G/AG/N/USA/170  
 
1 September  2023 
(23-5873) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Agriculture  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following submission, dated 30 August 2023, 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/170  
 
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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:  
Local Food for Schools Cooperative Ag reement Program  
(2) DOMESTIC LEGISLATION REFERENCE:  
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act, PL 80 -772, as amended.  
(3) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MEASURE WITH REFERENCE TO CRITERIA:  
Provisions are consistent with criteria in Annex 2, paragraph 1 and p aragraph 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 price support to producers; additio nally, there are no trade -distorting effects or 
effects on production.  
The Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program is targeted at building more resilient 
food systems while supporting the provision of fresh, nutri tious foods in the National School Lunch 
and School Breakfast Programs. The programme meets the criteria of Annex 2, par agraph 4 
(domestic food aid) because it provides domestic food aid (school breakfasts and lunches) to a 
section of the population in need and eligibility t o receive the food aid is based on clearly -defined 
criteria related to nutritional objectives. Administration and financing of the programme is 
transparent and publicly available, with purchases contracted through a competitive bid process.  
(4) COST OF MEA SURE:  
FY 2022 and FY 2023: up to USD 200 million.  
(5) DATE OF ENTRY INTO EFFECT:  
The programme was announced on 17 December 2021 and the first state cooperative agreement 
was awarded in August 2022.  
(6) PERIOD OF APPLICATION:  
FY 2022 and FY 2023.  
(7) PROD UCTS TO PRINCIPALLY BENEFIT (IF ANY INDIVIDUAL PRODUCT(S)):  
Agricultural products eligible for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.  
 
  G/AG/N/USA/170  
 
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  Table DS:2  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreemen t:  
New or modified domestic support measures exempt from reduction  
___________________________________________________________________________  
 
(1) FULL TITLE OF MEASURE:  
Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP)  
(2) DOMESTIC LE GISLATION REFERENCE:  
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 criteria in Annex 2, paragraph 1 and paragraph 12.  
Outlays un der 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 price support to producers; additionally, there are no tr ade-distorting effects or 
effects on production.  
The Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program reimburses agricultural producers 
and handlers who are certified organic, as well as crop and livestock producers transitioning to 
organic pr oduction, for eligible expenses incurred during Fiscal Years (FY) 2020, 2021, and/or 2022. 
Payments only cover a portion of eligible expenses, which include certification expenses, registration 
fees, and soil testing expenses that are required for organic certification. Recipients are required to 
report any payments under the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP), which prevents 
reimbursement for more than the total amount of expenses. This program me provides short -term 
assistance related to high er unexpected costs related to organic certification that resulted from the 
COVID -19 pandemic.  
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 lo ss involved in complying with the programme.  
(4) COST OF MEASURE:  
FY 2022 and FY 2023: Up to USD 20 million.  
(5) DATE OF ENTRY INTO EFFECT:  
The programme was announced on 4 November 2021 and sign -up began on 8 November 2021, with 
a final deadline of 31 Oct ober 2022.  
(6) PERIOD OF APPLICATION:  
FY 2022 and FY 2023.  
(7) PRODUCTS TO PRINCIPALLY BENEFIT (IF ANY INDIVIDUAL PRODUCT(S)):  
Crops and livestock.  
 
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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:  
The Emergency Food Assistance Program Reach and Resiliency Grants  
(2) DOMESTIC LEGISLATI ON REFERENCE:  
American Rescue Plan Act, 2021 P.L. 117 -2. 
(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 does not involve transfers from consumers, 
and there is no price support to producers; additionally, there  are no trade -distorting effects or 
effects on production.  
TEFAP Reach and Resiliency Grants will provide up to USD 100 million in funding for State agencies 
to expand The Emergency Food Assistance Programme (TEFAP) in remote, rural, tribal, and/or low 
income areas that are underserved by the program me. TEFAP is notified under para. 4 and this 
programme is intended to improve TEFAP efficacy and service.  
(4) COST OF MEASURE:  
Up to USD 100 million.  
(5) DATE OF ENTRY INTO EFFECT:  
USDA announced the programme on 4 June 2021, and the first round of grants were awarded in 
June 2022.  
(6) PERIOD OF APPLICATION:  
FY 2022 and FY 2023.  
(7) PRODUCTS TO PRINCIPALLY BENEFIT (IF ANY INDIVIDUAL PRODUCT(S)):  
None.  
  G/AG/N/USA/170  
 
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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:  
Urban Agriculture and Innovative Productio n 
(2) DOMESTIC LEGISLATION REFERENCE:  
Agriculture Improvement Act, 2018 (P.L. 115 -334). 
(3) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MEASURE WITH REFERENCE TO CRITERIA:  
Provisions are consistent with criteria in Annex 2, paragraph 1 and paragraph 2(f).  
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 price support to producers; additionally, there are no trade -distorting effects or 
effects on production.  
The Urban Agriculture and Innovation Program (UAIP) aims to support the development of urban 
agricultural practices and help improve access to fresh, healthy foods where it is currently limited. 
The programme meets the criteria of Annex 2, paragraph 2(f) (marketing and promotion) in that it 
funds training, market information, advice, and promotion activities related to urban agriculture. 
Examples include: development of community gardens; assessments of community nee ds related 
to food access, nutrition education, conservation and economic development; creating education 
materials and program mes to increase knowledge about food and agriculture; implementation of 
best practices to address food access, zoning, soil healt h, and other needs for targeted communities . 
Eligibility for these grants are limited to non-profit  organizations, local governments, Native 
American Tribal governments and organizations, and schools.  
(4) COST OF MEASURE:  
Section 12302 of the Agriculture I mprovement Act, 2018 authorized USD 25 million to be 
appropriated to carry out the UAIP, including the creation of an Office of Urban Agriculture and 
Innovative Production, an Urban Agriculture and Innovation Production Advisory Committee, and 
pilot projec ts (i.e., to establish county committees and to increase community compost and reduce 
food waste). The American Rescue Plan Act, 2021 provided an additional USD 18.7 million to fund 
additional projects in 2021 given program me oversubscription that year.  
(5) DATE OF ENTRY INTO EFFECT:  
The Agriculture Improvement Act, 2018 entered into force on 20 December 2018. The first round of 
grants were awarded in FY 2020.  
(6) PERIOD OF APPLICATION:  
FY 2019 through FY 2023 . 
(7) PRODUCTS TO PRINCIPALLY BENEFIT (IF ANY IN DIVIDUAL PRODUCT(S)):  
All agricultural products.  
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