Ethical Dilemma: To reduce poverty in Africa, government officials want to increase African exports to Europe. Africa’s top exports include agricultural products, such as meat, coffee, peanuts, and fruit, and many Africans depend on food exports for their livelihood. However, the European Union

(EU) imposes high trade barriers on the import of agricultural products. Among various reasons, Europeans are concerned about food quality, and the EU has adopted rigorous agricultural safety standards.

However, the tough regulations hurt African countries, which have experienced problems with food toxins and bovine diseases in the past. In addition, the agricultural lobby in Europe is powerful, and the EU subsidizes farmers heavily. Many European politicians do not want to risk angering Europe’s farm lobby by supporting free international trade in agricultural products. Suppose you are part of an EU government task force investigating trade barriers on African agricultural imports. Using the ethical framework in Chapter 4, analyze the arguments for and against agricultural trade with Africa.

What should the EU do? Justify your answer.

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