Richard R. Barichello

Options for the Reform of Supply Management in Canada with Trade Liberalization

À la suite des négociations commerciales multilatérales du Cycle d’Uruguay (1986–1994), le Canada a remplacé ses quotas d’importation de produits sensibles par des quotas tarifaires. Cette mesure a effectivement permis de stopper les importations dépassant les quotas, et devrait également continuer de prévenir l’importation de la plupart des produits à offre réglementée après le succès des négociations commerciales du Programme de Doha pour le développement. Toutefois, dans cet article, nous avançons que la réduction des tarifs pendant la période post-Doha limitera sévèrement la capacité du Canada de restreindre les importations, et qu’il est donc important de saisir cette occasion pour mieux positionner les industries offrant des produits à offre réglementée pour leur permettre d’être concurrentielles. Nous présentons également un certain nombre de réformes qui pourraient contribuer à l’atteinte de cet objectif.

A review of tariff rate quota administration in Canadian agriculture.

To analyze Canadas Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) administration, a model of efficient quota administration is put forward. After examining the operation of the Canadian TRQ system for its twenty-one TRQs, conclusions are drawn. In general this system has worked well in Canada. The quotas are almost all filled, and the administration is transparent and not costly for quota-holders to use. Among the international lessons from Canadas experience are that few WTO rules may be needed in this area, aside from steps to ensure the TRQ is fully available to users and can be freely transferred among them.

International trade and world food security : The role of developed countries since the World Food Conference

Abstract No mechanism is in place for the international coordination of grain stocks. World market stability is largely dependent upon the actions of major grain trading countries. These countries have avoided the exportation of their domestic supply variations onto world markets over the past decade, but have been reluctant to allow domestic consumption to respond to world shortages and surpluses. Improvement in the sensitivity of domestic storage and consumption to world conditions could increase their contribution to world food security.

Research program development and goal hierarchies: An application to IRRI

Abstract Attention has been focused recently on improvements in research allocation to maintain productivity gains from research expenditure and undertake programs of greater social relevance. This paper addresses the latter objective in research project selection and proposes a framework for so doing. This framework makes use of a goal hierarchy and its applicability is shown by considering research thrusts at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). The set of goals used are those that apply to the Philippine agricultural sector. Two main conclusions can be drawn. First, it appears both feasible and attractive to consider demand side factors in institute level selection of research programs, as well as in national research funding allocations. This can be facilitated by a systematic listing and ranking of goals in a familiar goal hierarchy. Secondly, one can meaningfully interpret IRRI research work and changes in research direction in the context of these goal hierarchies.