Understanding Agriculture as a Political Tool

1
Understanding Agriculture as a Political Tool

• AGSC 101
• Fall 2002
• Ms. Bailes

2
Todays Objectives

• Identify the two different purposes for using
  agriculture as a political tool
• Identify reasons and methods of protecting
  agriculture
• Identify reasons and methods of punishing other
  countries involving agriculture
• Propose solutions to international ag problems
  through use of political tools
• Examine current political issues in world
  agriculture

3
Purposes for Using Ag as a Political Tool

• To protect domestic agriculture
• To punish foreign countries for acts or policies
  which the domestic country does not agree with

4
Reasons for Protecting Agriculture

• Protection of domestic farm programs
• To ensure stability of the domestic food supply
• To ensure national security and national health
• To protect the livelihood of domestic
  agricultural producers and sector employees
• Concern over safety of imported foods

5
Methods of Protecting Domestic Agriculture

• Import Tariffs - a tax on imported goods
• Export Tariffs - a tax on exported goods
• Import Quotas a limit on the amount of goods
  that can be imported from foreign countries
• Complex Packaging and/or Labeling Requirements

6
Methods of Protecting Domestic Agriculture

• Strict Regulations Designed to Protect Animal,
  Plant, and Human Health
• Public Financed Research and Development
• Membership in Trade Organizations

7
Reasons for Using Ag to Punish Foreign Countries

• Disagreement with human rights policies
• Disagreement with type of government
• State of war with that country

8
Methods of Using Ag to Punish Foreign Countries

• Trade Embargoes
• Refusal to export products to that country or
  accept imports
• Banishment from international trade organizations
• Banishment keeps them from enjoying free trade
  with member countries or trade agreements

9
Current Political Issues in World Agriculture

• Trade Promotion Authority
• U.S. Trade Relations with Cuba
• Normal Trade Relations for China