IB Economics HL 4.3.3 Free trade versus protection Question Bank

Study the extract below and answer the questions that follow.
Increase tariff on foreign chicken

(1) In the country of Trinidad and Tobago, it has been reported that the price of domestic chicken (poultry) will not increase in the near future, even if the government introduces a higher tariff on imported whole chicken from the United States.

(2) The Poultry Association of Trinidad and Tobago (PATT) hosted a news conference to reduce public concerns about reports of an increase in poultry prices. The association says that there will be an increase in prices, but this will only be on imported chicken. However, economists know that this will not be the case.

(3) The association is insisting that the current 40 % tariff on imported chicken be increased to 80 % to make things fairer between domestic and imported chicken. They argue that Trinidad and Tobago's poultry industry has been operating at a major disadvantage in comparison with other Caribbean nations. For instance, Barbados has a 180 % tariff on imported chicken, Jamaica 280 % and Guatemala 257 %.

(4) The President of PATT said imported chicken was hurting the local industry, with some firms in danger of shutting down. "Chickens are remaining longer on farms, and it's not because we want to keep them as pets, it's because they are not selling," he said.

(5) A domestic poultry producer said the local industry had to compete with goods that came from the United States, the European Union and Brazil, which were heavily subsidized by their governments. "We don't need subsidies and the government cannot afford to pay us any. We want the tariff. We don't want to ban imported chicken; once the tariff is on, everything will be fine."

(6) Trinidad and Tobago imports two types of chicken. The first type, "mechanically deboned meat (MDM)", is used to make processed meat products, such as chicken sausages and chicken burgers. The second type is whole chickens. There is a quota on MDM chickens at 0 % tariff because domestic producers have accepted that they cannot meet the local demand by firms.

(7) However, there is a concern that the importers are abusing this tariff-free access to bring whole chicken into the domestic market. Data from customs show that 3.29 million kilograms of chicken was imported in August, but almost 75 % was brought in duty-free.

(8) Local chicken sells for approximately $\$ 4.50$ per kilogram while imported chicken, according to PATT's information from Customs, is about $\$ 1$ to $\$ 2$ per kilogram. "That just covers the cost of shipping the chicken. If these figures are correct, there is something very wrong," said the domestic producer.

(9) The poultry industry makes up 60\% of the agriculture sector in Trinidad and Tobago and generates over 10000 jobs and $\$ 1$ billion in revenue.

Using information from the text/data and your knowledge of economics, discuss the arguments for and against the protection of the domestic poultry market.