The Chair reported that 90 members have yet to submit their 2023 notifications, 83 members have not provided their 2021 notifications, and 72 members have not fulfilled their 2019 notification obligations, significantly affecting the proper functioning of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. The Chair reiterated his call for members to submit their notifications promptly, emphasizing that all members benefit from the collective effort of timely and complete notifications. Eight members echoed these concerns and calls.

The Chair highlighted the WTO's Secretariat's ongoing support and the recent successful technical assistance project aimed at enhancing the notification process. This initiative notably resulted in 11 out of the 23 participating members from developing and least developed country members submitting their 2023 notifications, contributing to 15% of all notifications received for this cycle. He applauded the project's tangible outcomes, demonstrating the efficacy of tailored technical assistance. The Chair welcomed the second round of this training planned for later in the year and encouraged continued active engagement by the participating members.

Review of members' subsidy notifications

The Committee reviewed the 2023 new and full subsidy notifications submitted by Argentina; Brazil; Canada; Chile; China; Costa Rica; Cuba; the Dominican Republic; Eswatini; the European Union (also pertaining to Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Cyprus; the Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Ireland; Italy; Latvia; Lithuania; Malta; the Netherlands; Poland; Portugal; Romania; the Slovak Republic; Spain; and Sweden); Hong Kong, China; Israel; Japan; Kenya; the Republic of Korea; the Kyrgyz Republic; Lesotho; Liechtenstein; Malaysia; Mauritius; Montenegro; Myanmar; Norway; the Philippines; Singapore; Suriname; Switzerland; Tanzania; Thailand; Türkiye; Ukraine; the United Kingdom; the United States; and Vanuatu.

The Committee also continued its review of the 2023 subsidy notification from Chinese Taipei; 2021 notifications from the European Union (pertaining to Malta) and Mexico; and a 2019 notification from the Russian Federation.

National legislation

The Committee reviewed new notifications of countervailing duty legislation submitted by the Kyrgyz Republic, the United Kingdom and the United States. It continued its review of the legislative notifications of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Cameroon, the European Union and Ghana.

Semi-annual reports of members on countervailing duty actions

The Committee considered the semi-annual reports of countervailing duty actions submitted by Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Mexico, the United Kingdom, the United States and Viet Nam.

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

Other matters

The Chair recalled the now long-past 31 December 2015 deadline for the elimination of export subsidies by members that received “fast track” extensions under Article 27.4. The Chair noted that only 15 of the 19 members that had received extensions had provided the final required notifications. He called on the remaining members to comply without delay.

The Committee reviewed the updated GNI per capita calculations for members listed in Annex VII(b) of the SCM Agreement. Some members requested that the Secretariat provide calculations using the same methodology for all WTO members, which had been done once before, in 2021, in another context.

The Committee elected Mr Ahmed Al-Sulaiti from Qatar and Ms Soojung Cho from the Republic of Korea as the new members of the Permanent Group of Experts, replacing Mr Rabih Nasser and Ms Marina Foltea, respectively.

The Committee discussed proposed guidelines for submission of questions and answers under Articles 25.8 and 25.9, submitted by Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

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

China placed a separate item on the agenda regarding discriminatory subsidies policies and measures of the United States.

The Republic of Korea placed a separate item on the agenda regarding France's electric vehicle subsidy scheme.

The United States placed a separate item on the agenda regarding Kazakhstan's proposed preferences for domestically produced agricultural machinery.

Under other business, the United Kingdom provided an update on a joint proposal submitted by Canada, the Republic of Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States, which pertains to the formation of an informal technical discussion group on items under the SCM Agreement. In addition, Australia raised questions to India, which were submitted under Article 25.8 of the SCM Agreement.

Next meeting

The Chair reminded members that the autumn 2024 meetings of the SCM Committee are scheduled to take place in the week of 28 October 2024.

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