Mediterranean Countries and World Markets: Basic Foods and Mediterranean Products

This chapter focuses on the participation of the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea plus Jordan and Portugal3 in world agricultural trade, with particular reference to (a) the growing dependence of the non-European Mediterranean countries on food imports, and (b) trade in the main Mediterranean products.4 These countries are very heterogeneous as regards the factors that determine the rates and patterns of their participation in world agricultural markets. Differences in the levels of development, food habits, population growth rates, agricultural resource endowments, and policy regimes determine the growth and structure of demand and production of food and agriculture products and the extent to which they give rise to trade. Developments in agriculture are significant factors in the overall economic and social development of several countries in the region, much less so for others. All but three countries (France, Turkey, Syria) are net importers of food and agriculture products. Stark differences also exist as regards their status in foreign trade of typical Mediterranean agricultural products. Stark differences also exist as regards their status in foreign trade of typical Mediterranean agricultural products.