AGAINST-THE-GRAIN - AGRICULTURAL TRADE POLICIES OF THE UNITED-STATES, THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND JAPAN AT THE GATT

US, European Community and Japanese agricultural trade policies are examined from an institutional framework, which positions the state at the center of analysis, as mediator of the global economy and domestic politics. Mv argument is that there is a similarity between the farm trade policies of many industrial states. Evidence from traditional measures of openness such as tariffs and non-tariff barriers, as well as producer subsidies paid to farmers supports this reasoning. In addition to strong state involvement in the agricultural arena, the persistence of the 'agrarian myth' and similarities in the institutional policy process are found across states. The conclusion drawn is that the role of the state is very important in agricultural policy-making, and it is premature to discuss a transnational state in the agricultural arena.