This study analyses the effect of international factors on the South African agricultural market and prices through a case study of the wheat industry. Firstly, a review of the international wheat market is given with the accent on support to wheat industries elsewhere in the world and the effects of support on world prices, domestic prices and production. This is followed by an explanation of the implications of GAIT and specifically trade liberalisation on South African agricultural prices, especially that of wheat. Results show that the average world prices of agricultural commodities in general will increase by 22 per cent if industrial countries discontinue all support to agricultural producers. This also represents the distortion effect of these measures.