Corn Exports Research Articles

Assessment of Biotechnology Policies and International Trade in Key Markets for U.S. Agriculture

The United States leads the world in agricultural biotechnology research, adoption, commercialization, and exports. Our biotech commodities are highly dependent on international markets. Thus, any biotech policy changes by key importing countries may affect U.S. agricultural biotech product exports. This article identifies key markets for U.S. agricultural exports including biotech commodities and discusses current and proposed biotech policies in key markets for U.S. agricultural exports focusing on Canada, Mexico, Japan, the European Union (EU), and China. Among these markets, labeling of biotech products is voluntary in Canada and Mexico but is mandatory in Japan, the EU, and, most recently, in China. For the EU, U.S. corn exports were almost completely shut out, while U.S. soybean exports also declined because of the EU's biotech policies. The World Trade Organization dispute filed by the United States has yet to be finalized. China's biotech regulations raised concern by U.S. agricultural exporters. However, through U.S. Department of Agriculture education programs, U.S.–China negotiations, and China's domestic soybean shortage, China's biotech regulations do not appear to have had long-run impacts on U.S. soybean exports to China.

StarLink: Impacts on the U.S. corn market and world trade

AbstractStarLink disrupted the U.S. corn market during the 2000/01 marketing year as a result of inadvertent commingling. The potential, upper‐bound volume of marketed StarLink‐commingled corn from the 2000 crop located near wet and dry millers prior to October 1, 2000, is estimated at 124 million bushels. The percentage of corn shipments that tested positive mostly ranged from 5 to 10%, varying by mode of transportation. Price differentials between StarLink‐commingled and StarLink‐free corn commonly ranged between 7 and 12 cents per bushel during the early stage of the incident. These differentials eroded quickly due largely to Aventis' compensation of additional transportation costs when StarLink‐commingled shipments had to be rerouted to approved uses. While StarLink had a negative impact on U.S. corn exports, most of the reductions in exports to Japan and South Korea during the period from November 2000 through March 2002 were due to increased competition from rival exporters. [EconLit citations: Q130, Q170]. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Agribusiness 19: 473–488, 2003.

CLASHES OVER AGBIOTECH

OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THE RIFT BETWEEN THE U.S. and Europe over genetically engineered foods has widened. During this time, a blocking minority of European member states placed a de facto moratorium on newbiotech crop approvals. The moratorium angers U.S. farmers and their allies on Capitol Hill because it restricts exports of agricultural commodities to Europe. The impact of this moratorium is not trivial. Because the European Union refuses to accept corn shipments with genetically engineered content, the annual value of U.S. corn exports to Europe declined from $191 million in 1997 to less than $2 million in 2001. U.S. food processors are angry that the EU is developing legislation that will require all biotech foods and products derived from them to be labeled and to be traceable from the farm to the consumer. According to EU legislation, the exact strains of all genetically engineered crops must be listed ...

El comercio de productos alimentarios entre las Coronas de Castilla y Aragón en los siglos XIV y XV

The author analyses in this article the export trade of foodstuffs between the territories of the Crown of Castile and those of the Crown of Aragon during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, taking into account the overland traffic as well as the maritime one. He gives account of the importance attained by the export of cattle, fish and corn from Castile to Aragon. And on the other side he proves that foodstuffss played a minor role in the exports from the Crown of Aragon to the Crown of Castile, though spices, wine and oil, among other foodstuffs, were exported to Castile from the territories of the Crown of Aragon.

Competition in agriculture: the United States in the World Market

Contents * About the Editors * Contributors * Foreword * Chapter 1. Introduction * Agricultural Exports * Competitiveness * Plan of Book * References * Chapter 2. Agricultural Competitiveness Issues and Concepts * Issues in Agricultural Competitiveness * Definitions of Competitiveness * Factors Influencing Competitiveness * Indicators of Competitiveness * Chapter 3. The Competitiveness of U.S. Agriculture * Introduction * A Conceptual Framework * The Case of U.S. Agriculture * Comparison of Agricultural Growth in the United States and European Union * Conclusions * Chapter 4. Corn * Introduction * The Record: Changing Competitiveness in the U.S. Corn Industry * Market Developments Influencing Competitiveness * U.S. Policy and Competitiveness * U.S. Trade Agreements and Corn Exports * Indirect Effects of International Policy Changes * Biotechnology and Competitiveness in the Corn Industry * Export Performance and Technology Adoption * Market Structure * Conclusions * Chapter 5. Wheat * Introduction * World Wheat Industry * Trade Agreements and Policies * Regional and National Competitiveness * Conclusions * Chapter 6. Rice * Introduction * United States Relative Cost of Production and Milling * United States Agriculture Policy * Rice Trade Agreements, Rules, and Regulations * Impact of El Nino on Global Rice Production * The Arkansas Global Rice Model * Conclusions * Chapter 7. Soybeans * Introduction * Soybean Trade Research * Competitive Position of the U.S. Soybean Industry * Trade Agreements * Conclusions * Chapter 8. Cotton * Introduction * Imports and Exports * Trade Research in Cotton * Competitiveness of U.S. Cotton * Conclusions * Chapter 9. Peanuts * Production * Trade * Competitive Position of the U.S. Peanut Industry * Agriculture and Trade Policy * Conclusions * Chapter 10. Fruits * Introduction * Fruit Production * Citrus Fruits * Noncitrus Fruit * Agricultural and Trade Policy Impacts * Conclusions * Chapter 11. Vegetables * Introduction * Vegetable Trade Research * Competitive Position of the U.S. Vegetable Industry * Conclusions * Chapter 12. Miscellaneous Crops * Wine * Sugar * Tobacco * Implications for U.S. Trade in Wine, Sugar, and Tobacco * Chapter 13. Beef * Introduction * The Changing Dynamics of World Beef Demand * Overview of World Meat and Fish Consumption, 1985-1997 * Trends in World Beef Production, 1985-1997 * Trends in World Beef Consumption, 1985-1997 * Trends in World Beef Trade, 1985-1997 * U.S. Competitiveness in World Beef Markets * Conclusion * Chapter 14. Poultry * Poultry Trade Research * Competitive Position of the U.S. Poultry Industry * Conclusions * Chapter 15. Pork * Introduction * Structural Change in U.S. Port Industry * The Changing Dynamics of Port Consumption * U.S. Competitiveness in Global Port Markets * Conclusions * Chapter 16. The Food Processing Industry * Introduction * U.S. Exports of Processed Foods * U.S. Imports of Processed Foods * The Competitive Environment for Processed Foods * Competitive Position of the United States * Trade Agreements, Rules, and Regulations * Conclusions * Chapter 17. North American Free Trade and U.S. Agriculture * Introduction * CUSTA and NAFTA Implementation * Overview of Agricultural Trade in NAFTA Countries * NAFTA Impacts on Selected Commodities * Animals and Animal Products * Grains and Oilseeds * Horticultural Products * Other Commodities * Conclusions * Chapter 18. Biotechnology and Competitiveness * Introduction * Agrobiotechnology and Value Creation * Value Appropriation and Firm and Industry Competitiveness * Network Competitiveness * Impacts of Agrobiotechnology on National Competitiveness * Conclusions * Chapter 19. Findings and Implications * Introduction * Importance of Agricultural Exports * Market Shares * Factors Affecting Competitiveness * Technology * Effects of Trade Agreements * Conclusions * Index * Reference Notes Included

A doorman to keep foreign genes out

In October 2000, news reports in the USA described that millions of bushels of genetically engineered corn approved for animal use only, had found their way into taco shells. The producer, Kraft Foods, had to withdraw the taco shells from supermarkets not only in the USA, but as far away as Japan. Only a few days later the media reported that the same corn had been found in other corn products. Investigations to determine how the modified grain found its way into the human food supply are still ongoing, although Aventis has already agreed to buy back the corn, called StarLink, at a premium price of approximately $100 million. Later, the US Department of Agriculture reported in mid‐November that this brouhaha over genetically modified food had resulted in a steady drop in USA corn exports. > The new technology will be used to breed corn with resistance to cross‐pollination—which may be a paradox, using genes to confer resistance to further genetic modification A set of genes from a wild relative of corn could solve the problem of unwanted food contamination by GM crops. Jerry Kermicle, a retired professor of genetics at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, discovered this molecular barrier in teosinte, a weed‐like type of corn that grows naturally in Mexico alongside cultivated hybrid corn. When Kermicle bred the genes into modern hybrid corn, they actually prevented …

Effects of an Oxygen Requirement for Fuel in Midwest Ethanol Markets and Local Economies

This article examines the effects of an oxygen content requirement for fuel in several midwestern states. Ethanol could dominate the midwestern oxygenate market with federal incentives for ethanol blending or a generalized ban on MTBE; otherwise, price incentives would shift between ethanol and MTBE. Several states would share in the ethanol output expansion, but the largest increases would likely occur in Iowa and Minnesota. A benefitcost analysis of the oxygen requirement suggests that gains for consumers, producers, and local economies would more than offset lost federal tax revenues. Ethanol processing has become a substantial source of corn demand. Corn use for ethanol grew from almost nothing in 1980 to about 6% of total corn demand at the end of the 1990s. This demand expansion is good news from the viewpoint of input suppliers because it occurred while the corn export market had been stagnant. However, the ethanol industry has received intense criticism since the industry was started in the aftermath of the Arab oil embargoes. First, federal and state governments gave exemptions to gasoline excise taxes for ethanol processing, using the infant industry protection argument and citing the need for imported oil substitutes (Gill)--opposition to the subsidies motivated some of the criticism. Second, the ethanol sector provided new competition for petroleum processors and livestock producers in the feed market-unwanted competition also has motivated some of the criticism. The concerns of ethanol's opponents have evolved with the industry. When the industry started in the late 1970s, ethanol did not have a favorable energy balance, but after gaining experience with plant design, corn-ethanol processing now

U.S. corn exports: the role of the exchange rate

AbstractTime series econometric methods are applied to monthly observational data over the period 1978‐1942 on real exchange rates, real corn prices, corn export sales, and corn export shipments for the United States. In‐sample fit and out‐of‐sample forecast results are used to discern whether exchange rates have elicited systematic responses in U.S. corn prices, sales and shipments, and whether the dynamic transmission mechanisms tying these variables together have changed over time. A structural break appears to have occurred in early 1985. No cointegration is found between exchange rates, price, sales, and shipments in either sub‐period. Influences are all short‐run or between stationary variables. The role of the exchange rate appears to have moderated in the post‐1985 period. Implications for policy analysis are discussed.

U.S. corn exports: the role of the exchange rate

Abstract Time series econometric methods are applied to monthly observational data over the period 1978–1992 on real exchange rates, real corn prices, corn export sales, and corn export shipments for the United States. In-sample fit and out-of-sample forecast results are used to discern whether exchange rates have elicited systematic responses in U.S. corn prices, sales and shipments, and whether the dynamic transmission mechanisms tying these variables together have changed over time. A structural break appears to have occurred in early 1985. No cointegration is found between exchange rates, price, sales, and shipments in either sub-period. Influences are all short-run or between stationary variables. The role of the exchange rate appears to have moderated in the post-1985 period. Implications for policy analysis are discussed.

Further Evidence on Competition in the US Grain Export Trade

This study analyzes the relationship between export market structure and the pricing behavior of U.S. grain exporting firms. A generalized Cournot model is estimated by two-stage least squares using pooled data sets for U.S. wheat and corn exports. The cross-sectional units correspond to foreign country destinations. Discriminatory export pricing behavior was found to be significantly related to export seller concentration, U.S. market share, total export volume, and import market size. Yet, the estimated coefficients linking these market structure variables to the export price markup were relatively small in magnitude, suggesting little quantitative impact from market power. Copyright 1994 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

The Effect of Quality on Corn Export Price Determination

This article examines export price formation for U.S. corn exports, adopting the hedonic approach of treating a commodity as a bundle of identifiable quality attributes for which separate implicit prices can be estimated. The study makes use of a rich data set which includes transaction-level price and quality data for U.S. corn exports for a period of two years. Significant implicit valuations for key quality factors between corn importers for feed use and corn importers for food and industrial uses are found, suggesting that the different end-uses substantially affect how users contract for corn imports.

Galiani et l'Angleterre. Sur la genèse des Dialogues sur les blés

Gianluigi Goggi : Galiani and England. The Dialogues and their origins. Two sets of documents throw light on the origins of Galiani' s Dialogues. First, some documents show the work to be a reaction to the situation in Paris in October-November 1768, when free trade in corn and poor harvests led to a dearth of food likely to spark off disturbances or even social unrest. Galiani' s reaction is the same as that of the lieutenant general of police, Sartine. A second set suggests and interpretation of Galiani' s political stance in the light of the historical experience on which they were probably based, namely events in England. English popular protest movements under the slogan "Wilkes and liberty" seemed to prove that fair prices and free trade in corn lead to political democracy, by shifting the balance of property and thus of power towards the freeholder class. The evolution of English society showed that a policy encouraging the free export of corn led to a danger of the entire political system being overthrown.

The International Effects of U.S. Farm Subsidies

AbstractUsing dynamic programming, this paper examines effects of farm subsidies on U.S. exports of corn, cotton, rice, and wheat. The six policy simulations described here explore alternative proposals in the current round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. The analysis leads to two conclusions. First, abolishing domestic subsidies lowers world prices of these crops. Second, imposing tighter supply controls may not actually decrease exports in the short run.

Adam Smith's Theory of Value and Distribution: A Reappraisal

Part 1: contemporary interpretations of Smith the approach to interpretation outline of the argument. Part 2 Theories of value and distribution: classical or surplus neoclassical analytical themes in the study of Smith. Part 3 Surplus: surplus and accumulation annual produce in the Wealth of Nations gross and net revenue a surplus theory of the non-wage share? Part 4 Competition: natural and the uniform rate of profit features of Smithian competition competition and of and the concept of a capitalist economic system. Part 5 The measure of value: Smith's labour command measure Smith's key assumptions the operation of the measure contrast with existing interpretations further evidence of Smith's intentions. Part 6 Value and distribution: the component parts of price distribution assessment taxes the corn export bounty observations on actual changes Appendix - Absence of reduction of means of to labour in Smith's work. Part 7 Ricardo's development of Smith's theory: the new of profits assumptions and their consequences the relation of wage changes to prices value and riches and demand. Part 8 Marx on Smith: Marx's two streams proposition? Smith as a surplus theorist the labour of value labour command the resolution of into wages, profit and rent assessment. Part 9 Smith as general equilibrium theorist: Hollander's argument in outline a supply and demand explanation of value distribution formal analysis and practical applications a theorist of resource allocation determined by factor endowments. Part 10 Smith as cost of production theorist: cost of interpretations Dobb's two streams proposition Ricardo's criticism of Smith's the cost of tradition Smith's contribution to surplus Dobb and Schumpeter - a clarification. Part 11 Smith and the surplus Smith and the neoclassical theory.

European Community Enlargement: Impact on U.S. Corn and Soybean Exports

AbstractThis paper utilizes the framework of an Armington model to analyze the impact of the European Community enlargement on U.S. corn and soybean exports. Results indicate that the enlargement has a significant and negative impact on U.S. corn exports to the new EC members. Increases in U.S. soybean exports are much smaller in volume terms. Declines in U.S. corn export prices outweigh the insignificant increases in U.S. soybean export prices and therefore accentuate U.S. losses. However, the U.S.‐EC agreement on their enlargement dispute cut net losses of U.S. corn and soybean exports to Spain and Portugal by about a third.

The Demand and Supply of U.S. Agricultural Exports: The Case of Wheat, Corn, and Soybeans

AbstractThe demand for and supply of U.S. wheat, corn, and soybean exports is specified in a dynamic framework. Obtained results indicate differences in the export behavior of each product. U.S. corn exports are elastic, while U.S. soybean exports exhibit an inelastic response. For wheat, the derived elasticity of export demand had a positive sign. Hypothesis testing validated the dynamic structure of the estimated models in all markets. Stability properties were confirmed in export markets of corn and soybeans, but results were inconclusive for the wheat market. Adjustment coefficients indicate that exports and export prices do not adjust immediately to their equilibrium levels. Multiplier impacts indicate a stable path of convergence for all markets, with minimal impact of exogenous shocks on wheat and corn exports and export prices. Soybean export prices exhibit a significant response to changes in domestic export capacity, but minimal response to other exogenous shocks.

JAMES ANDERSON'S POLITICAL ECONOMY–HIS INFLUENCE ON SMITH AND MALTHUS*

James Anderson's powerful critique of Adam Smith's position on the corn export bounty was published in 1777. It focuse d on Smith's proposition that the bounty could not lead to increased corn production because it could not increase corn's real price. Smit h's response to the critique is traced in later editions of Wealth of Nations. While Anderson's critique of Smith influenced Thomas Malthu s's writings from 1803 onwards, his theory of differential rent did n ot influence Malthus at this stage. An examination of the evolution o f Malthus's ideas on rent between 1803 and 1815, however, indicates t hat Malthus knew and used Anderson's work on rent. Copyright 1987 by Scottish Economic Society.

An examination of the impact of real exchange rates on U.S. exports of agricultural commodities

Granger causality tests were used to examine the relationship between U.S. agricultural commodity exports to designated regions and commodity-specific trade-weighted regional inflation adjusted exchange rates for the years 1968-84. Commodities examined were corn, wheat, soybeans, and rice. Importing regions were: Japan, Middle Income Asia, Western Europe, Latin America, and Canada. Various lag structures were employed yielding different results. A strong relation running from exchange rate to exports was found for soybeans, while corn exports were found to be insensitive to exchange rate movements. The sensitivity of rice and wheat exports varied among regions. Exports to Western Europe and Middle Income Asia exhibited the strongest causal relationship with exchange rates, while exports to Latin America exhibited the weakest. Lagging exchange rates two and three periods yielded a far stronger relationship with exports than a one period lag. For policy purposes, this indicates commodity exports respond to exchange rate changes with a two or three year lag.

Two alternative methods of removing price supports: Implications to the U.S. corn and livestock industries

A U.S.-Nebraska linked quarterly econometric model is used to examine impacts on the corn, beef, and hog industries from immediate and gradual removal of price supports. The results indicate that the agricultural sector is more adversely affected from removal of price supports gradually than expeditiously. Also, the gradual adjustment approach produces greater cyclical movements in prices and quantities. Corn exports are not greatly affected under either market adjustment process.

The Competitive Position of Southern Commodities in International Markets: A Synopsis

International markets have been important to Southern agriculture since the 17th century. During that early period, the colonization of the South was primarily oriented to the production of such crops as rice, tobacco, forest products, and cotton for export to Europe (McPherson and Langham). In more recent times, the South has also been an important source of exports of wheat, corn, and soybeans.