SUBSIDIES AND COUNTERVAILING MEASURES

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Transparency on subsidies and countervailing measures

The Chair noted that 109 members have still not submitted their 2021 notifications (due by 30 June 2021), 78 members have still not submitted their 2019 notifications, and 67 members still have not submitted their 2017 subsidy notifications. Reiterating the fundamental importance of transparency, the Chair urged members to submit notifications as soon as possible. She also referred to the revised Handbook on Notification Requirements , which is available in the three official languages of the WTO.

The Chair highlighted the 31 December 2015 deadline for the elimination of export subsidies by members that received extensions under Article 27.4 of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM Agreement). She urged the remaining members to provide their final transparency notifications as soon as possible.

The Committee continued to discuss the revised proposal (G/SCM/W/557/Rev.4) submitted by the United States for ensuring timely responses to questions posed by members under Article 25.8 of the SCM Agreement.

The Committee also discussed a proposal from Canada, the European Union, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States (G/SCM/W/583) to amend procedures for the review of new and full subsidy notifications.

Review of subsidy notifications from members

The Committee reviewed new and full subsidy notifications for 2021 submitted by Cambodia, Lao PDR, Macao China, Montenegro and Chinese Taipei. It continued its review of 2019 subsidy notifications from China, the European Union, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States.

The Committee also continued its review of notifications for 2017 submitted by China and Mexico, for 2015 submitted by China, and for 2009 submitted by Gabon. Albania's submissions covering the 2019, 2017, 2015, 2013 and 2011 notification periods were also reviewed.

National legislation

The Committee reviewed a new notification of countervailing duty legislation submitted by India and continued its review of the legislative notifications of Cameroon, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Peru, Ghana and Kenya.

Semi-annual reports of members on countervailing duty actions

The Committee went over the semi-annual reports of countervailing duty actions submitted by Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Peru, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States and Viet Nam. Questions were raised in respect of the semi-annual reports of China, the European Union and the United States.

In addition to the semi-annual reports, the SCM Agreement requires members to submit notifications without delay of all preliminary and final countervailing duty actions taken. Reports received from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, India, the United States and Viet Nam were reviewed. Questions were raised in respect of the reports by the United States.

Other matters

The European Union and the United States requested a separate agenda item regarding questions posed to China under Article 25.8 of the SCM Agreement.

Canada, the European Union, Japan and the United States placed a separate item on the agenda regarding subsidies and overcapacity.

Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States requested a separate item on the agenda regarding China’s publication and inquiry point obligations under China's Protocol of WTO Accession.

The Committee adopted its annual report to the Council for Trade in Goods pursuant to Article 32.7 of the SCM Agreement.

Next meeting

The next meeting of the SCM Committee is scheduled for the week of 25 April 2022.

More information about the SCM Agreement and the WTO's work on subsidies and countervailing measures can be found here.

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