European Union - New Commission analysis looks at the impact of recession on agriculture trade

The global economic and financial crisis that emerged in 2008 had a dramatic impact on world trade in goods and services. Although world agricultural trade was relatively less affected, it still fell by 13% in value and 3% in volume in 2009.

This was also an exceptional year for EU agricultural trade, as it reversed the growth pattern of the previous years, with a decline both in imports and exports. This is the conclusion of the latest MAP (Monitoring Agri-trade Policy) published by the Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development.