Agricultural Policies in OECD Countries: At a Glance - 2004 Edition
The agricultural sector in many OECD countries continues to be characterised by high levels of support and protection. Support to agricultural producers accounted for 32% of total farm receipts -- a slight increase from 2002, but down from 37% from the late 1980s.Progress in reducing the level of market price support and outpayments is notable with the share of the most production and trade distorting forms of support continuing to decline from over 90% in the late 1980s to 75% in 2003. But this is still too large a share that it continues to distort production and impedes the trade of agricultural commodities on the world market. Agricultural policies continue to impose unnecessary costs on domestic consumers and taxpayers, penalise competitive suppliers, including those in developing countries and put a strain on the environment.
Long abstract
