After the Second World War the GATT has contributed much to facilitate the growth, of international trade and the rationality of economic effort. In the agricultural sector, however, exemptions and loopholes strengthened national protectionism. In there a justification for economic policy concerning agriculture to depart considerably fromths principle of comparative cost , and that oft free trade which should proceed from it ? Agriculture in an expanding industrial economy labours under, several major handicaps. The rapid progress in technology is a disadvantage. Farmers have largely come to depend on their, gouvernments. The price system alone connot lead to an optimal allocation of resources. The author then rapidly examines the particular situation of , agriculture in the Kennedy Round. How will it be possible to establish a peaceful coexistence between an inevitable protection of agriculture and a reasonable volume of : agricultural trade ?
