WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SCM/93/Add.1
9 December 2003
(03-6516)
Committee on Subsidies and
Countervailing Measures
CONTINUATION OF EXTENSION OF THE TRANSITION PERIOD UNDER
ARTICLE 27.4 OF THE AGREEMENT ON SUBSIDIES AND COUNTERVAILING
MEASURES FOR THE ELIMINATION OF EXPORT SUBSIDIES PURSUANT TO
PARAGRAPH 10.6 OF THE MINISTERIAL DECISION ON
IMPLEMENTATION-RELATED ISSUES AND CONCERNS
COLOMBIA
Free-Zone Regime
Decision of 8 December 2003
Addendum
1. The Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (the "Committee");
2. Noting that  Colombia confirms its obligation pursuant to the SCM Agreement to eliminate all
export subsidies;
3. As directed by the Fourth Ministerial Conference, in its Decision on Implementation-Related
Issues and Concerns, (WT/MIN(01)/17, 20 November 2001) ("the Decision");
4. In following the “Procedures for Extensions Under Article 27.4 for Certain Developing
Country Members” (G/SCM/39, 20 November 2001) ("the Procedures"), in particular paragraphs 1(d)and 1(e) thereof;
5. Taking into account the request and other notified information provided by Colombia to the
Committee
1, pursuant to paragraph 10.6 of the Decision, for Free-Zone Regime ("the programme");
6. Recalling  that it considered, for purposes of the decision in document G/SCM/93 taken by the
Committee on 13 December 2002, Colombia to be a developing country Member eligible to request
an extension pursuant to Article 27.4 of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures
("SCM Agreement");
7. Recalling  that paragraph 10 of the decision in document G/SCM/93 taken by the Committee
on 13 December 2002 stipulates the following:
"The period  during which the extension hereby granted can be continued on the basis of the
Procedures is through the end of calendar year 2004.  Such continuation shall be subject to
                                                     
1 The notified information on the basis of which this decision is taken is found in documents
G/SCM/N/74/COL (15 January 2002), G/SCM/N/74/COL/Suppl.1 (5 February 2003), G/SCM//N/71/COL(7 January 2002), G/SCM/N/99/COL (4 July 2003), and G/SCM/Q3/COL/1 (22 February 2002) toG/SCM/Q3/COL/29/Corr.1 (27 November 2003).G/SCM/93/Add.1
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annual review by the Committee for the purposes of and subject to the conditions set forth in
paragraphs 1(d) and 1(e) of the Procedures, and to the terms set forth below:
(i) Colombia will ensure the conformity of its laws and regulations with its commitments
under this decision.  The transition period for the elimination of the export subsidiesas described in paragraph 9 shall not, in any case, be extended beyond 2006,
including the final two-year period provided for in the last sentence of Article 27.4 of
the SCM Agreement.  In consequence, the Colombian authorities shall adopt
appropriate actions to comply with this decision.  Among such actions, Colombia
shall undertake the reform of its legislation by 30 June 2003 so as to bring it into
conformity with this decision;
(ii) Colombia waives its right to request a continuation of the extension pursuant to
Article 27.4 of the SCM Agreement, as described in paragraph 1(f) of the Procedures,
for the programme;
(iii) Colombia waives its right to make use of the full period provided for under
paragraph 1(e) of the Procedures for the programme."
8. Taking into account  that Colombia reaffirms its commitment to eliminate export subsidies in
conformity with the commitments undertaken in both this decision and that set out in document
G/SCM/93 of 13 December 2002, which is operative in its entirety;
9. Noting  that Colombia has presented a schedule
2 to adjust its domestic legislation in
accordance with this decision and the decision in G/SCM/93, and that Colombia agrees to implement
all necessary legislative amendments not later than  31 December 2004 so as to ensure the elimination,
not later than 31 December 2006, of export subsidies under the programme which are granted at thenational level or in any kind of jurisdiction or special economic zone, such as departments, districts
and municipalities, by way of illustrative, non-exhaustive examples, in accordance with paragraph 10
of the decision in G/SCM/93;
10. Taking note  that Colombia confirms that the programme has not been modified since
1 January 2003 so as to make it more favourable in terms of scope, coverage and intensity of benefits
than it was on 1 September 2001;
11. On the basis of  the review of the notified information by the Committee, pursuant to
paragraphs 1(d) and 1(e) of the Procedures and paragraph 10 of the decision in document G/SCM/93,
to verify Colombia's fulfilment, during the period reviewed by the Committee in 2003, of its
obligations with respect to the programme under the transparency and standstill provisions contained
in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Procedures, in relation to the programme as in existence on1 September 2001; and to verify Colombia's fulfilment of its other obligations undertaken pursuant to
the decision in G/SCM/93; and on the basis of the commitments undertaken by Colombia in this
decision, which shall be subject, through calendar 2006, to annual notification by Colombia and
transparency review by the Committee;
12. Hereby agrees to continue, until 31 December 2004, the extension granted in G/SCM/93 of
the transition period, under Article 27.2(b) of the SCM Agreement, for the elimination of export
subsidies which take the form of full or partial exemptions from import duties and internal taxes and
which were in existence under the programme on 1 September 2001.  All terms and conditions and
other provisions of the decision in G/SCM/93 shall apply.
                                                     
2 Document G/SCM/93/Add.1/Suppl.1.G/SCM/93/Add.1
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13. Neither this decision nor the decision in G/SCM/93 applies to any export subsidies other than
those in the form of full or partial exemptions from import duties and internal taxes which are granted
at national level or in any kind of jurisdiction or special economic zone, such as departments, districts
and municipalities, by way of illustrative, non-exhaustive examples and which were in existence
under the programme (Free-Zone Regime) on 1 September 2001.
14. No inferences  should be drawn from this decision with respect to decisions by the Committee
to extend or to continue the extension of the transition periods for the elimination of export subsidies
by other Members.
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