G/AG/N/USA/156  
 
30 September  2021 
(21-7295) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Agriculture  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION  
The following submission, dated  22 September  2021, 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/156  
 
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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:  
Farmers to Families Food Box Program  
(2) DOMESTIC LEGISLATION REFERENCE:  
Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, P.L. 116 -127 (Section 1101(g))  
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), P.L. 116 -136 
(3) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MEASURE WITH REFERENCE TO CRITERIA:  
Provisions are consistent with crit eria 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 p rice support to producers; additionally, there are no trade -distorting 
effects or effects on production.  
The Farmers to Families Food Box Program was part of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 
and was developed to help address food insecurity and redu ce food waste that resulted from the 
impacts of the COVID -19 pandemic. Under this programme , USDA 's Agricultural Marketing 
Service  (AMS) purchased food boxes for distribution in coordination with food banks, food pantries, 
churches, schools, community grou ps, and other non -profit and governmental organizations 
serving Americans who need food assistance. The food boxes contained nutritious food items, 
including fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, and meat products. The programme  meets the criteria 
of Annex 2 , paragraph 4 (domestic food aid) because the programme  provides domestic food aid 
to a section of the population in need – in this case, a population experiencing increased need 
related to the public health emergency that had been declared in 2020 due to the COVID -19 
pandemic. As is the case for all USDA food assistance programme s, eligibility to receive the food 
aid is based on clearly -defined criteria related to nutritional objectives. Administration  and financing 
of the programme  is transparent and is p ublicly available on the USDA website, and the food boxes 
were contracted through a competitive bid process.  
(4) COST OF MEASURE:  
FY 2020: USD 3.98 billion . 
FY 2021: USD 1.90 billion . 
(5) DATE OF ENTRY INTO EFFECT:  
The programme  was announced on 17 April 2 020 and the first round of food purchases and deliveries 
began on 15 May 2020.  
(6) PERIOD OF APPLICATION:  
15 May 2020 to 31 May 2021 . 
(7) PRODUCTS TO PRINCIPALLY BENEFIT (IF ANY INDIVIDUAL PRODUCT(S)):  
Perishable agricultural products, including fruits, vegetables, meat products, milk and dairy 
products.  G/AG/N/USA/156  
 
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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:  
Dairy Donation Program (DDP)  
(2) DOMESTIC LEGISLATION REFERENCE:  
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116 -260) 
 
(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 do es 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 
provision of domes tic 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 or subsidiz ed prices (in this case, at no cost). 
Administration and financing of the programme is transparent and is publicly available on the 
USDA  website.  
The Dairy Donation Program (DDP) is a voluntary programme implemented by the Agricultural 
Marketing Service (A MS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The programme reimburses 
eligible dairy organizations to offset a portion of the raw milk cost for dairy 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.  
The rule implementing the DDP also amends provisions of the Milk Donation Reimbursement Program 
(MDRP), where a ppropriate, to gain administrative efficiencies and lessen the burden for entities 
participating in the two programmes. While the two programmes are not being consolidated, 
consistent with statute, they will operate as one from a stakeholder perspective. F or example, 
eligible organizations already enrolled in MDRP will be automatically be enrolled in DDP and the same 
required forms will be used for both programmes.  
(4) COST OF MEASURE:  
USD 400 million was authorized for this programme . USDA expects the DDP to expend 
USD 68 million annually (FY 2021 through FY 2026). Programme  expenditures for  1 January 2020 
to 27 December  2020 are capped at USD 50 million.  
(5) DATE OF ENTRY INTO EFFECT:  
The interim final rule implementing DDP became ef fective on 2 September 2021.  
(6) PERIOD OF APPLICATION:  
Eligible dairy organizations may apply , beginning at program implementation , for expenditures 
from 1 January 2020, until program funds are expended.  
(7) PRODUCTS TO PRINCIPALLY BENEFIT (IF ANY INDIVI DUAL PRODUCT(S)):  
Dairy products.  G/AG/N/USA/156  
 
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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:  
Klamath River Basin Block Grant  
(2) DOMESTIC LEGISLATION REFERENCE:  
Coronavirus Aid, Re lief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), P.L. 116 -136 
(3) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MEASURE WITH REFERENCE TO CRITERIA:  
Provisions are consistent with criteria in Annex 2, paragraph 1 and paragraph 12.  
Outlays under the programme meet the general criteri a 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 produ ction.   
The Klamath River Basin Block Grant will provide USD 15 million for a new drought pilot programme 
that will provide assistance to producers in California and Oregon to conserve water resources 
during unprecedented drought conditions. The block gran t to the Klamath Project Drought 
Response Agency (KPDRA) will provide payments to producers who voluntarily forgo irrigation 
water withdrawals from Klamath Project works during the period of 1 March to 30 September  2021. 
The programme meets the criteria of  Annex 2, paragraph 12 (payments under environmental 
programmes) because the eligibility for payments is determined as part of a clearly -defined 
conservation programme and is dependent on the fulfilment of specific conditions, including 
conditions related to production methods or inputs (in this case, irrigation). Payment amount is 
limited and will not exceed the income loss involved in complying with the programme.  
(4) COST OF MEASURE:  
FY 2021: USD 15.0 million (of which up to USD 0.6 million can be used f or programme 
administration)  
(5) DATE OF ENTRY INTO EFFECT:  
This block grant was announced on 2 August 2021 and the award was executed in August 2021.  
(6) PERIOD OF APPLICATION:  
FY 2021 . 
(7) PRODUCTS TO PRINCIPALLY BENEFIT (IF ANY INDIVIDUAL PRODUCT(S)):  
None.  
 
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