Agricultural policy tends to be greeted with yawns, but the 2007 United States Farm Bill should generate frowns for citizens of every nation. This bill, although esoteric, allocates tens of billions of dollars annually to U.S. farm subsidies. These payments hurt farmers in much of Africa and the rest of the world by artificially deflating prices for agricultural goods to levels at which these farmers cannot keep producing. The farm bill also continues subsidies declared illegal by the WTO and squanders American tax dollars that could well go to more just ends. Yet most importantly, as a microcosm of United States policymaking  the bill’s crafting demonstrates a complete disregard for relations with other nations and a self interest unsustainable in a globalized world. This worrying trend and the other faults of the bill merit further exploration.

The U.S. House of Representatives recently confirmed reports of Congress’ lack of vision by passing the 2007 Farm Bill. During their consideration of the legislation, the House devoted little thought to the effects of subsidies abroad. Even though the U.S. should begin revitalizing the Doha Trade Round by dismantling cotton subsidies ruled illegal by the World Trade Organization, the only representative mentioning this issue was ignored! The U.S. cannot afford further growth in anti-American sentiment, and both the reputation of the U.S. and its aid budget would benefit from better food security abroad. However, not once were the harmful effects of farm subsidies abroad mentioned!  An amendment to more rapidly phase out subsidies went nowhere, and as a whole, the Representatives simply pandered to their domestic constituents.

This will prove foolhardy. The United States demonstrates a blatant disrespect for the international system by ignoring its laws. This arrogance could contribute to a decline in the multilateralism needed to resolve issues larger than Doha. Some, such as global warming, have potentially catastrophic ramifications for the U.S. Furthermore, the waste of American tax dollars will serve to drive the nation deeper into debt, perhaps precipitating a cut in health care or education spending.

It will also hurt Africa and nearly all developing countries. The death of the Doha Round in this fashion will force African countries, which possess little leverage at a negotiating table, into bilateral preferential trade agreements from which they will see little benefit. Although some find Doha unpalatable, it will likely improve from its current state, and its failure will have harmful effects in Africa.

The continuation of farm subsidies will greatly disadvantage African farmers, trapping them in subsistence agriculture without any safety net or choice of career. A recent Oxfam report claims that a repeal of the already illegal U.S. cotton subsidies would result in 1 million fewer West African children going to bed hungry and 2 million more receiving an education. The countless documentations of the injurious impact of subsidies invoke the prophet Ezekiel: “Woe to the Shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves…Is it not enough for you to keep the best of the pastures for yourselves? Must you also trample down the rest?”  (Ezekiel 34:2, 18). The United States enjoys some of the world’s best arable land and agricultural technology while much of Africa lacks even basic irrigation. In addition, subsidies only seem to take care of wealthy Americans, with 84% of payments funding the richest fifth of farmers. The United States should leave behind these limited farm policies and pursue a reduction in its subsidies.

For the betterment of all peoples, including their own, governments must embrace a wider vision of their policies. The “beggar thy neighbor” policies that helped drive the entire world into the Great Depression are just one of many historical examples of the wrong-headedness of self-interested policymaking. The American Congress is currently failing in this responsibility, and a possible Bush veto of the farm bill should not detract from this reality. Yet, even if the bill succeeds, let us take the words of Ezekiel to heart and continue to pursue the common good in the future.

Jeff Weaver
AFJN intern 2007