The purpose of this research was to empirically examine the impacts that the presence of a state trading enterprise (STE) has in the international wheat market. There are numerous types of STEs that function in different ways to achieve many different types of policy objectives which are often unique to a particular STE. Although the existence of a STE is justified by the countries involved using numerous policy rationales, the fear that they are used as a front for trade protectionism is a prevalent concern. One specific aspect of a STE that often brings this concern to the forefront is whether or not the STE has the exclusive privilege of monopoly status.<p>The empirical objective of this thesis was to determine specifically if the use of a STE exporter has had a positive impact on world wheat trade over the 1970 2005 period and if the use of a STE importer has had a negative impact. In addition, the marginal impact of the STE having monopoly status was tested. In all cases, the designation of STEs and their monopoly status is based on WTO notification documentations. To secure econometrically robust results, a modified conventional gravity model was chosen. This model was estimated using pooled OLS and fixed effects, the latter consisting of both time and country pair fixed effects. The data that was constructed was a large panel data set of bilateral wheat trade spanning from 1970 to 2005. The model was also tested on a number of subsamples representing countries at different stages of development and in different income categories to isolate potential differences in STEs objectives and impacts.<p>In virtually all models, the presence of a STE exporter had a strongly significant and positive effect on the value and volume of wheat exports from the country with the STE exporter. The fact that a STE had monopoly status did not have any additional impact on wheat trade. The impact of STE importers was insignificant.

The purpose of this research was to empirically examine the impacts that the presence of a state trading enterprise (STE) has in the international wheat market. There are numerous types of STEs that function in different ways to achieve many different types of policy objectives which are often unique to a particular STE. Although the existence of a STE is justified by the countries involved using numerous policy rationales, the fear that they are used as a front for trade protectionism is a prevalent concern. One specific aspect of a STE that often brings this concern to the forefront is whether or not the STE has the exclusive privilege of monopoly status.<p>The empirical objective of this thesis was to determine specifically if the use of a STE exporter has had a positive impact on world wheat trade over the 1970 2005 period and if the use of a STE importer has had a negative impact. In addition, the marginal impact of the STE having monopoly status was tested. In all cases, the designation of STEs and their monopoly status is based on WTO notification documentations. To secure econometrically robust results, a modified conventional gravity model was chosen. This model was estimated using pooled OLS and fixed effects, the latter consisting of both time and country pair fixed effects. The data that was constructed was a large panel data set of bilateral wheat trade spanning from 1970 to 2005. The model was also tested on a number of subsamples representing countries at different stages of development and in different income categories to isolate potential differences in STEs objectives and impacts.<p>In virtually all models, the presence of a STE exporter had a strongly significant and positive effect on the value and volume of wheat exports from the country with the STE exporter. The fact that a STE had monopoly status did not have any additional impact on wheat trade. The impact of STE importers was insignificant.

"Mémoire présenté à la Faculté des études supérieures en vue de l'obtention du grade de Maîtrise en Droit (LL.M.)" / Ce mémoire analyse l'impact du droit commercial international sur les politiques et pratiques commerciales en matière de boissons alcooliques au Québec. Plus spécifiquement, il examine leur conformité aux obligations contenues au GATT et aux autres accords commerciaux. Le premier chapitre présente le régime juridique applicable au commerce de l'alcool, dans le contexte particulier du partage constitutionnel canadien et de la délégation du pouvoir provincial à la Société des alcools du Québec (« SAQ »). Le second chapitre retrace l'évolution historique du marché québécois de l'alcool et étudie sa structure actuelle, divisée entre un monopole d'État (vins, spiritueux et bières importées) et l'industrie privée (bières domestiques). Le troisième chapitre traite des pratiques de la SAQ jugées incompatibles avec le GATT, soit les majorations de prix discriminatoires, les procédures d'inscription et de radiation des produits au catalogue et les restrictions d'accès aux points de vente. Cette partie aborde les accords bilatéraux subséquemment négociés par le gouvernement fédéral et acceptés par les monopoles provinciaux pour résoudre ces conflits. Le dernier chapitre discute de la compatibilité des pratiques actuelles de la SAQ, en particulier sa méthode de fixation de prix par rapport à l'article II:4 du GATT (monopoles d'importation) et son nouveau concept de gestion par catégorie en regard de l'article XVII (entreprises commerciales d'État) et de l'article XI (restrictions quantitatives). / This thesis analyses the impact of international trade law on Quebec's commercial policies and practices relating to alcoholic beverages. More specifically, it examines their conformity with GATT's obligations and other bilateral agreements. The first chapter presents the legal framework pertaining to alcohol trade in the context of the constitutional powers prevailing in Canada and the delegation of Quebec's authority to its liquor board, Société des alcools du Québec. The second chapter reviews the historical evolution of Quebec's a1cohol market and studies its actual structure, which is divided between a state monopoly on one side (wine, spirits and imported beer) and the private sector on the other side (domestic beer). The third chapter outlines how SAQ's practices were declared inconsistent with GATT, namely discriminatory mark-ups, listing and delisting procedures and restrictions on access to points of sale. This section also covers the bilateral agreements subsequently negotiated by the federal govemment and accepted by the provincial monopolies to resolve these conflicts. The final chapter examines the compliance of today's SAQ's policies with GATT's requirements. Particularly, it looks at its practice ofpricing method with respect to Article II:4 (import monopoly) and at its new concept of category management in relation with Article XVII (state trading) and Article XI (quantitative restrictions).

Ce mémoire analyse l'impact du droit commercial international sur les politiques et pratiques commerciales en matière de boissons alcooliques au Québec. Plus spécifiquement, il examine leur conformité aux obligations contenues au GATT et aux autres accords commerciaux. Le premier chapitre présente le régime juridique applicable au commerce de l'alcool, dans le contexte particulier du partage constitutionnel canadien et de la délégation du pouvoir provincial à la Société des alcools du Québec (« SAQ »). Le second chapitre retrace l'évolution historique du marché québécois de l'alcool et étudie sa structure actuelle, divisée entre un monopole d'État (vins, spiritueux et bières importées) et l'industrie privée (bières domestiques). Le troisième chapitre traite des pratiques de la SAQ jugées incompatibles avec le GATT, soit les majorations de prix discriminatoires, les procédures d'inscription et de radiation des produits au catalogue et les restrictions d'accès aux points de vente. Cette partie aborde les accords bilatéraux subséquemment négociés par le gouvernement fédéral et acceptés par les monopoles provinciaux pour résoudre ces conflits. Le dernier chapitre discute de la compatibilité des pratiques actuelles de la SAQ, en particulier sa méthode de fixation de prix par rapport à l'article II:4 du GATT (monopoles d'importation) et son nouveau concept de gestion par catégorie en regard de l'article XVII (entreprises commerciales d'État) et de l'article XI (restrictions quantitatives). / This thesis analyses the impact of international trade law on Quebec's commercial policies and practices relating to alcoholic beverages. More specifically, it examines their conformity with GATT's obligations and other bilateral agreements. The first chapter presents the legal framework pertaining to alcohol trade in the context of the constitutional powers prevailing in Canada and the delegation of Quebec's authority to its liquor board, Société des alcools du Québec. The second chapter reviews the historical evolution of Quebec's a1cohol market and studies its actual structure, which is divided between a state monopoly on one side (wine, spirits and imported beer) and the private sector on the other side (domestic beer). The third chapter outlines how SAQ's practices were declared inconsistent with GATT, namely discriminatory mark-ups, listing and delisting procedures and restrictions on access to points of sale. This section also covers the bilateral agreements subsequently negotiated by the federal govemment and accepted by the provincial monopolies to resolve these conflicts. The final chapter examines the compliance of today's SAQ's policies with GATT's requirements. Particularly, it looks at its practice ofpricing method with respect to Article II:4 (import monopoly) and at its new concept of category management in relation with Article XVII (state trading) and Article XI (quantitative restrictions). / "Mémoire présenté à la Faculté des études supérieures en vue de l'obtention du grade de Maîtrise en Droit (LL.M.)"