G/SCM/Q2/CHN/ 84 
20 November  2019 
(19-7962) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures  Original:  English  
 
  
SUBSIDIES  
REPLIES TO QUESTIONS F ROM NEW ZEALAND1 REGARDING  THE 
NEW AND FULL NOTIFIC ATION OF CHINA2 
The following communication, dated 19 November  2019, is being ci rculated at the request of the 
Delegation of  China . 
 
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New Zealand welcomes China 's transparency and detail in the notification of its fisheries 
subsidy programmes and poses the following questions in relation to three of China 's 
programmes:  
1.63 Subsidy for scrapping and dismantling vessels and for ship type standardization  
Question 1  
Along with dismantling fishing vessels, this programme also renovates and standardises 
fishing vessels:  
• Is the primary aim of this programme to reduce capacity of China 's fishing fleet or 
to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of older vessels?  
Reply  
China renovates and standardises fishing vessels for the purpose of eliminat ing old, outdated and 
wooden fishing vessels and fishing vessels causing serious damage to marine resources on the  basis 
of reducing the intensity of ocean fishing  and encouraging fishermen to reduce the number of fishing 
vessels and find jobs in other industries. This programme aims to improve the equipment and 
technology of China’s fishing vessels, reduce the damage  of fishing vessels to marine fishery 
resources and the pollution of fishing vessels, ensure the safety of navigation and production, and 
provide a sound environment for fishermen to produce, navigate and rest so as to achieve China 's 
goal of providing "safe, energy saving, economic, environmentally -friendly, and habitable " marine 
fishing vessels, and promote the sustainable development of China’s fishery  industry .  
 
• Can China provide information on the number of vessels and their tonnage scrapped, 
along wi th the number of vessels and their tonnage that have been refurbished.  
Reply  
The Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures ( SCM Agreement)  does not require 
members to provide the information that New Zealand  required.   
• Could China also provide more details as to the types of fishing vessels and owners 
covered by this programme and target species/fisheries e.g. small scale, inshore, 
                                                
1 G/SCM/Q2/CHN/78.  
2 G/SCM/N/ 315/CHN . G/SCM/Q2/CHN/ 84 
- 2 - 
  offshore, distant water fishing vessels; owned by larger fishing companies or small 
indivi dual owners.  
Reply  
This renovation programme covers all types of fishing vessels, mainly small scale ones, except 
distant water fishing vessels. It mainly targets China ’s near -shore fisheries owned by individuals .  
• Is this programme still ongoing? If not h as it been replaced with any other 
programmes? How long will this form of support be provided?  
Reply  
This programme is still ongoing . The subsidy for scrapping and dismantling vessels will be provided 
until the end of 2020, and the subsidy for ship type st andardization will be provided until the end of 
2019.  
1.64 Fisherman onshore resettlement subsidy  
Question 2  
This programme 's objective is to "improve the living conditions of the fishing population ".  
• Does this programme seek to encourage more workers int o the fishing industry by 
developing improved housing?  
Reply  
According to the Guiding Opinions of the Ministry of Housing and Urban -Rural Development and 
Other Departments on Implementing the Programme of Fishermen Onshore Settlement (Jian Cun 
[2019] No. 9 9), recipients of this subsidy are identified based on their long -term operating sites. 
Fishermen who registered before December 31, 2010 are eligible for this subsidy if they meet at 
least one of the following conditions: First, they have long lived on fi shing boats; second, they have 
no own houses or live in small temporary or dilapidated houses which are not eligible for the current 
project of urban housing security and rural dilapidated housing renovation. As this programme only 
grants subsidy to eligib le fishermen, it will not encourage more workers into the fishing industry.  
• No funding was provided for this programme in 2016. Has it now been discontinued 
or replaced by any other programmes?  
Reply  
The programme  was implemented until 2015 and has now been discontinued. There are no other 
alternatives.  
2.38 Fund in support of leading fishery enterprises  
Question 3  
Could China please provide additional details on this subsidy programme in general 
including:  
• The nat ure of the subsidy, including criteria for provision, and activities supported.  
• The types of species targeted by the enterprises that benefit from this programme.  
• Clarify the objective of this programme and what the funding is used for e.g. new 
vessels and equipment, fuel, processing etc.  G/SCM/Q2/CHN/ 84 
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  Reply  
For details, please refer to the  Administrative Measures  of Tianjin on the Pilot Project for Developing 
Key Fishing Enterprises and on Financial Support (Jin Nong Wei Ji Cai [2016] No. 81).  
 
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