Last week, this blog recommended that all entrepreneurs pay attention to the world trade talks, and to the possible consequences of their collapse.

It might help to start with the questions relevant to the individual entrepreneur: “Are these problems likely to continue? What will they mean to my business? Is there anything I can do to improve my situation?”

The root of the problem – as ever with trade talks – is that farmers demand privileges which would be unacceptable in any other business.

The current crisis is due to the Indian government insisting on special measures to protect its agriculture. The Americans wanted to open up the market, despite having just passed what EU Commissioner Peter Mandelson called “one of the most reactionary farm bills in the history of the US”

...and, of course, the same EU is itself infamous for its agricultural policies...

...all this at a time when world food prices are going up as demand increases and supply is inadequate.

The bottom line is that the problem will remain so long as all the governments are hypocritically trying to give their own farmers an unfair advantage. A change in the US Presidency is unlikely to improve matters since it was a Democratic Congress that passed that reactionary farm bill.

So entrepreneurs are likely to suffer a growing restriction of world trade because of the privileges sought by farmers.

There are unlikely to be immediate changes, but we must plan on the basis that we can no longer take growing international business for granted.

Meanwhile, we need to make the most of the opportunities we have while we have them.