The problem

The efficiency of international trade negotiations and their effectiveness in meeting objectives is rarely clear. This is because there are so many different factors and complex interactions at play that how things are likely to evolve over time is often hard to pin down. There is a pressing need to provide objective assessments and improved information on the efficiency, degree of openness and effects on developing countries of ongoing EU agricultural negotiations. This would involve simulating the effects of future agreements on trade, welfare and European agricultural policy.

Overview:

TRADEAG will develop two large-scale numerical models for assessing future EU-third country trade agreements, including their effects on intra-EU trade and the Common Agricultural Policy. The project will integrate the currently disconnected research on multilateral and regional trade agreements and analyse the effects of the various agreements and their interactions.

Contribution to policy development:

• TRADEAG briefing notes, short issue papers and informal workshops will help inform the policy-making process on a wide range of agri-trade negotiation issues.
• The project will help policy-makers to understand more fully the implications of trade flows, preferences and tariffs on both EU Member States and third-country partners.
• Modelling simulations will provide policy-makers with better forecasts of the potential effects of various trade options during negotiations.

Project deliverables

• Project Handbook – November 2005
• Report: partial equilibrium and regional models – April 2006
• Annual report – April 2006/2007
• Database on tariffs and trade – October 2006
• AGE model on international trade – January 2007
• AGE model on European agriculture – April 2007
• Reports: openness of agriculture and food markets – August 2007; assessment of trade agreements – October 2007; policy reforms and future agreements – February 2008
• Final report – April 2009

Dissemination

• Operational website containing all project material – August 2005
• Workshops to discuss progress and present results to policy-makers and other stakeholders – ongoing
• Project participants will present findings to international workshops and conferences as opportunities permit.
• Significant results will be submitted for publication in international peer-reviewed academic journals and non-technical summaries prepared for the popular and trade press.

Technical information

Project acronym: TRADEAG
Project’s official full title: Agricultural Trade Agreements
Research priority: 1.1. Modernisation and sustainability of agriculture and forestry, including their multifunctional role in order to ensure the sustainable development and promotion of rural areas
Specific webpage: Details not yet available
Proposal/contract no: 513666
Start date: 1 April 2005
Kick off meeting: April 2005
Completion date: April 2008
European Commission scientific officer: Hans-Jorg Lutzeyer, Hans-Joerg.Lutzeyer@ec.europa.eu

Coordinator:
Name: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique
Abbreviated name: INRA-ESR
Address: 4 allée Adolphe Bobierre
CS 61103
35011 Rennes cedex
Country: France
Tel: +33 02 23 48 53 82
Fax: +33 02 23 48 53 80
Website: www.rennes.inra.fr

Partners

Name: Association pour le Développement de l'Enseignement de Perfectionnement et de la Recherche à l'Institut National Agronomique
Abbreviated name: Adeprina
Country: France

Name: VITAMIB
Abbreviated name: VITAMIB
Country: France

Name: Università della Calabria
Abbreviated name: UNICAL  
Country: Italy

Name: Trinity College Dublin
Abbreviated name: TCD
Country: Ireland

Name: Universidad Politècnica de Valencia 
Abbreviated name: UPV
Country: Spain

Name: Centre d’Etudes Prospectives et d’Informations Internationales
Abbreviated name: CEPII
Country: Spain

Name: Pellervon taloudellisen tutkimuslaitoksen kannatusyhdistys r.y.
Abbreviated name: PTT
Country: Finland

Name: Università degli Studi del Molise
Abbreviated name: UNIMOL
Country: Italy

Name: University of Nottingham Centre for Research in Economic Development and International Trade, School of Economics
Abbreviated name: CREDIT
Country: United Kingdom

Name: Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra
Abbreviated name: SAU
Country: Slovakia

Name: Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania - CIHEAM
Abbreviated name: MAICh
Country: Greece

Name: Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon
Abbreviated name: INAP-G
Country: France