Single Farm Payment in the European Union and its implications on New Zealand dairy and beef trade

Abstract

The 2003 reform of the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) replaced the coupled direct support schemes by a Single Farm Payment (SFP), which will be mainly delivered to farmers irrespective of what they produce (hence 'decoupled' from production). The level of decoupling differs among the Member States. This paper assesses the implementation of the SFP across Member States and how far it has been decoupled. The expected changes in the European Union's and New Zealand's trade in dairy products and beef resulting from the 2003 reform of the CAP are simulated, using a partial equilibrium trade model (Lincoln Trade and Environment Model; LTEM).