Transparency remains core priority in work of subsidies committee

The Chair drew attention to the WTO Secretariat's compendium on notification submission rates, updated twice a year and most recently circulated on 30 September 2026. As of the meeting, 73 members had submitted their 2025 new and full subsidy notifications, due on 30 June 2025, while 93 had yet to do so. The Chair highlighted the longer-term decline in the overall submission rate, including "nil" notifications, from 77% for the 1995 notification cycle to 44% for 2025.

Urging members to submit outstanding notifications as soon as possible, the Chair announced plans to contact delegations to discuss the reasons for delays and explore practical solutions, including technical assistance. He also offered bilateral meetings with interested delegations and invited concrete suggestions on improving the timeliness and completeness of notifications and contributing to the broader WTO reform discussions.

The Chair highlighted the Secretariat's technical assistance project, which provides tailored support to officials from developing and least-developed-country members to identify potentially notifiable programmes, gather information and prepare draft notifications. He expressed disappointment that only nine of the 33 members invited to participate in the forthcoming round, scheduled for 10-12 November 2026, had indicated they would do so. He encouraged members to make fuller use of the support available and stressed the importance of sustained follow-up to translate assistance into completed notifications.

Looking ahead, the Chair reminded members that the next new and full subsidy notifications are due by 30 June 2027. He encouraged early preparations and emphasized that Secretariat assistance remains available to all members facing difficulties, whether or not they participate in the November project.

The Chair also announced a webinar planned for early 2027 on using artificial intelligence tools to support notification preparation. The webinar would allow members to exchange experiences on the potential of these tools to reduce administrative burdens. He invited members with relevant experience to contribute, with further details to be circulated by the Secretariat.

Eight members echoed the Chair's concerns, commended the Secretariat's continued support and encouraged members facing difficulties to seek assistance. Their interventions recognized the existence of capacity constraints, as well as domestic coordination challenges, and addressed incentives for compliance and the potential role of artificial intelligence in facilitating notification preparation.

Review of members' subsidy notifications

During the meeting, the Committee examined new and full subsidy notifications for 2025  submitted by Chile, Costa Rica, the European Union (pertaining to Croatia, Luxembourg, Portugal and Romania), The Gambia, Honduras, Japan, Jordan, Liechtenstein, Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, the Philippines, Thailand and Uruguay. 

Additionally, the Committee reviewed outstanding notifications from earlier cycles, notably from India and Peru. The Committee also continued its review of 2025 subsidy notifications from China, the European Union, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia and Norway. It also continued its review of 2023 subsidy notifications from India and Kazakhstan, as well as a 2019 notification from the Russian Federation.

National legislation

The Committee reviewed legislative notifications submitted by Comoros and Tajikistan. It also continued its review of the legislative notifications from the European Union, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and the Solomon Islands.

Reports of members on countervailing duty actions

Members reviewed semi-annual reports on countervailing duty actions submitted by Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, the European Union, Iceland, India, Mexico, Peru, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, the United States and Viet Nam for the period January to June 2026.

The Committee also considered notifications on preliminary and final countervailing duty actions from members including Australia; Brazil; Canada; China; Egypt; the European Union; the United Kingdom; and the United States.

The Chair reiterated the need for regular and timely submissions of these reports to ensure ongoing transparency and effective review by the Committee.

Other matters

The Chair recalled the 31 December 2015 deadline for the elimination of export subsidies by members that received "fast track" extensions under Article 27.4 of the SCM Agreement. He noted that only 15 of the 19 members that had received extensions have provided the final required notifications. He called on the remaining four members to comply without delay.

The Committee also discussed a range of issues under the following separate agenda items: "France's electric vehicle subsidies programme" (item sponsored by the Republic of Korea); "subsidies and overcapacity" (item sponsored by Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States); and "subsidies and the level playing field" (item sponsored by China).

The Committee requested the Secretariat to prepare a document on the use of the E-agenda since 2024 and to circulate it prior to the April 2027 meeting of the Committee.

The Committee also adopted its 2026 annual report to the Council for Trade in Goods.

Next meeting

The 2027 meetings of the SCM Committee are scheduled to take place in the weeks of 26 April and 25 October 2027, respectively.