35-60

• Trofimov, I.

This paper examines the timing of international trade policy reforms, specifically in the agricultural policy domain. We argue that the readiness for change is present when sufficient number of actors values alternative policies, and when actors have little choice, but to implement change. Negotiation of new policies also becomes possible if analytical instruments allow measurement of policy failures and comparison of policy alternatives. We demonstrate that decision to initiate talks over new, more liberal trade rules in the GATT Uruguay Round (1986-1994) was due to the gradual adoption of new visions of agricultural regulation in the USA and the EC, escalating trade tensions between these economies, and active involvement of expert community in the creation of analytical instruments.

• Economics and Business

• Economics

reform timing, international trade policy, GATT, framing, agenda setting, readiness for change, analytical instruments

JEL Classification: F13; F51; N70; P1; Q17.

1. Andreosso-O’Callaghan, B. (2003). The economics of European agriculture. New York: Palgrave MacMillan. Barbero, G., Bergmann, D., Bublot, G., Koester, U., Larsen, A., Marsh, J., Ritson, C., Sarris, A., Tangermann, S., and Tarditi, S. (1984). ‘The Siena memorandum on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.’ European Review of Agricultural Economics, 11 (2), pp. 255-259.Bauer, R., Sola Pool De, I., and Dexter, L. A. (2007). American business and public policy: the politics of foreign trade. (2nd ed.). New York: Transaction Publishing.Baumgartner, F. R., and Jones, B. D. (1993). Agendas and instability in American politics. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.Bergsten, C. F. (1996). ‘Globalizing free trade’. Foreign Affairs, 75 (3), pp. 105-120. Cohen, M., March, J., Olsen, J. (1972). ‘A garbage can model of organizational choice’. Administrative Science Quarterly, 17, pp. 1-25.Commission of the European Communities. (1981). Mandate of 30 May 1980: Guidelines for European Agriculture. COM(81) 608, 23 October.Commission of the European Communities. (1985). Perspectives for the Common Agricultural Policy. COM (85) 333, 15 July.Commission of the European Communities. (1988a). The future of rural society.COM(88) 501, 28 July.Commission of the European Communities. (1988b). Environment and agriculture. COM(88) 388, 8 June.Corbet, H., and Van Riemsdijk, J. F. (1973). ‘Wageningen memorandum on the reform of the European Community’s Common Agricultural Policy’. European Review of Agricultural Economics, 1 (2), pp. 151-160.Corden, W. M. (1974). Trade policy and economic welfare. Oxford: Clarendon Press.European Parliament. (1986). Zahorka report. Brussels, Document No. A2-87/86.European Review of Agricultural Economics, 1984, 11 (2), Special Issue.Frey, B. S. (1984). ‘The public choice view of international political economy’. International Organization, 38 (1), pp. 209-214.Gallarotti, G. (1985). ‘Toward a business cycle model of tariffs’. InternationalOrganization, 39, pp. 155-187.GATT. (1982). Thirty-eight session at ministerial level ministerial declaration. Geneva: GATT, opening section, p. 7(v).Gourevitch, P. (1986). Politics in hard times: comparative responses to international economic crises. Ithaka: Cornell University Press.Haberler, G. (ed.) (1958). Trends in international trade: a report by a panel ofexperts. Geneva: GATT.Hathaway, D. E. (1987). Agriculture and the GATT: rewriting the rules. Washington: Institute for International Economics.Hawkins, D., Lake, D., Nielson, D., and Tierney M. (2006). Delegation and agency in international organizations. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Hiscox, M. J. (2002). International trade and political conflict. Princeton: Princeton University Press.Hudec, R. E. (1988). Legal issues in US-EEC trade policy: GATT litigation 1960-1985. In Baldwin, R. E. (ed.) Issues in US-EC trade relations. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Josling, T. E. (1975). Agricultural protection and stabilization policies: aframework of measurement in the context of agricultural adjustment. FAO, Document No. C75/LIM/2.Katzenstein, P. J. (1978). Between power and plenty: foreign economic policiesof advanced Industrial states. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.Kemp, M. C. (1972). ‘The gain from international trade’. The Economic Journal,72, pp. 803-819.Kindleberger, C. (1975). ‘The rise of free trade in Western Europe’. Journal ofEconomic History, 35 (1), pp. 20-55.Kingdon, J. W. (2003). Agendas, alternatives, and public policies. New York: Harper Collins Publishers.Kirzner, I. M. (1973). Competition and entrepreneurship. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.Kirzner, I. M. (1997). ‘Entrepreneurial discovery and the competitive market process: an Austrian approach’. Journal of Economic Literature, 35, pp. 60-85.Koester, U., and Tangermann, S. (1977). ‘Supplementary farm price policy bydirect income payments’. European Review of Agricultural Economics, 13, pp. 7-31.Koester, U. (1984). ‘The role of the CAP in the process of European integration’. European Review of Agricultural Economics, 11 (2), pp. 129-140.Legg, W. (2003). ‘Agricultural subsidies: measurement and use in policy evaluation. Presidential address’. Journal of Agricultural Economics, Vol. 54,No. 3, pp. 175-201.Marcia, G., and Hanrahan, C. E. (1984). Agricultural trade policy issues in the eighties, current research, and long-term forecasting. IATRC Proceedings Issue, May.Milner, H. V. (1999). ‘The political economy of international trade’. Annual Review of Political Science, 2, pp. 91-114.Mintzberg, H., Raisinghani, D., and Theoret, A. (1976). ‘The structure of “unstructured” decision processes’. Administrative Science Quarterly, 21, pp. 246-274.Moser, P. (1989). ‘Toward an open world order: a constitutional economics approach’. Cato Journal, 9 (1), pp. 133-147.OECD. (1982). Problems of agricultural trade. Paris: OECD Publishing. Paarlberg, R. L. (1997). ‘Agricultural policy reform and the Uruguay Round: synergistic linkage in a two-level game?’ International Organization, 51, pp. 413-444. v Vernon, R., Spar, D., and Tobin, G. (1991). Iron triangles and revolving doors: cases in US foreign economic policymaking. New York: Praeger.Wiener, B. (2009). ‘A theory of organizational readiness for change’. Implementation Science, 4 (67).Wiener, J. (1995). Making rules in the Uruguay Round of the GATT: a study of international leadership. Brookfield: Dartmouth University Press. World Bank. (1986). World development report. Washington: World Bank.