This commentary ponders the questions:

• Whose decision was it to liberalise agricultural trade at the rate we did, was it the democratic government policy direction or the policies of the apartheid government?
• Was it wise for South Africa to take developed country commitments following the signing of the Uruguay Round Agreement and the subsequent deregulation of the marketing environment?
• What can be done to reverse the losses that may have come from the two policy changes while not reversing the gains?