Most of these tables date back to the 1986–94 Uruguay Round negotiations. They provide background information on the data and methods that countries used to derive their commitments on domestic support and export subsidies. They include detailed information on the provision of domestic support and export subsidies during the agreed years (ie, the base period). For example, details can be found in these tables on

• domestic support exempt from reduction commitments (e.g. Green Box)
• trade-distorting domestic support known as “aggregate measures of support” (AMS, sometimes called the Amber Box) overall and for specific products, including  the data  on  AMS support that did not exceed the prescribed minimum threshold in terms of value of production (ie, the de minimis)
• export subsidies subject to reduction commitments

The documents containing the tables of supporting material are generally referred to as the AGST Supporting Tables and are specifically noted in the “Schedules” (or lists) containing domestic support and export subsidy reduction commitments. For Uruguay Round participants, the supporting tables were prepared based — in practice — on a document negotiated in the Uruguay Round but never formally agreed: Modalities for the Establishment of Specific Binding Commitments under the Reform Programme. Supporting material submitted in membership negotiations is prepared using the guidance contained in WT/ACC/4.

This latest publication is part of the WTO’s continuing work on making information more readily available and to assist members in their task of monitoring how their agreements are being implemented. In agriculture this is now compiled into a “members’ transparency toolkit” containing links to notified data and other information.