1 - Introduction

Summary

This chapter outlines the book’s evaluation of experience and prospects for future guidance through the WTO toward socially desirable domestic support policies and constraints on those that distort agricultural trade. The analysis addresses seven areas, including description of the rules of the Agreement on Agriculture applying to developed and developing members, the evolution of support (China and India recently among large-support members) and across policies (shift toward exempted measures with minimal distorting effects), and the difficult interface between economic and legal analysis (measurement of market price support (MPS) and exemption of some distorting support). Transparency and ongoing negotiations are apprised and key disputes about domestic support are summarized, including through members’ obligations in the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. Policy space to address 21^st century non-trade priorities, prominently sustainability and climate change mitigation, is assessed. The book is designed to build a foundation for meaningful and feasible future reforms.