Is there a global market for organic beef?: Harmonisation and consumer preferences in international trade

Harmonisation of technical standards is often suggested as a means to eliminate technical barriers that reduce the welfare gains available from the International Trade. Organic standards are not currently harmonised internationally. If domestic organic standards reflect consumer tastes, and consumers have strong preferences for those standards, then harmonisation to a common standard may reduce the benefits consumers receive from organic products. Through a consumer survey, conjoint analysis was used to explore the preferences of consumers in the USA, the UK and Canada for organic food. The results suggest that consumers in the UK and Canada do not have a strong attachment to the current national organic standards and that international harmonisation may be a legitimate food policy goal.