WTO Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures Holds Meeting
On November 4, 2004, the WTO's Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures extended by one year (until end 2005) the transition period for the elimination of export subsidy programmes of 19 developing countries under the implementation decision adopted at the Doha Ministerial Conference. The developing countries are: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Jamaica, Jordan, Mauritius, Panama, Papua New Guinea, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Uruguay.
The WTO Subsidies Agreement provides for an eight-year transition period (until end 2002) for most developing countries to eliminate export subsidies. Under the “fast-track” procedures agreed at Doha, the Subsidies Committee may grant annual extension to these countries until end 2007, subject to annual review of transparency and standstill obligations.
The Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures also reviewed status reports of Barbados, Colombia, El Salvador, Panama and Thailand regarding their subsidy programs whose transition periods were extended in 2003 last year under the regular procedures.
During the meeting the EU, Japan and the United States urged China to notify the WTO of its subsidies as required by the Subsidies Agreement. China said it was doing its best to comply and called for understanding. Chinese representatives cited difficulties due to the size of the country and the need to educate officials. China said it would transmit concerns raised at the meeting to the relevant offices in Beijing. The United States and the EU expressed disappointment with the review but said they would work bilaterally with China to make progress in this area.At the start of the meeting, the Committee elected Mr. Mehmet Tan of Turkey as its new Vice Chairman. The next regular meeting of the Committee is scheduled for April 14-15 2005.
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