U.S. Farm Programs and Their Impact on Exports: A Metaphor for International Trade Policy Available to Purchase

This paper addresses the issue of farm programs and their impact on United States exports. It suggests an alternative policy to deal with the problems of low prices, surpluses, excessive supports and augmented competition abroad. The authors depict the current situation in the U.S. farm economy first by reviewing the farm programs from the inception to the present time, their impact on supply and demand for farm products at home and abroad, and the competitive reactions from other countries, especially the European Community. The authors then introduce a policy of international cooperation in farm trade that emphasizes a free market system and focuses on issues of contention among U.S. trade partners. Using U.S. farm policy in general, the paper advocates general cooperation with other countries on the international front and an integrated policy‐making process in the domestic economy that articulates the government trade policy with a single strong voice.