Import tariffs and price formation in the world wheat market
1979
Carter, C. | Schmitz, A.
Extract: It is well known that the major importers are restricting trade in wheat. This paper suggests that the restrictive policies of the importers (whether consciously or not) are likely to result in a welfare gain to importing nations greater than that under free trade. This suggests that perhaps importing countries are using tariffs in an optimal sense (where all sectors of society are taken into account) rather than merely using them to protect domestic producers from low-priced competitive imports. This is not to argue that a duopoly or triopoly structure does not exist among the United States, Canada, and Australia but rather that the effect of such arrangements is minor relative to the buying power exerted by importers. Although this paper focuses on the world wheat market, the framework of analysis has application to other agricultural markets as well.
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