreement but international arrangements concerning dairy products and beef were concluded. The negotiations showed that the agricultural sector is not sui generis. Economic laws apply equally to agriculture and to industry. However, in spite of divergent interests, efficient international cooperation in the agricultural sector is possible.