Question

The before-trade domestic price of tomatoes in the United States is $500 per ton. The world price of tomatoes is $400 per ton. The U.S. is a price-taker in the tomatoes market.
If trade in tomatoes is allowed, the United States:______
a) will experience increases in both consumer surplus and producer surplus.
b) may become either an importer or an exporter of tomatoes, but this cannot be determined.
c) will become an exporter of tomatoes.
d) will become an importer of tomatoes.

Answer 1

Answer:

d) will become an importer of tomatoes.

Explanation:

Consumer surplus would increase because the price at which they buy tomatoes would reduce while producer surplus would reduce because the price of tomatoes would reduce as a result of international trade.

Consumer surplus is the difference between the willingness to pay of a consumer and the price of the good.Because the price of tomatoes in the US is greater than the price of tomatoes in the world, when the US begins international trade, it would import tomatoes because it is inefficient in the production of tomatoes.  

Producer surplus is the difference between the price of a good and the least price the seller is willing to sell the product