Eighth International Conference on Food Studies

Abstract

Agribusiness supply chains are global in nature and not only include trade in final goods, but also in intermediate inputs to production. Trade policies affect the flow of intermediate and final goods across borders within supply chains, therefore it is important to quantify these trade linkages to better understand potential economic impacts of changes in trade policies. This study uses input-output methods to estimate the value of cross-border agribusiness supply chain linkages between the U.S. and Mexico for specific traded agricultural commodities. Estimates of economic contributions of agribusiness supply chains are relevant to current discussions around policies such as country of origin labeling (COOL), multi-lateral trade deals, and other national and regional agribusiness-relevant policies. The study will examine commodities such as beef cattle and their products and fresh fruits and vegetables. The study takes into consideration binational trade supported in backward-linked industries supplying agricultural inputs to production as well as economic activity supported in forward-linked industries that provide phytosanitary, logistical, transportation, wholesale, and retail services, delivering agricultural commodities to consumers. The study will rely on secondary data including U.S. and Mexico national accounts data, commodity-specific import and export data, agricultural production data, and the IMPLAN input output model.