RESTRICTED  
  
G/SCM/M/124  
 
7 December  2023 
(23-8325) Page: 1/8 
Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures    
 
  
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING  
HELD ON 2 7 OCTOBER 202 3 
CHAIR: MR JAMES LESTER (NEW ZEALAND)  
1. The Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures ("Committee") held a special 
meeting on 27 October 2023, convened in WTO/AIR/SCM/51  dated 13 October 2023. The meeting 
was held in person and virtually via Interprefy.  
2. The Committee adopted the fo llowing agenda:  
1   REVIEW OF 2023 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS (G/SCM/N/401/…)  
NOT PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED  ................................ ................................ ...........................  2 
1.1   Burkina Faso (G/SCM/N/372/BFA - G/SCM/N/401/BFA)  ................................ ....... 2 
1.2   The Gambia (G/SCM/N/401/GMB)  ................................ ................................ ..........  2 
1.3   Haiti (G/SCM/N/284/HTI - G/SCM/N/315/HTI - G/SCM/N/343/HTI - 
G/SCM/N/372/HTI - G/SCM/N/401/HTI)  ................................ ................................ ...... 2 
1.4   Honduras (G/SCM/N/401/HND)  ................................ ................................ ..............  2 
1.5   Macao, China (G/SCM/N/401/MAC)  ................................ ................................ ........  2 
1.6   Madagascar (G/SCM/N/401/MDG)  ................................ ................................ ..........  2 
1.7   Montenegro (G/SCM/N/401/MNE and G/SCM/N/401/MNE/Suppl.1)  .....................  3 
1.8   New Zealand (G/SCM/N/401/NZL)  ................................ ................................ .........  3 
1.9   Chinese Taipei (G/SCM/N /401/TPKM)  ................................ ................................ .... 3 
2   REVIEW OF 2021 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS (G/SCM/N/372/…)  
NOT PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED  ................................ ................................ ...........................  3 
2.1   European Union (G/SCM/N/343/EU/Add.22/Suppl.1 - 
G/SCM/N/372/EU/Add.22/Suppl.1 - pertaining to Portugal)  ................................ ..........  3 
2.2   Kazakhstan (G/SCM/N/372/KAZ/Rev.1)  ................................ ................................ . 3 
3   REVIEW OF 2019 NEW AN D FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS (G/SCM/N/343/…)  
NOT PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED  ................................ ................................ ...........................  3 
4   REVIEW OF 2017 AND 2015 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS NOT 
PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 4 
5   CONTINUATION OF REVIEW OF 2021 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS 
(G/SCM/N/372/…)  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  4 
5.1   European Union (G/SCM/N/372/EU/Add.19 - pertaining to Malta)  .........................  4 
5.2   China (G/SCM/N/372/CHN)  ................................ ................................ ....................  4 
5.3   India (G/SCM/N/372/IND)  ................................ ................................ .....................  5 
5.4   Mexico (G/SCM/N/372/MEX)  ................................ ................................ ..................  5 
5.5   Montenegro (G/SCM/N/372/MNE and G/SCM/N/372/MNE/Corr.1)  .......................  5 G/SCM/M/124  
 
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  6   CONTINUATION OF REVIEW OF 2019 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS 
(G/SCM/N/343/…)  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  5 
6.1   China (G/SCM/N/343/CHN and G/SCM/N/343/CHN/Corr.1) ................................ .. 5 
6.2   Dominican Republic ( G/SCM/N/343/DOM ) ................................ ..............................  6 
6.3   European Union ( G/SCM/N/343/EU/ Add.22  pertaining to Portugal)  ......................  6 
6.4   Russian Federation ( G/SCM/N/343/RUS)  ................................ ...............................  6 
7   CONTINUATION OF REVIEW OF 2015 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS 
(G/SCM/N/284/…)  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  7 
7.1   China (G/SCM/N/220/CHN - G/SCM/N/253/CHN - G/SCM/N/284/CHN 
and G/SCM/N/95/CHN/Suppl.1 - G/SCM/N/123/CHN/Suppl.1 - 
G/SCM/N/155/CHN/Suppl.1 - G/SCM/N/186/CHN/Suppl.1 - 
G/SCM/N/220/CHN/Suppl.1 - G/SCM/N/253/CHN/Suppl.1 - 
G/SCM/N/284/CHN/Suppl.1)  ................................ ................................ ..........................  7 
 
1  REVIEW OF 2023 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS ( G/SCM/N/401/… ) NOT 
PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED  
1.1  Burkina Faso ( G/SCM/N/372/BFA  - G/SCM/N/401/BFA ) 
3. No Member raised any questions or comments about this notification.  
4. The Committee took note  of the notification.  
1.2  The Gambia ( G/SCM/N/401/GMB ) 
5. No Member raised any questions or comments about this notification.  
6. The Committee took note  of the notification.  
1.3  Haiti ( G/SCM/N/284/HTI  - G/SCM/N/315/HTI  - G/SCM/N/343/HTI  - 
G/SCM/N/372/HTI  - G/SCM/N/401/HTI ) 
7. No Member raised any questions or comments about this notification.  
8. The Committee took note  of the notification.  
1.4  Honduras ( G/SCM/N/401/HND ) 
9. No Member raised any questions or comments about this notification.  
10. The Committee took note  of the notification.  
1.5  Macao, China ( G/SCM/N/401/MAC ) 
11. No Member raised any questions or comments about this notification.  
12. The Committee took note  of the notification.  
1.6  Madagascar ( G/SCM/N/401/MDG ) 
13. No Member raised any questions or comme nts about this notification.  
14. The Committee took note  of the notification.  G/SCM/M/124  
 
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  1.7  Montenegro ( G/SCM/N/401/MNE  and G/SCM/N/401/MNE/Suppl.1 ) 
15. No Member raised any questions or comments about th ese notification s. 
16. The Committee took note  of the notification s. 
1.8  New Zealand ( G/SCM/N/401/NZL ) 
17. No Member raised any questions or comments about this notification.  
18. The Committee took note  of the notification.  
1.9  Chinese Taipei ( G/SCM/N/401/TPKM ) 
19. Written questions and answers regarding this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/TPKM/30  – questions from the United Kingdom  
• G/SCM/Q2/TPKM/31  – replies to questions from the United Kingdom  
20. Chinese Taipei  noted that it had provided its wri tten answers on 13 October, which had been 
circulated  to Members as well.  
21. The United Kingdom  indicated it had no further questions at the time.  
22. The Chair noted that since Chinese Taipei had provided its written replies to the questions posed 
by the United  Kingdom after the applicable deadline, the notification would be on the agenda of the 
next special meeting of the Committee.  
23. The Committee took note  of the notification, questions, replies and statements made.  
2  REVIEW OF 2021 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS ( G/SCM/N/372/… ) NOT 
PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED  
24. The Chair recalled that the first item on the agenda covered the 2021 n otifications of Burkina 
Faso and Haiti . Therefore, those notifications were not reviewed again.  
2.1  European Union (G/SCM/N/343/EU/Add.2 2/Suppl.1  - 
G/SCM/N/372/EU/Add.22/Suppl.1  - pertaining to Portugal)  
25. No Member raised any questions or comments about this notification.  
26. The Committee took note  of the notification.  
2.2  Kazakhstan ( G/SCM/N /372/KAZ/Rev.1 ) 
27. No Member raised any questions or comments about this notification.  
28. The Committee took note  of the notification . 
3  REVIEW OF 2019 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS ( G/SCM/N/343/… ) NOT 
PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED  
29. The Chair recalled that the first and second items on the agenda covered the 2019 new and full 
notifications of Haiti and European Union, respectively . Therefore, those notifications were not 
reviewed again and there we re no additional notifications to be reviewed under agenda item 3.  G/SCM/M/124  
 
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  4  REVIEW OF 2017 AND 2015 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS NOT 
PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED  
30. The Chair recalled that the first item on the agenda covered the 2017 and 2015 new and full 
notifications of Haiti. Therefore, those notifications were not reviewed again and there were no 
additional notifications to be reviewed under agenda item 4.  
5  CONTINUATION OF REVIEW OF 2021 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS 
(G/SCM/N/372/… ) 
31. The Chair noted that this agend a item was for continuation of reviews of 2021 new and full 
notifications which had started at the previous meeting but had not yet been completed, due to late 
submission of questions or non -submission or late submission of written replies  or follow -up 
questions posed after the previous meeting.  
5.1  European Union (G/SCM/N/372/EU/Add.19  - pertaining to Malta)  
32. Written questions and replies regarding this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/EU/90  – question from Canada  
• G/SCM/Q2/EU/91  – reply to question from Canada  
33. The Chair explained that the European Union's reply to the question from Canada had been 
submitted two days before the meeting.  
34. The European Union  clarified, regarding a question from Canada about eligible expenses for the 
purposes of a specific programme on the fisheries sector, that this scheme was related to the 
reimbursement of ferry ticket expenses incurred by Gozitan fishermen to take their catch to the 
sister island of Malta.  
35. Canada  stated that  it was reviewing the reply  and would return if any follow -up questions were 
required.  
36. The Chair noted that since the European Union had submitted its written reply after the 
applicable deadline, the notification would be on the agenda of the next special meeti ng of the 
Committee.  
37. The Committee took note  of the notification, questions, replies and statements made.  
5.2  China ( G/SCM/N/372/CHN ) 
38. Written questions and replies regarding this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/120  – follow -up ques tions from Canada  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/121  – replies to follow -up questions from Canada  
39. Canada  thanked China for the responses and noted that the subsidy notification process was a 
fundamental aspect of the transparency exercise and encouraged China to provide timely responses 
to the questions. Doing so, China would demonstrate a commitment to improving transparency and 
the effective functioning  of the WTO. Canada also indicated that it had no further questions to China 
in respect to those measures.  
40. China  recalled  that its written repl ies had been submitted before the previous meeting and that 
it had submitted its 2023 new and full notification.  China indicated that it would be open  and frank  
to accept the review of the new and full subsidy notification s from all Members.  
41. The Committee took note  of the notification, questions, replies and statements made.  G/SCM/M/124  
 
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  5.3  India ( G/SCM/N/372/IND ) 
42. Written q uestions and answers regarding this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/IND/55  – questions from the United Kingdom  
• G/SCM/Q2/IND/56  – questions from the United States  
• G/SCM/Q2/IND/57  – questions from Canada  
• G/SCM/Q2/IND/58  – replies to questions from the United States  
• G/SCM/Q2/IND/59  – replies to questions from Canada  
• G/SCM/Q2/IND/60  – replies to questions from the United Kingdom  
43. Both t he United States  and the United Kingdom  thanked India for its replies and indicated that 
they had no further questions at the time .  
44. India pointed out that one of the questions posed by the United States pertained to India's 
fisheries subsidies, which was under consideration for notification. India welcomed any additional 
questions that Members would like to raise.  
45. The Committee took note  of the notification, questions, replies and statements made.  
5.4  Mexico ( G/SCM/N/372/MEX ) 
46. A written question regarding this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/MEX/48  – follow -up question from Canada  
47. Canada  noted it had submitted additional follow -up questions in January 2023, and it looked 
forward to Mexico's responses in writing in advance of the next committee meeting.  
48. The Chair noted that since the follow -up question from Canada was still pending, the notification 
would be on the agenda of the next special meeting of the Committee.  
49. The Committee took note  of the notification, question and the statement made.  
5.5  Montenegro ( G/SCM/N/372/MNE  and G/SCM/N/372/MNE/Corr.1 ) 
50. Written questions and answers regarding this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/MNE/1  – questions from New Zealand  
• G/SCM/Q2/MNE/2  – questions from the United States  
• G/SCM/Q2/MNE/3  – replies to  New Zealand  
• G/SCM/Q2/MNE/4  – replies to the United States  
51. The United States  thanked Montenegro for having answered its questions in writing, even 
though they were on programmes not included in Montenegro's notification, and indicated it had no 
further questions on those programmes.  
52. The Committee took note  of the notification, question s, replies and the statement made.  
6  CONTINUATION OF REVIEW OF 2019 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS 
(G/SCM/N/343/… ) 
6.1  China ( G/SCM/N/343/CHN  and G/SCM/N/343/CHN/Corr.1 ) 
53. Written questions and answers regarding this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/119  – second set of follow -up questions from Canada  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/122  – replies to second set of follow -up questions from Canada  G/SCM/M/124  
 
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  54. Canada  stated it had no further questions but noted that it took over three years to get an 
answer on these two simple questions. In Canada's view, timely  transparency of measures and 
prompt responses to que stions posed by Members, including about programme s that were not 
notified, was fundamental to the effective functioning of the SCM  Agreement  and the WTO as a 
whole.  
55. China  thanked Canada for the written questions and indicated that it had tried its best t o answer 
the questions and to submit the replies before the spring meeting . It also stated that it would  share 
information in case Canada had further comments or questions.  
56. The Committee took note  of the notification, questions, replies, and statements m ade. 
6.2  Dominican Republic (G/SCM/N/343/DOM ) 
57. Written question and reply regarding this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/DOM/3  – question from the United States  
• G/SCM/Q2/DOM/4  – reply to the United States  
58. The United States  thanked the Dominican Republic for having answered its questions, even 
though they were on programmes not included in Dominican Republic's notification. It also thanked 
the Dominican Republic for having subsequently updated its notification to include the se 
programmes and indicated it had no further questions.  
59. The Dominican Republic  thanked the United States for the question posed and stressed that its 
replies had been distributed to all Members. It also stated it was available if there was any concern 
regarding these replies.  
60. The Committee took note  of the notification, question, answer and statements made.  
6.3  European Union ( G/SCM/N/343/EU/ Add.22  pertaining to Portugal)  
61. Written question and reply regarding this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/EU/59  – question from Australia  
• G/SCM/Q2/EU/89  – reply to Australia  
62. Australia  thanked the European Union for the comprehensive response and indicated it had no 
further questions.  
63. The Committee took note  of the notification, question, answer and  the statement made.  
6.4  Russian Federation (G/SCM/N/343/RUS ) 
64. Written questions regarding this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/RUS/21  – questions from the United States  
65. The Chair noted that since the Russian Federation had not provided its written replies to 
questions from the Un ited States , the Committee would return to this notification at its next special 
meeting.  
66. The Committee took note  of the notification , questions  and the Chair's statement . G/SCM/M/124  
 
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  7  CONTINUATION OF REVIEW OF 2015 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS 
(G/SCM/N/284/… ) 
7.1  China ( G/SCM/N/220/CHN  - G/SC M/N/253/CHN  - G/SCM/N/284/CHN  
and G/SCM/N/95/CHN/Suppl.1  - G/SCM/N/123/CHN/Suppl.1  - 
G/SCM/N/155/CHN/Suppl.1  - G/SCM/N/186/CHN/Suppl.1  - 
G/SCM/N/220/CHN/Suppl.1  - G/SCM/N/253/CHN/Suppl.1  - 
G/SCM/N/284/CH N/Suppl.1 ) 
67. Written questions and answers regarding this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/88  – Follow -up questions from the United States  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/95  – Replies to follow -up questions from the United States  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN /123 – Second set of partial replies to follow -up questions from the United 
States  
68. The Chair explained that the notifications in question cover 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 
2013 and 2015 new and full notifications and wo uld be taken up together under this agenda item. 
He also recalled that in document G/SCM/Q2/CHN/95  China provided its partial replies to the 
follow -up questions indicating that it was checking further information for two of the questions posed 
by the United States contained in document G/SCM/Q2/CHN/88 . China provided its replies to those 
pending questions before the previous meeting, which could be found in document 
G/SCM/Q2/CHN/123 . 
69. China  thanked the United States for its concerns and questions noting  that a written reply had 
been submitted before the spring meeting.  
70. The United States  recalled  that it had been eight years since it had first asked questions about 
some of China's sub -central  level subsidy program mes. In those eight years, China had been unable 
to provide answers to the most basic questions. Three years before, China said that it had been  
checking information for two of the program mes and now claimed that those measures had be en 
repealed.  
71. The United States questioned why it took China three years to understand whether its own 
measures were in effect or not, especially when full legal citations had been  provided. In the 
United  States' view, China knew what programme s it had in effect or could reasonably check the 
legal citations about such programme s. The United States noted that the information provided by 
China did not indicate when th ose programme s had been  repealed, for how long they had been  in 
operation, or any other detai ls about their activities since 2015. The purpose of the notification 
obligation under the SCM Agreement was to provide transparency with respect to ongoing subsidy 
programme s. When questions were answered so long after they had originally been asked, and the 
programs that were asked about had been terminated, the value of the exercise was completely 
nullified . It was also fundamentally unfair to those Members who wanted to know how China's 
policies impacted their markets, their workers, and their companies . 
72. The United States stated that it had continued to push for this information for eight years, but 
for most of Members , that was too long to wait for information and too late to address any distortions 
that might have been caused by these subsidies . At the  end of the day, China had effectively used 
delay and deceit to not operate in good faith, not provide transparency, and to deny Members the 
ability to understand the impact of their policies. This would hurt the United States, developing 
countries, least developed countries, and the WTO as a whole, and was fundamentally unfair to all 
Members who were upholding their end of the bargain and operating in good faith.  
73. China  stated  that questions raised by the United States were not covered in China's 
notificat ion. However, China had shared the verified information with Members in writing beyond the 
scope of its obligations under the SCM  Agreement , demonstrating China's sincerity to enhance the 
transparency of its trade policies and respond to the concerns of th e United States. The core value 
of the transparency l ay in providing Members with an opportunity to learn about the trade policies 
of other Members, thereby enhancing the predictability of their trade and other economic activities 
with that Member. It woul d be therefore more important to focus on the transparency obligations of 
existing and effective policies, rather than those that had expired and those notified many years G/SCM/M/124  
 
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  earlier. China  hoped that Members would recognize  the tremendous progress that China,  as a 
developing Member , had made in fulfilling its subsidy notification obligation in recent years.  
74. The United States  asked China how it believed that making Members wait eight years for 
answers to questions in any way enhanced the predictability o f the trading system or allowed 
Members to understand how those measures m ight be impacting their markets.  
75. China  expressed it was very glad to communicate and share information with Members in the 
SCM Committee. It also noted that,  according to the requir ements of the SCM  Agreement , Members 
should  have submit ted a new and full subsidy notification to the WTO before 30  June 2023. China 
had submitted the latest subsidy notifications on time. However, in the latest Annual Report 
distributed by the SCM Committ ee, China observed that  it did not see information about the new 
and full subsidy notification of the United States. China questioned whether the United States had 
submitted a new notification before 30  June 2023 in accordance with the time limit in the SC M 
Agreement .  
76. In reply to China's question, t he United States  noted that  it had submitted its new and full 
subsidy notification for 2023, which would be soon available for Members' review.  
77. The Committee took note  of the notification, questions, answers an d the statements made.  
78. The Chair reminded the delegations that had not yet replied to questions that they had 
received in connection with this or previous meetings to provide their written responses as soon as 
possible, so that the Committee could conclude  the review of the notifications at its next special 
meeting. He also reminded Members that had not yet done so to submit their 2023 new and full 
subsidy notifications as soon as possible. The Chair also commended the Members that already had 
made these no tifications and encouraged all other Members to redouble efforts to notify which would 
greatly enhance the transparency function of subsidy notification and review.  
79. For new and full notifications to be placed on the agenda of the next special meeting, the Chair 
reminded the delegations that these notifications would have to be circulated in all three working 
languages not later than 2 2 December 2023. Given the time needed for translation, this left a narrow 
window to notify in time for review in the fall. T he Secretariat stood ready to offer any assistance in 
this regard.  
80. The Chair also informed delegations wishing to receive written answers to any questions 
regarding notifications reviewed at the present meeting that they should submit their questions in 
writing, to both the Member concerned and to the Secretariat. Similarly, the written answers must 
be submitted directly to the Member that posed the question, and to the Secretariat. The Chair 
emphasized that it was the responsibility of the M embers submitting questions and answers to 
provide them directly to the other Member concerned, at the time it submitted it to the Secretariat 
for circulation to all Members concerned.  
81. Finally, the Chair informed the delegations that after the week's Rules  Committee cluster, the 
Secretariat would circulate the usual triple -symbolled document in G/SCM/W/590  containing all of 
the deadlines for documents to be submitted.1 
82. The meeting was closed . 
__________  
 
1 G/ADP/W/512  - G/SCM/W/590  - G/SG/W/258 .