ABSTRACT

The wartime years were followed by a continued distortion of the whole structure of international trade that was somewhat more profound than immediately after the First War. For a number of years purchasing power remained below the level of 1938 and restricted the demand for meat and other food imports. Also, most countries in Western Europe, took a political decision to develop and protect agriculture after 1945. This long-term decision to invest in domestic farming meant that access to markets was in many cases no easier once initial supplies of foodstuffs had been paid for, largely by United States grants of aid. Thus, in the long-term traditional meat exporters had eventually to search for new markets, in Southern Europe, the Middle East and Far East. For most of the time since 1947, discussions between meat importers and meat exporters foundered whenever importing countries have considered their own meat industries.