Competition between the U.S. and West Africa in International Cotton Trade: A Focus on Import Demand in China

We estimate the demand for imported cotton in China and assess the competitiveness of cotton-exporting countries. Given the assertion that African cotton producers are ill affected by U.S. cotton subsidies, our focus is the price competition between the C4 countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali) and United States in China. Demand estimates are used to project how U.S. prices affect China’s imports by country. In comparing demand projections, results show that the relationship between the United States and the C4 has more to do with how U.S. prices can affect global prices rather than any substitute or competitive relationship in the Chinese market.Africa, China, cotton, demand, imports, United States, Demand and Price Analysis, International Relations/Trade, F17, Q11, Q17,

The United States and World Cotton Outlook

Crop Production/Industries,

THE UNITED STATES AND WORLD COTTON OUTLOOK

Crop Production/Industries,

Implications of food aid and remittances for West African food import demand

The influence of food aid and remittances on West African food import demand is evaluated using a Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) model. Our results show that imports of oilseeds and the rest of the agricultural products category are highly price elastic, and that fruit and vegetables and dairy products are least responsive to price changes. Food aid did not influence West African food imports, but remittances were found to be statistically significant in determining food imports. The influence of remittances was particularly prominent in oilseed import demand

Policy Responses to 2008 High Food Prices: Domestic Incentives and Global Implications

Global food commodity price inflation beginning in 2006 and continuing through mid-2008 became a priority concern for global consumers, producers and policy-makers alike. In response, many governments across the world implemented policies targeting high food commodity prices in their domestic markets. These policy responses were concentrated in lower income countries and primarily targeted rice and wheat. The 2007-08 policy responses across countries included liberalized import tariffs, export restrictions and increased domestic support for both consumers and producers. We develop a case study of 15 major global trading, lower-income countries’ policy responses . The analysis addressed the following questions: a) What policy responses did major global traders with relatively large domestic food commodity price vulnerabilities choose?; b) What are the expected short-term and potential longer-term market impacts of these policies?; c) What domestic incentives exist for the selected countries’ policy choices?; and d) Did the response policies work? History may repeat itself in the face of future global price surges unless sufficient feedback is received from trading partners. Looking at India’s and Vietnam’s experience, it appears that short-term goals associated with the rice export bans were achieved, both in terms of perceived mitigation of domestic prices and political objectives. Without tangible consequences, market disrupting policies could be expected in the future if the domestic incentives within relevant countries persist.high food prices, trade policy, agriculture, political economy, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Crop Production/Industries, International Development, International Relations/Trade, Political Economy,

Policy Responses to 2008 High Food Prices: Domestic Incentives and Global Implications

Global food commodity price inflation beginning in 2006 and continuing through mid-2008 became a priority concern for global consumers, producers and policy-makers alike. In response, many governments across the world implemented policies targeting high food commodity prices in their domestic markets. These policy responses were concentrated in lower income countries and primarily targeted rice and wheat. The 2007-08 policy responses across countries included liberalized import tariffs, export restrictions and increased domestic support for both consumers and producers. We develop a case study of 15 major global trading, lower-income countries’ policy responses . The analysis addressed the following questions: a) What policy responses did major global traders with relatively large domestic food commodity price vulnerabilities choose?; b) What are the expected short-term and potential longer-term market impacts of these policies?; c) What domestic incentives exist for the selected countries’ policy choices?; and d) Did the response policies work? History may repeat itself in the face of future global price surges unless sufficient feedback is received from trading partners. Looking at India’s and Vietnam’s experience, it appears that short-term goals associated with the rice export bans were achieved, both in terms of perceived mitigation of domestic prices and political objectives. Without tangible consequences, market disrupting policies could be expected in the future if the domestic incentives within relevant countries persist

Competition between the U.S. and West Africa in International Cotton Trade: A Focus on Import Demand in China

We estimate the demand for imported cotton in China and assess the competitiveness of cotton-exporting countries. Given the assertion that African cotton producers are ill affected by U.S. cotton subsidies, our focus is the price competition between the C4 countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali) and United States in China. Demand estimates are used to project how U.S. prices affect China’s imports by country. In comparing demand projections, results show that the relationship between the United States and the C4 has more to do with how U.S. prices can affect global prices rather than any substitute or competitive relationship in the Chinese market

Do U.S. Cotton Subsidies Affect Competing Exporters? An Analysis of Import Demand in China

We estimate the demand for imported cotton in China and assess the competitiveness of cotton-exporting countries. Given the assertion that developing countries are negatively affected by U.S. cotton subsidies, our focus is the price competition between the United States and competing exporters (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, India, and Uzbekistan). We further project how U.S. programs affect China’s imports by country. Results indicate that if U.S. subsidies make other exporting countries worse off, this effect is lessened when global prices respond accordingly. If subsidies are eliminated, China’s cotton imports may not fully recover from the temporary spike in global prices