WORLD TRADE G/L/131
7November 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-4724)
REPORT OFTHE COMMITTEE ONAGRICULTURE
Report adopted bytheCommittee onAgriculture on6November 1996
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1. Inaccordance with itsterms ofreference asadopted bytheWTO General Council on
31January 1995(WT/L/43) theCommittee isrequired tooversee theimplementation oftheAgreement
onAgriculture ("theAgreement") andtoafford Members theopportunity ofconsulting onanymatter
relating totheimplementation oftheprovisions oftheAgreement.
2. Akeyfunction oftheCommittee istoreview progress intheimplementation ofcommitments
negotiated under theUruguay Round reform programme inaccordance withtherelevant provisions
ofArticle 18oftheAgreement. TheCommittee onAgriculture isalsocharged under Article 16:2
oftheAgreement withmonitoring, asappropriate, thefollow-up totheMarrakesh Ministerial Decision
onMeasures Concerning thePossible Negative Effects oftheReform Programme onLeast-Developed
andNetFood-ImportingDevelopingCountries.TheworkoftheCommitteeinthisregardissummarised
intherelevant section oftheseparate report submitted bytheCommittee forthepurposes ofthereview
bytheMinisterial Conference oftheprovisions ofthisDecision.
3. TheCommittee onAgriculture hasheldseven regular meetings (four meetings in1995 and
three sofarinthecurrent year) plusonespecial meeting which wasconvened atintervals between
24October and6November 1996 (summary reports oneachofthese meetings arecontained in
documents G/AG/R/1 to8).These meetings havebeen supplemented asappropriate byinformal
consultations andmeetings. Afurther regular meeting oftheCommittee istobeheldon28-29
November 1996. Thework oftheCommittee isconducted inaccordance withworking procedures
specifically tailored tothefunctions oftheCommittee (G/AG/1), andwithgeneral rulesofprocedure
inlinewiththose adopted bytheWTO General Council (G/AG/W/22). Observers fromthefollowing
international intergovernmental organizations attend regular meetings oftheCommittee onAgriculture
onanadhocbasis: theFAO, theIMF, theInternational Grains Council, theOECD, theUNCTAD,
theUNWorld Food Programme andtheWorld Bank.
4. Inaccordance withtherelevant provisions ofArticle 18oftheAgreement, theCommittee,
ateachofitsmeetings, hasreviewed progress intheimplementation ofcommitments negotiated under
theUruguay Round reform programme. Thisreview process isundertaken onthebasisofnotifications
submitted byMembers intheareas ofmarket access, domestic support, export subsidies andunder
theprovisions oftheAgreement relating toexport prohibitions andrestrictions. TheCommittee also
addressed arange ofgeneral andspecific matters relevant totheimplementation ofcommitments under
theprovisions oftheAgreement (Article 18:6) which enable Members, asanintegral partofthereview
process,toraiseanymatterrelevanttotheimplementationofcommitmentsunderthereformprogramme.G/L/131
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5. Ingeneral, thenotification requirements established bytheCommittee forthepurpose of
reviewingimplementationofcommitmentsandobligationsundertheUruguayRoundreformprogramme
arebeing satisfactorily complied withbymost Members. However, there havebeenanumber of
instances where notifications havebeenincomplete orhavenotbeensubmitted within thespecified
timeframes. Inalimited number ofcases notifications dueremain outstanding. Theoverall position
withrespecttonotificationobligationsunderArticle18:2andotherrelevantprovisionsoftheAgreement
issummarized intheattachment tothisreport. Members oftheCommittee agree thatitisessential
tothework oftheCommittee inreviewing progress intheimplementation ofcommitments under the
reform programme, thatthereshould befullandtimely compliance withthesenotification requirements.
6. Theprincipal focus oftheCommittee 'sreview process hasthusfarbeenontheimplementation
ofmarket access commitments, particularly withregard totheadministration oftariffandother quota
commitments andtheoperation ofthespecial safeguard provisions. Inthecourse ofthecurrent year
thescope ofthereview process hasbroadened toinclude awider range ofnotifications, aswellas
matters raised under Article 18:6oftheAgreement, withrespect toexport subsidy anddomestic support
commitments. Members oftheCommittee consider thatgoodprogress hasbeenmade inimplementing
thecommitments negotiated under theUruguay Round reform programme, even though some
implementation issues remain toberesolved.
7. Many ofthematters raised inthecourse oftheCommittee 'ssystematic review ofthe
implementation ofcommitments have been satisfactorily clarified intheCommittee orhave been
subsequently resolved following discussion intheCommittee. However, inanumber ofcases matters
raised inthecourse ofthereview process involving apparent non-compliance withcommitments or
obligations under theAgreement nevertheless remain outstanding. Suchmatters include, forexample,
lateorinadequate implementation, theintroduction ormaintenance ofnon-tariff border measures, and
non-compliance withexport subsidy commitments. Some ofthese matters havebeenpursued through
recourse totheformal consultation anddispute settlement procedures. Inthisgeneral context Members
oftheCommittee stress thedesirability ofallsuchmatters being settled inapositive manner and
underline theimportance which theyattach tofullandtimely compliance withcommitments and
obligations under theAgreement byallMembers.
8. TheCommittee 'sreview process hasalsogenerated issues ofamore general nature relating
tothemanner inwhich commitments areimplemented. These issues include allocation ofaccess under
MFN tariffquotas topreferential suppliers ortonon-Members, theallocation ofimport access tostate-
trading enterprises ortoproducer organizations, theauctioning oftariffquota licences, limitations on
imports ofparticular products under broadly defined tariffquota commitments, making imports under
tariffquotas conditional onabsorption ofdomestic production oftheproduct concerned, therelationship
between theAgreement onAgriculture andtheAgreements onImport Licensing Procedures andon
Trade-Related Investment Measures, andexport restrictions. Some ofthese issues havebeensubject
toinformal consultations undertaken bytheChairman attherequest oftheCommittee withaview
toclarifying therelevant disciplines intheareas concerned. TheCommittee considers thatwork in
theseandotherrelevant areasshould bepursued withaviewtoexploring thescope forfurther improving
thequality ofimplementation generally andtodeveloping guidelines orother solutions asappropriate.
9. Special anddifferential treatment infavour ofdeveloping country Members, asincorporated
inscheduled commitments andintheprovisions oftheAgreement, areintegral elements oftheUruguay
Round reform programme. Implementation ofthesecommitments andtheusemade oftheseprovisions
havebeenfully within thescope oftheCommittee 'sreview process, including Article 18:6. In
establishing thenotification requirements (G/AG/2) account wastaken oftheconcerns ofdeveloping
andleast-developed country Members byalleviating theburden ofcertain notification obligations and
byestablishing notification requirements tofacilitate theimplementation andmonitoring oftheDecision
onLeast-Developed andNetFood-Importing Developing Countries. Inaddition, extensive technicalG/L/131
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assistance andadvice hasbeenprovided bytheSecretariat onrequest todeveloping country Members
onimplementation issues.
10. Overall, Members oftheCommittee agree thatthereview process hasbeenconducted inan
efficient andeffective manner andthatthehighest priority should continue tobeaccorded tothiskey
areaoftheCommittee 'swork.
11. Under Article 10:2oftheAgreement, which relates totheprevention ofcircumvention ofexport
subsidy commitments, Members undertake to"work towards thedevelopment ofinternationally agreed
disciplines togovern theprovision ofexport credits, export credit guarantees orinsurance programmes
and,afteragreement onsuchdisciplines, toprovide export credits, export credit guarantees orinsurance
programmes onlyinconformity therewith". Further work ontheelements ofanoutline understanding
isrequired. Attheappropriate stage theCommittee onAgriculture willneedtoconsider howan
understanding inthisareacould bemultilateralized within theframework oftheAgreement on
Agriculture andhowtheprovisions ofparagraph 4oftheDecision onLeast-Developed andNetFood-
Importing Developing Countries havebeentaken intoaccount.
12. Thenegotiations tocontinue thereform process referred toinArticle 20oftheAgreement
onAgriculture, willbeconducted inconformity withthetimetable andallother provisions contained
inthatArticle. Useful experience willbegained bytheCommittee onAgriculture inreviewing the
implementation ofexisting commitments which willenable theCommittee onAgriculture tofurther
pursue in1997 andthereafter:
(a) theassessment ofthecompliance withthesecommitments, taking intoaccount theneed
forfullandtimely compliance; and
(b) aprocess ofanalysis andinformation exchange, inaccordance withallrelevant
provisions oftheAgreement onAgriculture.
Thiswillallow WTO Members tobetter understand theissues involved andtoidentify their
interests inrespect ofthem before undertaking themandated negotiations laiddown in
Article 201.
1Article 20-Continuation oftheReform Process:
"Recognizing thatthelong-term objective ofsubstantial progressive reductions insupport andprotection resulting
infundamental reform isanongoing process, Members agree thatnegotiations forcontinuing theprocess willbeinitiated
oneyearbefore theendoftheimplementation period, taking intoaccount:
(a) theexperience tothatdatefrom implementing thereduction commitments;
(b) theeffects ofthereduction commitments onworld trade inagriculture;
(c) non-trade concerns, special anddifferential treatment todeveloping country Members, andtheobjective
toestablish afairandmarket-oriented agricultural trading system, andtheother objectives andconcerns
mentioned inthepreamble tothisAgreement; and
(d) what further commitments arenecessary toachieve theabove mentioned long-term objectives."G/L/131
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Attachment
Regular notifications pertaining tothe1995 yearmade under theAgreement onAgriculture
Table
MA/DK/n1Table
MA/DK/n2Table
MA/DK/n5Table
DS/DK/n1/CLTable
ES/DK/n1/CLTable
ES/DK/n2Table
ES/DK/n3
Tariff quota
administrationImports under
tariff quotasSpecial
safeguard /CN
annualDomestic
supportExport
subsidiesTotal
exportsFood aid
Antigua and Barbuda NA NA NA NA /DP
Argentina NA NA NA X X X /DP
Australia X X X X X X /DP
Bahrain NA NA NA NA /DP
Bangladesh NA NA NA /CINA/CJ NA /DP
Barbados X X X NA /DP
Belize NA NA NA NA /DP
Benin NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Bolivia NA NA NA NA /DP
Botswana NA NA X X NA /DP
Brazil X X NA X X X X
Brunei Darussalam NA NA NA NA /DP
Burkina Faso NA NA NA /CINA/CJ NA /DP
Burundi NA NA NA /CINA/CJ NA /DP
Cameroon NA NA NA NA /DP
Canada X X X /DP
Central African Rep/CO NA NA NA /CINA/CJ NA /DP
Chad NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Chile NA NA NA X X X /DP
Colombia X X /DP
Costa Rica X /DP
C/PEte d /CH Ivoire NA NA NA NA /DP
Cuba NA NA NA X /DP
Cyprus NA NA NA X /DP
Czech Republic X X X X X X X
Djibouti NA NA NA /CINA/CJ NA /DP
Dominica NA NA NA NA /DP
Dominican Republic NA NA NA X NA /DP
Ecuador NA NA NA NA NA NA
Egypt NA NA NA NA /DP
El Salvador NA /DP
European Communities X /DP
Fiji NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Gabon NA NA NA NA /DP
Gambia NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Ghana NA NA NA NA /DP
Grenada NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Guatemala X X X X X NA /DP
Guinea Bissau NA NA NA /CINA/CJ NA /DP
Guinea/CM Republic of NA NA NA /CINA/CJ NA /DP
Guyana NA NA NA NA /DP
Haiti NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Honduras NA NA NA X X /DP
Hong Kong NA NA NA X X NA /DP
Hungary X X X /DP
Iceland X X X /DPG/L/131
Page5
Table
MA/DK/n1Table
MA/DK/n2Table
MA/DK/n5Table
DS/DK/n1/CLTable
ES/DK/n1/CLTable
ES/DK/n2Table
ES/DK/n3
Tariff quota
administrationImports under
tariff quotasSpecial
safeguard /CN
annualDomestic
supportExport
subsidiesTotal
exportsFood aid
India NA NA NA NA /DP
Indonesia X X /DP
Israel X X X X X /DP
Jamaica NA NA NA NA /DP
Japan X X X X NA X
Kenya NA NA NA NA /DP
Korea X X X NA /DP
Kuwait NA NA NA NA /DP
Lesotho NA NA NA /CINA/CJ NA /DP
Macau NA NA NA X X NA /DP
Madagascar NA NA NA /CINA/CJ NA /DP
Malawi NA NA NA /CINA/CJ NA /DP
Malaysia X X X X X X /DP
Maldives NA NA NA /CINA/CJ NA /DP
Mali NA NA NA /CINA/CJ NA /DP
Malta NA NA NA NA /DP
Mauritania NA NA NA /CINA/CJ NA /DP
Mauritius NA NA NA NA /DP
Mexico /DP
Morocco X X X X X NA /DP
Mozambique NA NA NA /CINA/CJ NA /DP
Myanmar NA NA NA /CINA/CJ NA /DP
Namibia NA NA NA /DP
New Zealand X X X X X X X
Nicaragua X X X X NA /DP
Nigeria NA NA NA NA /DP
Norway X X X X X /DP
Pakistan NA NA NA X X /DP
Papua New Guinea NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Paraguay NA NA NA NA /DP
Peru NA NA NA X NA /DP
Philippines X X X X /DP
Poland X X X X /DP
Qatar NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Romania X X X X /DP
Rwanda NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Saint Kitts and Nevis NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Saint Lucia NA NA NA NA /DP
Saint Vincent /CG Grenadines NA NA NA NA /DP
Senegal NA NA NA NA /DP
Sierra Leone NA NA NA /CINA/CJ NA /DP
Singapore NA NA NA X X NA /DP
Slovak Republic X X X X X X X
Slovenia X X NA X X NA /DP
Solomon Islands NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
South Africa X X X X /DP
Sri Lanka NA NA NA NA /DP
Suriname NA NA NA NA /DP
Swaziland NA NA NA /DP
Switzerland /CN Liechtenstein X X X X X /DPG/L/131
Page6
Table
MA/DK/n1Table
MA/DK/n2Table
MA/DK/n5Table
DS/DK/n1/CLTable
ES/DK/n1/CLTable
ES/DK/n2Table
ES/DK/n3
Tariff quota
administrationImports under
tariff quotasSpecial
safeguard /CN
annualDomestic
supportExport
subsidiesTotal
exportsFood aid
Tanzania NA NA NA /CINA/CJ NA /DP
Thailand X X X X X X /DP
Togo NA NA NA /CINA/CJ NA /DP
Trinidad and Tobago NA NA NA X NA /DP
Tunisia X X X X NA /DP
Turkey NA NA NA X X X /DP
Uganda NA NA NA /CINA/CJ NA /DP
United Arab Emirates NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
United States X X X X /DP
Uruguay NA NA X X X X X
Venezuela X /DP
Zambia NA NA NA /CINA/CJ NA /DP
Zimbabwe NA NA NA /DP
Total required to notify /n3/n4 /n3/n3 /n3/n5 /n7/n5 /n9/n6 /n3/n3 NA
Notifications received /n3/n1 /n2/n2 /n2/n6 /n2/n5 /n3/n5 /n1/n5 /n6
Percentage
compliance/n9/n1 /CN /CN /CN /CN /CN /CN
/n1/CO Agricultural notification requirements are set out in document G/CPAG/CP/n2 and G/CPAG/CP/n2/CPAdd/CO/n1/CO Reference should be made
to this document in order to establish applicability of the requirements and the relevant time limits for the submission
of notifications/CO
/n2/CO There are currently /n1/n2/n5 WTO Members/CO The list of WTO Members above/CM however/CM comprises only /n1/n0/n9 names
as the European Communities and its /n1/n5 member states provide one notification for each of the respective requirements
and Switzerland /CH s notifications are taken to cover Liechtenstein as these two Members have a joint Schedule/CO
/n3/CO The symbols used in the table are as follows/DK
/CIa/CJ A blank indicates that this is a requirement applicable to the Member concerned/CM but that no notification was
received up to the cut/CNoff date /CI/n6 November /n1/n9/n9/n6/CJ/CO Notifications may be submitted according to various bases
/CI c a l e n d a r /CM c r o p /CM f i s c a l y e a r s /CM e t c /CO /CJ /CO T h e a b s e n c e o f a n o t i f i c a t i o n /CM t h e r e f o r e /CM d o e s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y i n d i c a t e a n o u t s t a n d i n g
obligation as the notification may be due only later in /n1/n9/n9/n6/CO No percentage compliance is calculated in these cases/CO
The time limit for the submission of MA/DK/n1 notifications has now passed for all Members /CIincluding those which
became Members only in /n1/n9/n9/n6/CJ and the percentage compliance is calculated for this requirement/CO
/CIb/CJ /CCX/CC denotes that a notification has been received in the WTO/CO No assessment of the completeness or the
quality of the notification with respect to requirements is made or implied/CO
/CIc/CJ /CCNA/CC indicates that the requirement was not applicable for this WTO Member during the period covered either
because no relevant measures are in place /CIe/COg/CO tariff quotas/CJ or because WTO membership did not take place until
/n1/n9/n9/n6 hence there were no notification requirements pertaining to /n1/n9/n9/n5/CO For Table DS/DK/n1/CM the least/CNdeveloped country
Members may notify at the end of every second year /CIindicated by the symbol /CC/CINA/CJ/CC/CJ and such Members are excluded
from the total number required to notify/CO
/CId/CJ /CC/DP/CC indicates that no notification was received from the Member/CM but this requirement /CITable ES/DK/n3 /CN total volume
of food aid/CJ is applicable only to those Members which are food aid donors /CN it is not possible to determine whether
particular Members are such donors and no /CCnil return/CC is required from Members which are not donors/CO For this
reason compliance with the requirement cannot be determined /CIand/CM as with other requirements/CM notifications may
be submitted according to various annual bases/CJ/CO