The Mysterious Popularity of EEP

Arguments in support of the U.S. Farm Export Enhancement Program (EEP) are numerous but not persuasive. The EEP does more to displace U.S. commercial exports than it does to bu ild exports. It transfers more benefit to foreigners than to U.S. fa rmers. And instead of working against the European Community in GATT, EEP is mostly working to antagonize Australia and Canada-our natural allies against the EC in GATT. Political support for EEP is based on a widespread misperception that the program has played a major role in el iminating surplus stocks. This same misperception could someday make EEP politically unpopular, if stocks continue to fall and if markets become too tight.