Thirty years of European research on international trade in food and agricultural products

Abstract

This survey focuses on the economic studies of international trade in agricultural and food products that has been an expanding area of specialisation in the agricultural economics profession in Europe since 1984. The contributions of agricultural economists have been particularly significant in Europe by assessing (i) the compatibility of agricultural policies with the multilateral trade rules and (ii) the macroeconomic impacts of agricultural trade agreements on Northern agricultures and on market access of developed and developing countries. Recent developments have shifted the focus of the international trade from countries and food industries towards food firms and products. The future research agenda will be driven by the needs of policy makers to find solutions to new and pressing issues and in particular growing societal concerns over the environmental, public health, diet composition, animal welfare and climate impacts of food production, and re-emerging food security concerns for developing countries.