For poor developing country farmers and their advocates, the farm bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday could hardly be worse news. CGD senior fellow Kim Elliott explains that the House thumbed its nose at its poorest trading partners by increasing support to U.S. cotton and sugar, two products of particular interest to African exporters, and ignoring a World Trade Organization ruling about U.S. subsidies. She says the bill undermines the already dim prospect for completing the Doha Round of trade negotiations and it is now up to the U.S. Senate to salvage both common sense for American farmers and taxpayers, and what is left of America's reputation in the world.
