International commodity agreements on a number of principal products ? - It is true that economists could have displayed more foresight in recent years. From the point of view of the individual farmer, however, total predictability - such as complete market transparency for instance - would not be entirely desirable. Nevertheless farmers do demand from an agricultural policy that it should ensure them minimum prices for their main products which will provide at least a basis for their forward budgeting. This absence of minimum price guaranteed to the farmer himself is an aspect of the EEC's common policy for beef which is particularly open to criticism. Unfortunately it is evident that, generally speaking, decisions taken within the framework of the CAP are not always the consequence of forethought on the part of the Commission or even of national ministries, but depend rather on political compromises arrived at within the Council of Ministers. As far as the future is concerned, international commodity agreements on a number of principal products constitute a possible means whereby the effects of unpredictability can be somewhat mitigated.
