Agricultural trade relations between the EEC and temperate food exporting countries Starting out from a short account of the development of EC negotiating positions in international talks about agricultural trade which is thought to provide some historical background, it will be argued here that : — there are more considerations to be taken into account in agricultural trade than those on which the pure philosophy of free trade is based ; — even if this broader view is adopted, EC agricultural trade policy looks overly protectionist ; — apart from the general protectionist nature of EC farm and trade policy there are some practices in the CAP which are particularly harmful ; — this causes not only economic costs in the agricultural sector but also political and economic costs in other areas; — there are specific political constellations in the EC which aggravate trade problems ; — there is room for more international cooperation which the EC could use without violating vital interests of the Community ; — the trading partners of the Community could adopt measures which would enhance the chances for more liberal policies of the EC.
