International Agricultural Trade
Overview
International agricultural trade has been described as inexplicable, exasperating, and the most distorted segment of the global economy. Nevertheless, its importance grows as production surpasses domestic demand. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) reports that the United States is the world’s largest agricultural exporter, with almost one quarter of farm cash receipts coming from export markets. International agricultural trade involves many different areas of international and domestic law, including international treaties and agreements, domestic trade laws, and general policy decisions. This overview focuses on these broad concepts in the large, intricate subject area of international agricultural trade. Read the full overview
Note: Recently added resources are posted at the top of the applicable sections.
Major Statutes
United States Statutes
States’ Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Statutes
Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 1691-1693; 1701-1708; 1721-1728(b); 1231-1738r
Uruguay Round Trade Agreements Act, 19 U.S.C. §§ 3501; 3511-3572; 3581-3592; 3601-3624
Foreign Market Development, 7 U.S.C. §§ 1761-1769
Surplus Disposal of Agricultural Commodities, 7 U.S.C. §§ 1854-1856; 1859-1860
Agricultural Trade Suspension Adjustment Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 4001-4005
Agricultural Trade Act of 1978, 7 U.S.C. §§ 5601-5607; 5621-5641; 5651-5653; 5661-5680; 5691-5695; 5711-5713; 5721-5723
Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2002 19 U.S.C. §§ 3801-3813
North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, 19 U.S.C.§§ 3301; 3331-3421; 3431-3451; 3461-3473
Tariff Act of 1930, 19 U.S.C. §§ 1202; 1301-1367; 1401-1654; 1671-1677(n); 1681-1681b
Regulations (United States)
States’ Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Statutes
Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 1691-1693; 1701-1708; 1721-1728(b); 1231-1738r
Uruguay Round Trade Agreements Act, 19 U.S.C. §§ 3501; 3511-3572; 3581-3592; 3601-3624
Agriculture-Related Provisions, 19 U.S.C. §§ 3601-3601; 3611; 3621-3624
Foreign Market Development, 7 U.S.C. §§ 1761-1769
Surplus Disposal of Agricultural Commodities, 7 U.S.C. §§ 1854-1856; 1859-1860
Agricultural Trade Suspension Adjustment Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 4001-4005
Agricultural Trade Act of 1978, 7 U.S.C. §§ 5601-5607; 5621-5641; 5651-5653; 5661-5680; 5691-5695; 5711-5713; 5721-5723
Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2002 19 U.S.C. §§ 3801-3813
North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, 19 U.S.C.§§ 3301; 3331-3421; 3431-3451; 3461-3473
Tariff Act of 1930, 19 U.S.C. §§ 1202; 1301-1367; 1401-1654; 1671-1677(n); 1681-1681b
Export Sales Reporting Requirements, 7 C.F.R. §§ 20.1-20.12
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Regulations, 7 C.F.R. Parts 300-380
Commodity Credit Corporation Regulations to Develop Foreign Markets , 7 C.F.R. Parts 1484-1485
Foreign Agriculture Service Regulations, 7 C.F.R. Parts 1520-1599
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Regulations, 9 C.F.R. Parts 1-199
Food Safety and Inspection Service Export Regulations, 9 C.F.R. §§ 322.1-322.5
Food Safety and Inspection Service Import Regulations, 9 C.F.R §§ 327.1-327.26
Federal Register Rules Open for Comment
Case Law
United States Case Law
Case Law Index for International Trade
International Case Law
UN Commission on Trade Law (UNCITRAL)
Case Law (CLOUT)
Guangdong Agriculture Co. Ltd. etc. (case 41)
Administrative Law Decisions
USDA Office of the Administrative Law Judges
USDA Office of the Judicial Officer
USDA National Appeals Division
Center published USDA Judicial Officer’s Decisions
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Rulings
U.S. International Trade Commission Investigations
Center Research Publications
Aquaculture and the Lacey Act – PowerPoint Presentation (Springsteen, 2010)
Nation-Specific Risk Tolerance in the WTO: US-Continued Suspension of Obligations in the EC-Hormones Dispute (Peck, 2009)
International Legal Issues Concerning Animal Cloning and Nanotechnology — More of the Same or Are “The Times They Are A-Changin'”? (Roberts, 2008)
Private Standards in the Global Food Sector: Relationship to WTO Agreements – PowerPoint Presentation (Roberts, 2008)
Introduction to Food Law in the People’s Republic of China (Roberts, 2007)
A Comparison of International Animal Identification Programs (Pendergrass, 2007)
Summary of the WTO Interim Report in EC-Biotech (Peck, 2006)
From the Farm to the Factory: An Overview of the American and European Approaches to Regulation of the Beef Industry (Houston, 2006)
World Trade Organization and the Commodity Title of the Next Farm Bill: A Practioner’s View (O’Brien, 2006)
Congressional Research Service Reports (United States)
Reports– published and made available by CRS beginning in 2017
Subjects- published by CRS and made available by NALC until 2018:
Trade – Agreements
Trade – Disputes
Trade – Miscellaneous
Trade – Sanctions
Agricultural Law Bibliography
Introduction | Keyword Search | Browse Categories
Legal publications on International Trade:
Alien Land Ownership (Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land)
Farm Policy and Legislative Analysis
International Trade
Reference Resources
United States Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS)
Import and Export
Permits and Certification
International Animal Export Regulations
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service
Regulations and Requirements
Tracking Regulatory Changes of WTO Members
Programs
Data and Analysis
Newsroom
Countries and Regions
Trade Policy
World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB)
Economic Research Service (ERS)
International Markets and Trade
Countries and Regions
Food Safety and International Markets
New Directions in Global Food Markets
Global Food Security
Macroeconomics and Agriculture
Trade Policy and World Trade Organization
Macroeconomics and Agriculture
U.S. Agricultural Trade
Publications: International Markets and Trade
Data Products: International Markets and Trade
Reports:
Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade
U.S. Agricultural Trade Update
International Agriculture and Trade Situation and Outlook Reports
Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Agriculture Programs Protecting Agriculture
Publications: Trade
Informed Compliance Publications
Bringing Agricultural Products into the U.S.
Summary of Laws Enforced
Commodities Subject to Import Quotas
Agribusiness
U.S. Free Trade Agreements
The USA National Report on Agriculture, Rural Development, Land, Drought, Desertification and Africa (2008)
Agricultural Policy
Agricultural Trade
Trade Policy and Negotiations
Trade Agreements
Agricultural Trade
International Claims and Investment Disputes
Trade and Environmental Protection
Country Reports on Economic Policy
U..S. government Agencies Agencies Dedicated to International Business and Development
Agriculture Sector
Enforcement
Trade Agreements
Trade Toolbox
Trade Agreements in US Agriculture
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
NAFTA Dispute Resolution
Index of NAFTA Agriculture Cases
The Central America-Dominican Republic-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR)
Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA)
Australia Trade Agreement
Bahrain Trade Agreement
Chile Trade Agreement
Colombia Trade Agreement
Israel Trade Agreement
Jordan Trade Agreement
Korea Trade Agreement
Morocco Trade Agreement
Oman Trade Agreement
Panama Trade Agreement
Peru Trade Agreement
Singapore Trade Agreement
Congressional Resources
Reports on International Agricultural Trade (Government Accountability Office)
Other Federal Resources
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
National Organic Program: International Trade Partners (AMS)
International Activities Related to Pesticides (EPA)
U.S. Court of International Trade
Agriculture & Food Security (USAID)
U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA)
Geographical Indications in U.S.-EU Trade Negotiations (CRS In Focus Summary)
The WTO Brazil-U.S. Cotton Case (CRS In Focus Summary)
Revisiting U.S.-Mexico Sugar Agreements (CRS In Focus Summary)
International Trade Data System
International Trade Administration
International Resources
World Trade Organization (WTO)
Agreements
Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, 1994
The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT 1947)
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994
Agreement on Agriculture
Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures
Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)
WTO in Agriculture
Agriculture
Negotiations, Implementation and Development: The Doha Agenda
Agriculture Negotiations
Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration
Agricultural Trade Statistics
WTO Disputes
Index of WTO Agricultural Cases: Disputes by Agreement
WTO Dispute Cases Organized by Subject
WTO Chronological List of All Dispute Cases
General overview of active WTO Dispute Settlement Cases
Cases Launched by EU
Complaints Against EU
EU as Third Party
WTO Resources
Index of Dispute Issues
World Trade Organization Library
WTO Documents and Resources
WTO Documents Online (1995- )
GATT Digital Library (1947-1994, Stanford U. Library)
Gatt Documents (1946-2000, WTO)
Trade-Related Ministries of WTO Members and Observers
International Intergovernmental Organizations Granted Observer Status to WTO Bodies Trade-Related Multilateral Governmental Organizations
Regional Trade Agreements
Databases on Trade Law
Trade Law Resources
Economic Research and Analysis
WTO Legal Texts
WTO Trade and Tariff Data
WTO Publications
Trade Agreements of International Regional Organizations
EU Trade-Related Agreements
Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
Framework for Advancing Transatlantic Economic Integration Between the USA and the EU, 30 April 2007 AU Trade-Related Agreements
Abuja Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Trade-Related Agreements
CARICOM Agreements (Caribbean Community and Common Market)
The Dickenson Bay Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Trade Association (1966)
Treaty Establishing the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas establishing the Caribbean Community including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy
Protocol V: Agricultural Policy
MERCOSUR (Southern Common Market)
Treaty Establishing a Common Market Between the Argentine Republic, the Federal Republic of Brazil, the Republic of Paraguay and the Eastern Republic of Uruguay
FTAA Founding Documents
Third Draft FTAA Agreement, Nov. 3, 2003
Negotiating Group on Agriculture
Hemisphere Trade and Tariff Data Base
Middle East Free Trade Area Initiative (MEFTA)
APEC 2007 Leaders’ Declaration
APEC 1994 Leaders’ Declaration
Listing of Other Bilateral and Regional Trade Agreements
Autonomous International Instruments
UNCITROL Endorsed Instruments
Incoterms 2010
European Union Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP)
GSP Regulation No. 980/2005
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Reports on the State of Agricultural Commodity Markets (2015-2016)
United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)
Bibliography of Recent Writings Related to the Work of UNCITRAL
Online Resources and Webcasts
Library and Research Resources
Publications
Working Groups Documents
UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTD)
Trade and development aspects of insurance services and regulatory frameworks (UNCTAD/DITC/TNCD/2007/4), 01/12/07
Developing Countries in International Trade 2007: Trade and Development Index (UNCTAD/DITC/TAB/2007/2), 01/10/07
UNCTAD BioTrade Initiative BioTrade Principles and Criteria (UNCTAD/DITC/TED/2007/4), 01/09/07
Malawi and the Multilateral Trading System: The Impact of WTO Agreements, Negotiations and Implementation (UNCTAD/DITC/TNCD/2005/18), 01/11/06
Documents
International Commercial Arbitration & Reconciliation
Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards-the “New York” Convention of 1958 International Sale of Goods (CISG)
United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) of 1980
Convention on the Limitation Period in the International Sale of Goods of 1974
Security Interests
The UNCITRAL Convention on the Assignment of the Receivables in the International Trade of 2001
International Payments
United Nations Convention on Independent Guarantees and Stand-by Letters of Credit of 1995
United Nations Convention on International Bills of Exchange and International Promissory Notes of 1988
International Transport of Goods
United Nations Convention on the Liability of Operators of Transport Terminals in International Trade of 1991
United Nations Convention on the Carriage of Goods by Sea-the “Hamburg Rules” of 1978 Electronic Commerce
United Nations Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts of 2005
Consumer Protection Resolution Adopted by the General Assembly on 22 December 2015 (70/186)
United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea (A/163/438)
EU Agriculture
Summaries of EU Legislation on Agriculture
Agricultural Markets (European Commission)
Delegation of the European Union to the United States: Agriculture Policy
Delegation of the European Union to the United States: Public Health & Consumer Protection
European Union Legal Materials: An Infrequent User’s Guide (Duncan Alford)
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
ICC Commercial Law and Practice
ICC Trade and Investment
International Chamber of Commerce
International Chamber of Commerce: Commercial Law and Practice
International Chamber of Commerce: Trade and Investment
International Chamber of Commerce Dispute Resolution Services
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Digital Library
ICC Document Archive
ICC World Chambers Federation
Sustainable Agriculture Contributions by the Private Sector (2008)
Agriculture & Fisheries
International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
OECD Agriculture and Fisheries
Trade
Documents & Reports on Agricultural Trade
Agricultural Trade
Agriculture in the Doha Agenda (Messerlin, World Bank, 2003)
Additional Resources
Basic Info and Online Sources for NAFTA and CAFTA Research (Avalos and Garmon)
International Trade Posts (Ag & Food Law Blog)
International Food and Agricultural Trade Policy Council
International Trade Law (World Legal Information Institute)
International Trade Law (Legal Information Institute – Cornell)
WTO Trade and Labor Issues (Cornell U.)
International Economic Law (ASIL)
Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) Database (Pace U. School of Law)
Lex Mercatoria International Trade Law
Revised Guide to International Trade Law sources on the Internet (LLRX)
WTO/GATT Research (LLRX)
WorldTradeLaw.net’s Trade Law Library
White & Case Publications on International Trade
International Agricultural Trade Research Consortium
The German Marshall Fund of the United States
National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade
International Trade Regulation of Agricultural Products (Infography,com)
Glossaries:
Glossary of Customs Terms (Automated System for Customs Data)
FAO – Definitions and Standards
WTO Glossary
EU External Trade Glossary
ERS/USDA Data – Agricultural Trade Multipliers: Glossary
Glossary – Trade Resource Center
Glossary of Terms Relating to Agricultural Trade (Agritrade)
Glossary of Trade & Shipping Terms
Glossary of International Trade (Federation of International Trade Ass’n.)
Defra, U.K.-Animal Health and Welfare-International Trade-Glossary
Glossary of Trade Terms (U.S. State Rep.)
Publications
GMO Litigation (Laney, 2016)
The Center for International Environmental Law: Trade publications
Should the Green Box Be Modified? (International Food & Agricultural Trade Policy Council, 2007)
The Limits of American Generosity (Bhala, 2006)
U.S. Agricultural Export Credits after the WTO Cotton Ruling: The Law of Unintended Consequences (Benitah, 2005)
International Trade in Ag Products: A Research Guide (Peoples, OK City U., 2004)
International Agricultural Trade Disputes: Case Studies in North America (Schmitz et al., 2003)
Right to Food Principles Vis a Vis Rules Governing International Trade (Gray, 2003)
Food Aid and Commercial International Food Trade (Barrett, 2002)
Structural Change as a Source of Trade Disputes Under NAFTA (Loyns et al., Agricultural and Food Policy Systems Information Workshop, 2002)
The Appellate Body Rulings in the Shrimp/Turtle Case: A New Legal Baseline for the Trade and Environment Debate (Howse, 2002)
Europe’s Evolving Regulatory Strategy for GMOs – The Issue of Consistency with WTO Law: Of Kine and Brine (Howse & Mavroidis, 2000)
Competition Policy and International Agricultural Trade (MacLaren & Josling)
The Role of Trade in Structural Transformation (Marc Teignier, 2017)
Groundwater Depletion embedded in International Food Grade (Dalin, Wada, Kastner, Puma, 2017)
Biotechnology, the Environment, and International Agricultural Trade (Barton, 2017)
Do Markets and Trade Help or Hurt the Global Food System Adapt to Climate Change? (Brown, et al., 2017)
Reducing Transatlantic Barriers on U.S.-EU Agri-food Trade: What are the Possible Gains? (Arita, Beckman, Mitchell, 2017)
Market Approval of Phytosanitary Active substances in Europe: an empirical Duration analysis (Aka, 2017)
Structural Transformation of the Agricultural Sector: A Primer (Divanbeigi, Paustian, Loayza, 2016)