ABSTRACT
The history of the International Coffee Agreements (ICAs) dates back to the 1960s, and all ICAs have been characterized by export quota policies. The 1983 ICA was based on an export quota scheme, as were the earlier agreements of 1962, 1968 and 1976. The quota system was valid for the market of the importing member countries. The history of the ICAs shows that there was an active quota pohcy in the 1960s, but no interventions by the ICO occurred from 1972 to 1980, partly because of high world coffee prices. In September 1980, coffee quotas were reintroduced and remained in force until February 1986. Since May 1989, a free world coffee market has existed again and there have been official negotiations concerning a new, fifth ICA. The Fourth ICA expired officially on 1 October 1989, but the interventions had already stopped in July 1989.
