G/AG/N/USA/143  
 
7 October 2020  
(20-6868) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Agriculture  Original: English  
 
 
NOTIFICATION  
The following submission, dated  6 October  2020, is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of the United States  of America . The notification concerns new or modified domestic support 
measures exempt from reduction ( Table DS:2 ). 
 
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  G/AG/N/USA /143 
 
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  Table DS:2  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:  
New or modified domestic support measures exempt from reduction  
 
 
(1) FULL TITLE OF MEASURE:  
Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+)  
(2) DOMESTIC LEGISLATION REFERENCE:  
Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief of 2019 (P.L. 116 -29) 
Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 (P.L. 116 -94) 
(3) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MEASURE WITH REFERENCE TO CRITERIA:  
Provisions are consistent with criteria in Annex 2, paragraph 1 and paragraph 8.  
Outlays under the programme meet th e general criteria of Annex 2, paragraph 1: support is provided 
through a publicly -funded government programme and does not involve transfers from consumers, 
and there is no price support to producers; additionally, there are no trade -distorting effects or  
effects on production.  
WHIP+ provides payments to agricultural producers for crop, tree, bush, and vine losses related to 
the consequences of hurricanes, floods, tornados, typhoons, volcanic activity, snowstorms, extreme 
drought, excess moisture, and wild fires that occurred in the 2018 and 2019 calendar years. 
Producers must have suffered a loss due to an eligible disaster event in a primary county that 
received a qualifying Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration or Secretarial Disaster 
Designation. E ligible wildfire losses included losses from fire, mudslides, and heavy smoke.  
Compensation is based on individual losses and calculated based on a formula that accounts for the 
expected value of the lost crop, the value of the crop harvested, insurance co verage level, and 
insurance payments received.  
Uninsured producers of eligible crops could receive a WHIP+ payment if the production loss exceeded 
30% of production. The expected crop value used in the calculation of the WHIP+ payment for 
uninsured produce rs is based on an Olympic average yield (5 -year average dropping the low and 
high years). The type or quantity of future production is not required or specified, although all 
producers who received a WHIP+ payment are required to purchase crop insurance or  Noninsured 
Assistance Crop Loss Program (NAP) coverage for the next two crop years.  
WHIP+ payments to producers with federal crop insurance coverage or coverage under the 
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) are notified in supporting table D S:6 because 
the production loss for these producers could be lower than 30% depending on the level of insurance 
or NAP coverage.  
(4) COST OF MEASURE:  
As of 28 September 2020, USD 84 million was paid to uninsured producers for eligible losses during 
2018 an d 201 9. 
(5) DATE OF ENTRY INTO EFFECT:  
The final rule implementing WHIP+ became effective on 13 September 2019. Sign -up for losses due 
to excessive moisture and extreme drought, which are loss categories authorized by the Further 
Consolidated Appropriation s Act of 2020, opened on 23 March 2020.  G/AG/N/USA/143  
 
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  (6) PERIOD OF APPLICATION:  
Funding provided by the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 and 
is available until 31 December 2020.  
(7) PRODUCTS TO PRINCIPALLY BENEFIT (IF ANY INDIVIDU AL PRODUCT(S)):  
Crops, trees, bushes and vines  
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  Table DS:2  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:  
New or modified domestic support measures exempt from reduction  
 
 
(1) FULL TITLE OF MEASURE:  
Milk Donation Reimbursement Program (MDRP)  
(2) DOMESTIC LEGISLATION REFERENCE:  
Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (P.L. 115 -334) 
(3) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MEA SURE WITH REFERENCE TO CRITERIA:  
Provisions are consistent with criteria in Annex 2, paragraph 1 and paragraph 4.  
Outlays under the programme meet the general criteria of Annex 2, paragraph 1: support is provided 
through a publicly -funded government progra mme and does not involve transfers from consumers, 
and there is no price support to producers; additionally, there are no trade -distorting effects or 
effects on production. In addition, the measure meets the general criteria in paragraph 4 for the 
provisio n of domestic food aid to sections of the population in need. Eligibility to receive the food aid 
is subject to clearly defined criteria related to nutritional objectives and the aid is in the form of 
direct provision of food to those concerned at market o r subsidized prices (in this case, at no cost). 
Administration and financing of the program is transparent and is publicly available on the USDA 
website.  
The Milk Donation Reimbursement Programme (MDRP) is implemented by the Agricultural Marketing 
Service (AMS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The programme reimburses eligible 
dairy organizations to offset a portion of the raw milk cost for fluid milk products donated directly to 
eligible non -profit organizations for distribution to individuals  in low -income groups. Eligible dairy 
organizations must partner with an eligible non -profit distributing organization to participate in the 
programme.  
(4) COST OF MEASURE:  
USD 9 million is authorized for fiscal year 2019 and USD 5 million is authorized fo r each fiscal year 
thereafter. All authorized funding remains available until expended.  
(5) DATE OF ENTRY INTO EFFECT:  
The final rule implementing MDRP became effective on  16 September 2019.  
(6) PERIOD OF APPLICATION:  
Fiscal year 2019 and each fiscal year thereafter until repealed.  
(7) PRODUCTS TO PRINCIPALLY BENEFIT (IF ANY INDIVIDUAL PRODUCT(S)):  
Fluid milk  
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  Table DS:2  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:  
New or modified domestic support measures exempt from reduction  
 
 
(1) FULL TITLE OF MEASURE:  
Food Purchase and Distribution Program (FPDP)  
(2) DOMESTIC LEGISLATION REFERENCE:  
Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714)  
(3) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MEASURE WITH REFERENCE TO CRITERIA:  
Provisions are consistent with criteria in Annex 2, paragraph 1 and paragraph 4.  
Outlays under the programme meet the general criteria of Annex 2, paragraph 1: support is provided 
through a publicly -funded government programme and does not involve transfers from consumers, 
and there is no price support to producers; additionally, there are no trade -distorting effects or 
effects on production.  
Under t he Food Purchase and Distribution Program (FPDP), the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service 
(AMS) purchases food for distribution through USDA nutrition assistance programs, such as the 
Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and child nutrition programs. The program meets the 
criteria of Annex 2, paragraph 4 (domestic food aid) because the program provides domestic food 
aid to section of the population in need and eligibility to receive the food aid is based on clearly 
defined criteria related to nutrition al objectives. Eligibility to participate in the USDA 's nutrition 
assistance programs is based on household income in relation to Federal poverty guidelines. Food 
purchased for USDA food assistance programs must support the nutrition goals in the Dietary 
Guidelines for Americans and nutrition guidelines specific to certain programs (e.g., Healthy -Hunger 
Free Kids act of 2010). Food purchases are made at current market prices through a competitive bid 
process. Administration and financing of the program is t ransparent and is publicly available on the 
USDA website.  
(4) COST OF MEASURE:  
FY 2019: USD 1.144 billion  
FY 2020: USD 1.125 (as of 24 August 2020)  
(5) DATE OF ENTRY INTO EFFECT:  
1 October 2018  
(6) PERIOD OF APPLICATION:  
Fiscal years 2019 (1 October 2018 - 30 September 2019) and 2020 (1 October 2019 – 
30 September  2020).  
(7) PRODUCTS TO PRINCIPALLY BENEFIT (IF ANY INDIVIDUAL PRODUCT(S)):  
Fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, meat, dairy  and processed foods  
 
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