Title: Intensity of Italy's agri-food trade with countries outside the EU Mediterranean

Authors: Maria Crescimanno; Antonino Galati; Dario Siggia; Domenico Farruggia

Addresses: Department DEMETRA, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 13, 90128 Palermo, Italy ' Department DEMETRA, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 13, 90128 Palermo, Italy ' Department DEMETRA, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 13, 90128 Palermo, Italy ' Department DEMETRA, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 13, 90128 Palermo, Italy

Abstract: This paper aims to present a framework of trade relations between Italy and the countries of southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. More specifically, using the indicators proposed in the analysis of international trade, we want to analyse the intensity of trade in agri-food products and the strength of trade ties between the bordering Mediterranean countries. The analysis of the intensity of trade flows of food products from Italy and the partner countries of North Africa and the Near East has allowed us to trace a network of flows between the countries in the area. If we can see an overall weakening of the agri-food trade, the analysis for individual partner states, however, shows a strengthening of ties with Turkey, Tunisia and Croatia, which are among the most important trading partners, but also with Egypt, in the face instead of a detriment intensity of agri-food trade with Morocco and Algeria.

Keywords: European Union-Mediterranean Free Trade Area; EU-MED FTA; EMFTA; Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area; Euromed FTA; trade policies; economic globalisation; market integration; markets; trade intensity; agri-food; agriculture; farming; food industry; Italy; trade relations; Mediterranean Sea; international trade; trade intensity; trade ties; trade flows; partner countries; North Africa; Near East; partner states; Turkey; Tunisia; Croatia; trading partners; Egypt; detriment intensity; Morocco; Algeria; Albania; Israel; Lebanon; Libya; Montenegro; Occupied Palestinian territories; OPT; West Bank; East Jerusalem; Gaza Strip; Serbia; Syria; business.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2013.051801

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2013 Vol.10 No.1, pp.31 - 38

Published online: 21 Nov 2013 *

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