RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/AG/W/28
21October 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-4396)
Committee onAgriculture
DRAFT
COMMITTEE ONAGRICULTURE
Report bytheCommittee onAgriculture fortheSingapore Ministerial Conference
Thepresent report, which wasadopted bytheCommittee atitsmeeting on...October 1996,
issubmitted inaccordance withthereporting procedures fortheDecember 1996Singapore Ministerial
Conference (WT/L/145 refers).
*****
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 hasheldsixregular meetings (four meetings in1995 andtwo
sofarinthecurrent year) plusonespecial meeting on24October 1996 (summary reports oneach
ofthesemeetings arecontained indocuments G/AG/R/1 to7).These meetings havebeensupplemented
asappropriate byinformal consultations andmeetings. Further regular meetings oftheCommittee
arescheduled tobeheldon28-29 October and28-29 November 1996. Thework oftheCommittee
isconducted inaccordance withworking procedures specifically tailored tothefunctions ofthe
Committee (G/AG/1), andwithgeneral rules ofprocedure inlinewiththose adopted bytheWTO
General Council (G/AG/W/22). Observers from thefollowing international intergovernmental
organizations attend regular meetings oftheCommittee onAgriculture onanadhocbasis: theFAO,
theIMF, theInternational Grains Council, theOECD, theUNCTAD, theUNWorld FoodProgramme
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 alsoG/AG/W/28
Page2
addressed arange ofgeneral andspecific matters relevant totheimplementation ofcommitments under
theprovisions oftheAgreement (Article 18:6) which enable Members, asanintegral partofthereview
process,toraiseanymatterrelevanttotheimplementationofcommitmentsunderthereformprogramme.
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 oftariff andother 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 oftariff quota 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 have beenthe
subject ofinformal consultations undertaken bytheChairman attherequest oftheCommittee with
aviewtoclarifying therelevant disciplines intheareasconcerned andexploring thescope forimproving
thequality ofimplementation generally. TheCommittee considers thatwork intheseandother relevant
areas should bepursued withaviewtodeveloping 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 andG/AG/W/28
Page3
byestablishing notification requirements tofacilitate theimplementation andmonitoring oftheDecision
onLeast-Developed andNetFood-Importing Developing Countries. Inaddition, extensive technical
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. Under Article 20oftheAgreement negotiations forcontinuing thereform process aretobe
initiated oneyearbefore theendofthe1995-2000 implementation period. Specifically, Article 20
provides asfollows:
"Recognizingthatthelong-termobjectiveofsubstantialprogressivereductionsinsupport
andprotection resulting infundamental reform isanongoing process, Members agree that
negotiations forcontinuing theprocess willbeinitiated oneyearbefore theendofthe
implementation 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."]
[Proposal 1:
13. Inaccordance withthecommitment intheUruguay Round tofurther negotiations onagriculture
andwithaviewtoreporting tothenextbiennal Ministerial Meeting oftheWTO, itisrecommended
thattheCommittee onAgriculture bemandated toundertake acomprehensive, balanced programme
ofpreparatory work forthenextround ofnegotiations onagriculture inaccordance withArticle 20
oftheAgriculture Agreement including inthethreeareasof:market access, internal support andexport
subsidies. Thepreparatory work programme ineachofthese three areas should encompass issues
related to:
(i) theimplementation ofUruguay Round concessions andcommitments;
(ii) further improvements within theframework ofrulesandspecific binding commitments
already agreed to;G/AG/W/28
Page4
(iii) changes intheframework oftheUruguay Round Agreement onAgriculture; and
(iv) elements oftheUruguay Round Agreement onAgriculture which areconsidered to
betransitional.]
[Proposal 2:Delete paragraphs 12and13above.]G/AG/W/28
Page5
Attachment tothedraft report oftheCommittee onAgriculture
Regular notifications pertaining tothe1995 yearmade under theAgreement onAgriculture
[Asat18October 1996]
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 /DPG/AG/W/28
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
Hong Kong NA NA NA X X NA /DP
Hungary X X X /DP
Iceland X X X /DP
India NA NA NA NA /DP
Indonesia X X /DP
Israel 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 /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 /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 /DPG/AG/W/28
Page7
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
Swaziland NA NA NA /DP
Switzerland /CN Liechtenstein X X X X X /DP
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 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/n6 /n9/n6 /n3/n3 NA
Notifications received /n3/n1 /n2/n2 /n2/n4 /n2/n2 /n3/n3 /n1/n4 /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 /CIas from /n2/n3 October /n1/n9/n9/n6/CJ /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/n2/n0 October /n1/n9/n9/n6/CJ/CO Notifications may be submitted according to various bases /CIcalendar/CM crop/CM
fiscal years/CM etc/CO/CJ/CO The absence of a notification/CM therefore/CM does not necessarily indicate an outstanding 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/CM however/CM 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 /CINA/CJ/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