Could Rising Farm Payments Cause Trouble Ahead?
Delta Farm Press
U.S. farm payments have increased sharply over the past two years, and those subsidies are now drawing the ire of other countries in the World Trade Organization.
At issue: the violation of Amber Box policies. In WTO terminology, farm subsidies are generally categorized within a color box: green for non-trade distorting; blue for programs that distort trade but limit production; amber for support measures that distort production and trade. The U.S. is one of 32 countries that have committed to reducing their domestic supports in the Amber Box.