RESTRICTED

GENERAL AGREEMENT SCM/M/72

5 May 1995

ON TARIFFS AND TRADE Special Distribution

(95-1181)

Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures

 

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD

ON 22 FEBRUARY 1995

Chairman: Mr. O. Lundby (Norway)

 

1. The Committee on Subsidies on Countervailing Measures ("the Committee") held a regular meeting on 22 February 1995.

2. The Committee adopted the following agenda:

A. Election of Officers

B. Withdrawal of the United States from the Agreement

C. Decision on Transitional Arrangements - Avoidance of Procedural and Institutional Duplication

D. Communication from the Chairman of the Panel on United States - Countervailing Duties on Certain Carbon Steel Flat Products from Several Member States of the EEC

 

A. Election of Officers

3. The Committee re-elected Mr. Lundby as Chairman of the Committee.

B. Withdrawal from the Agreement

4. The Chairman stated that on 30 December 1994 the Director-General had received a communication from the United States notifying the decision of the Government of the United States to withdraw from the Agreement. Pursuant to Article 19:8 of the Agreement, the withdrawal would take effect upon the expiration of 60 days from that date.

5. The Committee took note of the statement of the Chairman.

C. Decision on Transitional Arrangements, Avoidance of Procedural and Institutional Duplication

6. The Chairman stated that the Preparatory Committee had proposed that the Committee adopt a Decision on Transitional Arrangements - Avoidance of Procedural and Institutional Duplication (PC/11, dated 13 December 1994), providing for cooperation between this Committee and the WTO Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. He proposed that the Committee adopt this decision.

7. The Committee so decided.

D. Communication from the Chairman of the Panel on United States Countervailing Duties on Certain Carbon Steel Flat Products from Several Member States of the EEC

8. The Chairman stated that the Chairman of the Panel had informed the Committee in document SCM/189 that the EEC had requested the Panel to suspend the Panel proceedings. He proposed that the Committee take note of this communication.

9. The representative of the EU stated that the fact that the EU had requested a suspension of that procedure did not mean that the Community had any lesser interest in these investigations. The EU continued to monitor carefully the conduct of the reviews by the United States.

10. The Committee took note of the statements made.