ABSTRACT
International trade is critical to the profitability of some agricultural businesses. In real terms, trade in agricultural products has increased from $85 billion in 1995 to in excess of $144 billion in 2013. The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) was established in 1952 to protect cultivated and wild plants by preventing the introduction and spread of pests. The FAO pursues three main goals of illuminating food insecurity, promoting economic and social progress, and sustainable management and utilization of natural resources. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) provides a forum for thirty-four countries that account for 78 percent of the world's gross domestic product to discuss trade issues. Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) governs intellectual property and is under the auspices of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The continuing effort to promote freer agricultural trade is the responsibility of the WTO's Agriculture Committee.
