Agricultural challenges for developing countries in the face of EU protectionism: The CAP as an anti-development protectionist instrument? Case: sugar market

Abstract

The agricultural sector offers the most marked example of protectionism in the European Union. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has often been criticized for its excessively protectionist nature, the rigidity of its mechanisms, high tariff taxes, etc. This has generated discontent in several developing countries, following the disruption caused by this policy on world markets.
The WTO has held several meetings, such as the Doha Round, to reach an agreement on the total elimination of CAP subsidies and a deadline of 2013 has been set. However, even though subsidies have been reduced, disagreements between countries have not been resolved and negotiations continue to be postponed.
The impact of these subsidies on agriculture in developing countries is negative, especially on exports, which are reduced due to the fall in the prices of some key products for these countries, such as sugar.