RESTRICTED  
  
G/AG/R/98  
 
12 May 2021  
(21-4045) Page: 1/19 
Committee on Agriculture    
 
SUMMARY REPORT OF THE MEETING HELD ON 29 -30 MARCH 2021  
NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT1 
1  ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA  
1.1.  The Committee on Agriculture (CoA) held its ninety -seventh (97th) regular meeting 
on 29- 30 March  2021 under the Chairpersonship of Ms. Maria Araceli Escandor of the Philippines.  
1.2.  The agenda contained in the convening airgram WTO/AIR/AG/50 circulated on 18 March 2021 
was adopted with the following additions under agenda item 2.G – Other business:  
• Brazil  to present the joint statement entitled "The contribution of international agricultural 
trade to sustainable food systems" (G/AG/GEN/186); and  
1.3.  Additionally, the Chairperson informed Members about the request from the Inter -American 
Institute for Cooperati on on Agriculture to present its 2021 work plan and the new notification project 
(G/AG/GEN/185) under 'other business'. The Chairperson also acknowledged the ad hoc reports by 
the European Union (G/AG/GEN/159/Add.4) and Japan (G/AG/GEN/166/Rev.1) on COVID -19 
measures, circulated after the issuance of the convening airgram, for consideration under agenda 
item 2.A - Other matters within the purview of the Committee: COVID -19 and agriculture.  
2  THE REVIEW PROCESS  
2.1.  The Chairperson urged Members to provide timely a nd complete responses to questions raised 
during the Committee's review process and to submit them into the Agriculture Information 
Management System (AG -IMS) 2 for interested Members to consult.  
2.2.  The Chairperson noted that for this meeting, as of 26 March  2021, four out of the 157 questions 
raised had responses submitted into the AG -IMS. The Chairperson encouraged Members to submit 
responses, to the extent practicable, 48 hours in advance of CoA meetings  to deepen exchanges 
during meetings.   
2.3.  The Secretariat continued its practice of ascertaining the attendance of Members subject to 
advance questions . Tonga had indicated, in advance, its inability to be present at the meeting and 
had provided a response to the question3 it had received.  
3  MATTE RS RELEVANT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMITMENTS UNDER THE REFORM 
PROGRAMME - ARTICLE 18.6  
3.1.  A total of 62 specific implementation matters (SIMs) were raised at the 97th CoA meeting under 
Article 18.6.4 The full version of the questions raised can be found in Section 1 of the compilation 
document G/AG/W/210.  Out the 62 SIMs, 30 were raised for the first time. Members' responses 
and follow -up comments may be consulted in the AG -IMS using the relevant question ID numbers 
 
1 This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice 
to the positions of Members or to their rights and obligations under the WTO.  
2 http://agims.wto.org/ . 
3 AG-IMS ID 97143.  
4 WTO/AIR/AG/ 50, Section A of Attachment  1. G/AG/R/98  
 
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  as provided in Table 1 of Annex 1 to th is report. This information can also be accessed directly by 
clicking on the question ID numbers in column  3 of the table.  
3.1  Review of Notifications  
3.2.  The Chairperson reported that since the previous Committee meeting, held on 30 November  –
1 December 2020, 137 notifications had been received. Out of those, 47 related to export 
competition, 47  related to market access, 37 concerned domestic support, four concerned the 
NFIDC  Decision, and two concerned export prohibitions and restrictions. Th ose notifications had 
been distributed electronically to all delegations and were available for consultation through 
the AG-IMS.  
3.1.1   Notifications in respect of which questions have been raised in advance of the 
issuance of the convening airgram  
3.3.  Table 2 of An nex 1 to this report includes the list of questions relating to individual notifications 
raised in advance of the issuance of the convening airgram .5 Members' responses and follow -up 
comments can be accessed through the AG -IMS using the relevant question ID numbers as provided 
in the table as well as through the hyperlinks contained in the table.  
3.1.2   Deferred replies to questions raised under the review process  
3.4.  The Secretariat document (G/AG/W/204/Rev. 2) presents  a list of questions raised under the 
CoA revie w process from 2013 to 2020 where responses have remained outstanding.  As 
of 16 March  2021, a total of 111 questions still have outstanding responses  from 38 Members  for 
the period 2013 -2019. For the questions posed in 20 20, 68 responses from 33 Members we re still 
pending as of 18 March 2021.  
3.5.  The Chairperson urged Members to make dedicated efforts to shorten, and eventually close, 
the list of pending responses. To assist Members in this endeavour, the Secretariat had introduced 
a feature in the AG -IMS to g enerate automatic reminders to Members with outstanding responses .  
3.1.3   Overdue notifications  
3.6.  The Committee took note of the Secretariat document summarizing the status of Members' 
compliance with notification obligations .6 
3.7.  The Chairperson acknowledged Member s' efforts to bring their notifications up to date, noting 
that several Members had submitted agriculture notifications covering multiple years since the 
November -December 2020 meeting, including:  
• Congo : Table DS:1 and ES:1, both covering the period 2016 -2020;  
• El Salvador : Table DS:1 covering 2008 -2011;  
• Guatemala : Table MA:2 covering 2018 -2020 and Table MA:5 covering 2016 -2020;  
• Guinea : Table DS:1 covering 2017 -2019 and Table ES:1  for 2010 -2018;  
• Honduras : Table ES:1 concerning 2017 -2020;  
• India: Table ES:1 covering 2010 -2013;  
• North Macedonia : Table ES:1 relating to 2018 -2020;  
• Pakistan : Table DS:1 for 2012 -2015;  
• Tonga : Table DS:1 covering 2010 -2019;  
• Tunisia : Table ES:1 concerning 2016 -2019; and  
• Viet Nam : Table DS:1 relating to 2014 -2017.  
3.8.  The Chairperson also drew Members' attention to the overall situation with respect to 
outstanding domestic support and export subsidy notifications for the period 1995 to 2019:  
• 917 Table DS:1 domestic support notification s remained outstanding; and  
• 934 export subsidy notifications in the Table ES:1 series remained outstanding.  
 
5 WTO/AIR/AG/ 50, Section B of Attachment  1. The full version of the questions raised can be found 
under section 2 of the compilation d ocument G/AG/W/2 10. 
6 G/AG/GEN/86/Rev.4 1. G/AG/R/98  
 
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  3.9.  Nine questions were raised under this agenda item.7 Members' responses and follow -up 
comments can be accessed through the AG -IMS using the relevant  question ID numbers as provided 
in Table 3 of Annex 1 to this report.  
3.10.   The Chairperson emphasized the importance of transparency and timely notifications and 
encouraged Members' efforts to fulfil their notification obligations.  
3.1.4   Notifications subject to rev iew in respect of which no questions have been raised 
in advance of the issuance of the convening airgram  
3.11.   The Committee took note of the 96 notifications circulated before the issuance of the 
convening airgram on 18 March 2021, including notifications carr ied over from the 30 November – 
1 December 2020 meeting, but in respect of which no questions had been raised by that date under 
paragraph 9 of the Committee's working procedures .8 
3.1.5   Notifications circulated after the issuance of the convening airgram  
3.12.   The f ollowing notifications were circulated after the issuance of the convening airgram on 
18 March  2021: addendum to Table MA:1 notification from the European  Union 
(G/AG/N/EU/65/Add.1), Table DS:1 notification s from Guinea  for the years 2017 -2019 
(G/AG/N/GIN/10, G/AG/N/GIN/11, G/AG/N/GIN/12), Table ES:1 notifications from India for the 
years 2010 -2013 (G/AG/N/IND/21, G/AG/N/IND/22, G/AG/N/IND/23, G/AG/N/IND/24),  Table ES:1 
notifications  from the Kingdom of  Saudi Arabia  for the years 2013 and 2014  (G/AG/N/SAU/21, 
G/AG/N/SAU/22), and Table ES:1 notification from Singapore  for the year 2020  (G/AG/N/SGP/36). 
These notifications would be reverted to for review at the next  regular meeting in June, in accordance 
with the Committee' s working procedures.  
3.1.6   Points concerning notifications raised at previous meetings which have been 
pursued bilaterally: information regarding outcome where the issue involved is one of 
general interest  
3.13.   There were no requests for the floor under this agenda item. 
3.1.7   Counter -notifications under Article 18.7 of the Agreement on Agriculture  
3.14.   No counter -notifications under Article 18.7 were made for this Committee meeting.  
4  OTHER MATTERS WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE COMMITTEE  
4.1  COVID -19 and Agriculture  
4.1.  El Salvador, South A frica, Israel , the European Union (EU) and Japan presented new or updated 
ad hoc  reports , on COVID -19 agricultural measures under this agenda item. The Observer 
International Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) also presented written contributions.9  
4.2.  El Salvador reported that , as of 3 February 2021, all COVID -19 related measures 
communicated in document G/AG/GEN/163 had expired.10 
4.3.  South Africa in its ad hoc  report11 presented details of its ZAR  1.2 billion COVID -19 agricultural 
disaster support fund for smallholder and communal farmers  targeting financially distressed 
small -scale farmers . The programme focused on farmers who were in production and were preparing 
for winter crops, with the objective to complete the pr oduction cycle to ensure adequate food 
production and supply. The funding , in the form of voucher -based grant  system not exceed ing 
ZAR 50,000 per farming operation , was applied in partnership with input manufactures and 
 
7 The full version of the questions raised can be found under section 3 of the compilation document  
G/AG/W/2 10. 
8 WTO/AIR/AG/ 50, Section C of Attachment  1. 
9 G/AG/GEN/181 and G/AG/GEN/182  (IGC), G/AG/GEN/183  (WFP), and G/AG/GEN/184  (FAO).  
10 G/AG/GEN/163/Add.1.  
11 G/AG/GEN/180.  G/AG/R/98  
 
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  distributors . Further information may be accessed  at: https://www.dalrrd.gov.za/Home/COVID -19-
updates . South Africa also highlighted that the ad hoc  report did not substitute for its domestic 
support obligations and that the reported measures would be included in the relevant domestic 
support notification . 
4.4.  Israel presented its updated ad hoc  report cover ing measures adopted in relation to  COVID -19 
as of March 2021.12 The measures, inter alia , aimed at facilitating the availabi lity of workers and 
volunteers  in the agriculture sector and related activities, encouraging the marketing of agricultural 
products, including by way of e -commerce platforms, facilitating imports to ensure adequate supply 
of essential foodstuffs, and provi ding financial assistance to agricultural producers affected by the 
loss of market access on export markets as well as locally. Additionally, an Acceleration Plan entailing 
R&D funding  and other  investments was being developed  to improve food resilience an d to enable 
farmers deal with the economic effects of COVID -19.  
4.5.  The EU submitted  a fourth update to its COVID -19 ad-hoc report containing details of 
agricultural measure s adopted between 10 November 2020 and 10 March 2021 .13 The document 
provides an update of the quantities contracted under the private storage aid schemes indicating 
that no  quanti ties were in store as of 31 December 2020. The report also includes details of 
agricultural support measures and interventions by member States i n response to COVID -19. The 
EU also informed the Committee that domestic support measures included in its ad hoc  reports would 
be reported  in the EU 's relevant  Table DS:1 notification .   
4.6.  Japan presented a revision to its previous ad hoc  report listing COVID -19 agricultural measures 
under the "Emergency Economic Measures to Cope with the Novel Coronavirus (COVID -19)".14 The 
revised report includes additional details in respect of the relevant beneficiary products as well as 
the cost and the durat ion of measures.   
4.7.  The Observer IGOs also contributed to discussions under this agenda item. The International 
Grains Council (IGC)  submitted two statements15 presenting respectively the  latest five -year supply 
and demand projections for major grains, oilse eds and rice, and speaking on behalf of the Food 
Assistance Committee. The IGC predicted a continued rise in productivity and expansion of trade for 
these commodities for the next five years.   The second written contribution by the IGC presented 
findings f rom the Food Assistance Annual Narrative Report for 2019 where it was highlighted that 
global emergency hunger had remained at its highest level in 2019 with almost 135 million people 
in 55 countries being classified in crisis condition or worse. Further, the report noted that all Food 
Assistance Convention parties had fulfilled or substantially exceeded their commitments in 2019 and 
contributed with a total of almost six billion US dollars to the improvement of global food security.  
4.8.  The World Food Program me (WFP) presented a background document16 showing that  global 
humanitarian needs had dramatically increased, from USD 28.8 billion at the beginning of 2020 to 
a record high level of USD 35.8 billion for 2021. The WFP noted that the challenge had been 
comp ounded by the rising world food prices with the FAO Food Price Index having reached its highest 
level since July 2014. It also underlined the WTO's key role in supporting WFP's work to alleviate 
hunger and reduce malnutrition for the world's most vulnerabl e populations. The WFP thanked all 
WTO Members that supported Singapore's proposal17 to not impose export prohibitions and 
restrictions on foodstuffs purchased by the WFP for non -commercial, humanitarian purposes and 
urged WTO Members to adopt it.  Australi a, Brazil, Canada, the European Union, and Singapore 
supported an outcome on this issue at the 12th Ministerial Conference.    
4.9.  FAO in its written contribution18 noted that COVID -19 had generated a dual shock to food 
commodity markets, affecting both supply and demand. It stressed that t he efforts of governments 
worldwide to keep agricultural markets open and trade in food commodities flowing smoothly have 
contributed to the remarkable resilience of agricultural commod ity markets. The FAO also indicated 
that after an initial downward trend at the onset of the pandemic, the Food Price Index had shown , 
 
12 G/AG/GEN/160/Add.1.  
13 G/AG/GEN/159/Add.4.  
14 G/AG/GEN/166/Rev.1.  
15 G/AG/GEN/181 and G/AG/GEN/182.  
16 G/AG/GEN/183.  
17 WT/GC/W/810 -TN/AG/46 and revisions . 
18 G/AG/GEN/1 84. G/AG/R/98  
 
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  since May 2020,  an increasing trend. The FAO suggested a number of policy actions to overcome 
the immediate impacts cause d by the COVID -19 pandemic  and to build back better; these included 
support ing and updat ing monitoring systems and innovation in collecting real time data and analysis , 
improv ing policy coordination , addressing long -term structural issues , ensuring an incl usive recovery 
process, keeping trade open , and strengthening international cooperation .  
4.10.   Brazil pointed to a common denominator in the FAO's recommendations, i.e., the need for 
reforms to ensure sustainable agricultural production, including in the realm of the WTO Agreement 
on Agriculture, such as domestic support reforms.  
4.11.   Switzerland thanked all Members and observer international organizations for their 
contributions to enhance transparency of agricultural trade in the wake of the COVID -19 pandemic 
and for an informed exchange to adequately shape the global food supply.  
4.12.   The EU noted that agriculture  was not the sector that ha d suffered the most  during the 
pandemic, but primarily faced challenges linked to the change in consumption pattern s towards  retail 
and home c ooking. The EU highlighted that some sectors had  faced additional challenges from other 
external factors , such as African Swine Fever. Moreover, travel  restrictions had hampered the 
availability of seasonal harvest workers. Increased border controls ha d in other cases le d to delay s 
causing difficulties for the logistical sector to get product s to shops in time. The EU expressed 
concerns over the introduction of export restrictions  which could lead  to shortages of food leading 
to a significant  increase in price volatility. In addition, the EU noted that the biggest risk to the 
agri-food sector  could  come from a reduced economic activity  and numerous other associated 
uncertainties and challenges . The EU was also emphatic that trade was part of the solution , rather 
than a problem,  to these various challenges  and noted that t hose challenges w ould also spill -over 
to the negotiation process in the Special Session of the Committee.   The EU considered that a 
rule-based multilateral trading system was needed in the recovery process . 
4.13.   The Secretariat recalled  its continuing efforts to assist Members' engagement under the 
standing agenda item on 'COVID -19 and Agriculture'. As regards Members' request to facilitate the 
identification of agricultural measures  within the Secretariat's COVID -19 monitoring, the Secretariat 
referred to the addition of a separate column to the COVID -19 Goods Tracker to allow the filtering 
of measures related to agricultural products. In response to the renewed request by Members at  the 
November -December 2020 meeting of the Committee to maintain a separate COVID -19 agriculture 
tracker, the Secretariat informed the Committee that the Trade Monitoring team had been exploring 
a possible solution and that it would inform the Membership once the presentational changes were 
able to be introduced to  the WTO COVID -19 webpage . 
4.14.   The Chairperson encouraged all Members to be transparent about their COVID -19 agricultural 
measures and to present information on those measures for the Comm ittee's collective assessment.  
4.2  WTO List of Net Food -importing Developing Countries (G/AG/3 and G/AG/5/R ev.11) 
4.15.   The Chairperson noted that n o new request for inclusion in the list of NFIDCs had been 
received from Members.  Therefore, the list contained in doc ument G/AG/5/Rev.11 remain ed 
unchanged.   
4.3  Implementation -related issues (G/AG/16, G/AG/16/ADD.1, G/AG/22)19 
4.16.   There  were no requests  for the floor under this agenda item.  
4.4  Implementation of Ministerial outcomes  
4.4.1   Bali Ministerial Decision on TRQ administration (WT/MIN(13)/39 and G/AG/29), 
including Chair report of the informal meeting  
4.17.   The issue was discussed at the informal meeting of the Committee on 29 March. At the formal 
meeting, the Chairperson provided an oral report on the discussions duri ng the informal meeting, 
which is contained in Annex 2 to this report. Considering the end of the year deadline for a decision 
 
19 See the Ministerial Decision of 14 November 2001 as contained in WT/MIN(01)/17.  G/AG/R/98  
 
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  on paragraph 4 of the underfill mechanism, the Chairperson called on Members to deepen their 
engagement on this issue in order to facilitate convergence within the stipulated deadline. She also 
stated that a dditional consultations would  be organized, as necessary, before the June Committee 
meeting.    
4.4.2   Follow up on the Nairobi Decision on export competition , including Chair report on 
the informal meeting   
4.18.   The Chairperson reported that a s part of the monitoring of the Nairobi Decision on Export 
Competition, Members ha d the possibility to raise questions during any meeting under this agend a 
item, but that n o question ha d been raised prior to th e meeting.  
4.19.   Concerning the modification of Schedules pursuant to the Nairobi Ministerial Decision , 12 out 
of the 16 Members with export subsidy reduction commitments at the time of adoption of the Nair obi 
Decision, ha d now their revised schedule s certified20; two Members, namely Canada and the 
European Un ion, ha d circulated their draft schedule in 2017 but these were not yet certified; and 
the remaining two Members, namely Brazil and the Bolivarian Repu blic of Venezuela, ha d yet to 
circulate their draft schedules. Brazil informed the Committee that the Nairobi Decision had just 
been approved by the Brazilian Congress and it could begin, as soon as possible, the process of 
modifying its Schedule of commitments. Brazil also acknowledged the valuable technical support 
received from the WTO Secretariat.  
4.20.   Regarding  preparation s for the next  export competition dedicated discussion  scheduled for 
the September 2021 regular CoA meeting, the Chairperson recalled that an email initiating th e 
exercise had been circulated on 14 January 2021 with a deadline of 28 May 2021 for submi tting 
replies to the questionnaire . The Chairperson noted tha t this was the first time that all Members 
were expected to reply to the questionnaire  and that a significant increase in the rate of replies to 
the questionnaire from this year would constitute a very substantive collective achievement on 
transparency .  
4.21.   The Chairperson therefore stressed the importance of raising Members' awareness and 
providing support to those who were not yet accustomed to the exercise. She welcomed in that 
regard the  information session organized by the Secretariat on 29 March on how t o reply to the 
Export Competition questionnaire during which  Brazil, Canada and Indonesia also shared national 
experiences. The Secretariat  also update d Members on an on -going AG -IMS Export Competition 
questionnaire extension project . The new tool would enable on -line replies to the export competition 
questionnaire  and would  include a reporting function allowing the extraction of data incorporated in 
the replies to the questionnaire and complementary tables processed by the Secretariat  which are 
currently compiled in the four addenda to the Secretariat's annual background doc ument.  
4.22.   With regards to the second triennial review of the disciplines contained i n the Nairobi Decision 
on Export Competition  pursuant to  paragraph 5 of the Decision , the Chairperson provided an oral 
report on the discussions that took place during the informal meeting of the Committee  on 29 March. 
The oral report can be found  in Annex  3 to this report . 
4.4.3   Implementation of Other Ministerial Outcomes  
4.23.   There were no requests for the floor under this agenda item.  
4.5  Chair report on the informal meeting of 29 March - Enhancing transparency and the 
CoA Review Process  
4.24.   During the informal meeting of  29 March, the Committee continued its deliberations on 
enhancing transparency and the Committee's review process. At the formal meeting, the 
Chairperson provided an oral report on the discussions, which is contained in Annex  4 to this report.  
 
20 Australia, Colombia, Iceland, Indonesia, Israel, Mexico, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey, 
United States of America and Uruguay.  G/AG/R/98  
 
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  4.6  Election of the Chairperson  
4.25.   The Chairperson informed Members that the consultations on the slate of Chairs for the 
Council for Trade in Goods (CTG)  subsidiary bodies for 2021 were ongoing  and propose d that th e 
agenda item be taken up at the beginning of the next CoA meeting in June  2021. 
4.7  Other Business  
4.7.1   Joint statement  "The contribution of international agricultural trade to sustainable 
food systems"  G/AG/GEN/186  
4.26.   Brazil presented the joint statement21 sent by Br azil along with 15 other WTO Members to the 
Chair of the Food Systems Summit Advisory Committee, Ms. Amina Mohammed, and to the UN 
Secretary -General 's Special Envoy for the 2021 Food Systems Summit, Ms. Agnes Kalibata. Brazil 
pointed out that the Food Syst ems Summit (FSS) was convened by the UN Secretary General and 
would take place in New York, in September 2021, during the General Assembly high -level week. 
The FSS would result in a "non-negotiated outcome document ", with a list of "game -changing 
solutions " to achieve sustainable food systems by 2030. Brazil noted the objective of seeking to 
ensure a balance between the three dimensions of sustainable development (economic, social, and 
environmental) and the inclusion of agricultural trade in the FSS prepar atory discussions. Brazil 
expressed concerns on the limited participation of member States in the preparation of the Summit 
and their limited ownership of the FSS outcome document, which would be finalized under the full 
responsibility of the UN Secretary General. Brazil also expressed concerns that the role of trade in 
agricultural and agri -food products had not received adequate attention in the preparatory 
discussions for the Summit,  rather the discussions had witnessed some negative overtones around 
international trade. This motivated the joint statement, through which the co -authors highlighted 
the importance of open agricultural trade.  
4.27.   Australia, Ukraine, Argentina, New Zealand, Canada, Uruguay, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Chile, 
as co-signatories of the st atement, expressed support for Brazil's intervention.  
4.28.   China welcomed the joint statement and affirmed its consistent support for a transparent and 
predictable agriculture trading system based on a level playing field, particularly in view of the 
challenge s from COVID -19 and climate change. China noted that developing countries should be 
able to ensure their food security and benefit from trade so as to contribute to  global food security, 
and expressed its willingness to participate in further discussions.  
4.7.2   IICA's work plan 2021  
4.29.   IICA presented its work plan for 202122 which includes a  new notification project . The project 
is a follow -up to its previous study on the challenges and opportunities faced by the countries of the 
Americas in complying with agricultu re notification obligations and in participating in the CoA review 
process. IICA invited interested  Members to contact the IICA and WTO Secretariats . 
4.7.3   Notification  Workshop – October 2021  
4.30.   The Secretariat briefed Members about its technical assistance activi ties in 2021, including 
the flagship notification workshop. The workshop was tentatively scheduled to take place from 
19-22 October 2021. A total of 25 government officials from developing country Members  would be 
selected for funded participation. The wor kshop would address the requirements and formats of 
agriculture notifications, the importance of transparency and the review process of the Committee. 
Additional information on the workshop would be provided to Members in due course.  
 
21 G/AG/GEN/186.  
22 G/AG/GEN/185.  G/AG/R/98  
 
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  4.7.4   Date of next regular meetings  
4.31.   The Chairperson proposed that the ninety -eighth (98th) regular meeting of the Committee on 
Agriculture be held on 17 -18 June 2021. On that basis, the airgram convening the meeting would 
be issued on 4 June 2021 and the remind er airgram would be issued on 17 May 2021.  
4.32.   The tentative dates for the last meeting of the Committee in 2021 were also announced for 
23-24 September 2021.23   
_______________  
 
 
  
 
23 G/AG /GEN/178 /Rev.1  contains the tentative dates of the remaining Committee meetings in 2021.  G/AG/R/98  
 
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  ANNEX 1  
Annex 1 includes the full list of questions raised under the various agenda items of the Committee. 
Members' responses and follow -up exchanges (if applicable) can be accessed through the AG -IMS 
(http://agims.wto.org/ ) by selecting the function "Search Q&A Submitted Since 1995" a nd inputting 
the ID number of the question concerned. Question IDs where replies were yet to be submitted into 
the AG -IMS as of 11 May  2021 have been identified with the symbol "*". Members are invited to 
submit outstanding replies through the AG -IMS at th e earliest opportunity.  
Table 1 - Specific Implementation Matters (Article 18.6)  
Specific Implementation Matter  Question by  ID Number  
Angola's import policies  United States of America  97002 * 
Australia's package of reforms for the agricultural sector  India 97085  
Canada's Dairy Direct Payment Program  New Zealand  97095  
Canada's Dairy Direct Payment Program  United States of America  97004  
Canada - Farm gate milk prices  United States of America  97003  
Canada - Bill C-216 United States of America  97005  
Canada's Dairy price increase in New Brunswick  European Union  97025  
China - China -US Economic and Trade Agreement  Australia  97099 * 
China's agricultural exports by state -owned enterprises  United States of America  97006 * 
China's agricultural exports by state -owned enterprises  United States of America  97007 * 
China's cotton policies  Australia  97098 * 
China's rural development plans for 2021   Australia  97100 * 
China's Maize import duties  European Union  97024 * 
China Minimum support prices   Canada  97101 * 
Côte d'Ivoire's Tax on imported spirits  European Union  97027 * 
Egypt's Sugar import restrictions  European Union  97030 * 
European Union - Modification of agricultural schedule of 
commitments  Canada  97107  
EU's environmental policies   Paraguay  97131  
EU's environmental policies  Paraguay  97132  
EU's support measures in response to COVID -19 Brazil  97105  
The European Union's trade policy  Australia  97102  
France - National Strategy for Vegetable Proteins  Brazil  97103  
France's soybean production and the EU's Blue Box support  Brazil  97104  
France - Origin of goods on supermarket shelves  Brazil  97106  
EU member States' regulations on domestic food products  Ukraine  97108  
Honduras - export prohibitions on dried leguminous vegetables  Japan  97109 * 
India's pulses policies  Australia  97112  
India's pulses policies  Canada  97115  
India's pulses policies  Russian Federation  97114  
India's pulses policies  United States of America  97022  
India's export subsidies for skim milk powder  United States of America  97019  
India's wheat public stockpiling  United States of America  97012  
India's wheat public stockpiling  United States of America  97013  
India's wheat public stockpiling  United States of America  97010 * 
India's short -term crop loans  United States of America  97018  
India - National Dairy Plan Phase I  United States of America  97014  
India - Agriculture Infrastructure Fund  Australia  97110  
India - Scheme for Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported 
Products  United States of America  97020  
India's export prohibition on onions  Japan  97113  
India' - increase on cotton tariffs  Australia  97111  
India's oilseeds policies  United States of America  97009  
India- support to sugar and  biofuels   United States of America  97011  
India- export subsidies for sugar   United States of America  97015  
India- export subsidies for sugar   United States of America  97016  
India- export subsidies for sugar   United States of America  97017  G/AG/R/98  
 
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  Specific Implementation Matter  Question by  ID Number  
India - Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC)   United States of America  97021  
Indonesia's imports of citrus, melons, strawberries and 
persimmons  Japan  97117 * 
Indonesia - Regulations on imports of bovine meat  Brazil  97116 * 
Mongolia's quota regime for importation  Russian Federation  97118  
New Zealand's International Airfreight Capacity scheme (IAFC)  European Union  97034  
Nigeria's Foreign exchange restrictions affecting dairy and maize 
imports  European Union  97036 * 
Russian Federation's railway subsidy for exports 
(Resolution  #1104)  United States of Am erica 97032 * 
Russian Federation's export subsidies for alcohol  European Union  97064 * 
Russian Federation's export quotas  Brazil  97119 * 
Russian Federation's Permanent export quota for cereals  United States of America  97026 * 
Russian Federation's support on exports of high value -added 
agricultural products  India 97086 * 
Russian Federation - Sunflower seeds export duty  United States of America  97023 * 
Russian Federation's  wheat subsidies  United States of America  97029 * 
Russian Federation's  grain export duties  United States of America  97031 * 
Russian Federation's  grain export duties  India 97087 * 
Russian Federation's formula -based grain export tax  European Union  97039 * 
Russian Federation  - Soya Beans Export Duty  United States of America  97028 * 
Saudi Arabia , Kingdom of - Imports of agricultural  products 
from Turkey  Turkey  97093 * 
Chinese Taipei - Ceiling price for imported rice under the TRQ   United States of America  97008 * 
Tajikistan's export prohibitions on certain food products  Japan  97120 * 
Tajikistan's poultry tariffs   United States of America  97033 * 
Turkey's flour export and Turkish Grain Board  United States of America  97035  
Ukraine's  export cap on corn  United States of America  97037  
United Kingdom - Modification of the EU's agricultural schedule of 
commitments  New Zeala nd 97096  
United States - China -US Economic and Trade Agreement  Australia  97121  
U.S. Coronavirus Food Assistance Program  New Zealand  97094  
U.S. domestic support programmes  Brazil  97122  
U.S. COVID relief Package "H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan"  European Union  97065   
  G/AG/R/98  
 
- 11 - Table 2 - Questions raised in connection with individual notifications  
Document Symbol  Question by  Answer by  Notification Format  Keywords  ID Number  
G/AG/N/BRA/59  United States of America  Brazil  MA:2 - Imports under TQs  Transparency issues  97038  
G/AG/N/CHN/55  Australia  China  MA:2 - Imports under TQs  Tariff quota fill  97123  
G/AG/N/CHN/55  Canada  China  MA:2 - Imports under TQs  Tariff quota fill  97124  
G/AG/N/CHN/55  European Union  China  MA:2 - Imports under TQs  Tariff quota fill  97066  
G/AG/N/CHN/55  Thailand  China  MA:2 - Imports under TQs  Tariff quo ta fill 97125  
G/AG/N/EU/68  Canada  European Union  MA:2 - Imports under TQs  Tariff quota fill  97126  
G/AG/N/EU/68  Paraguay  European Union  MA:2 - Imports under TQs  Tariff quota fill  97133 
G/AG/N/IND/20  United States of America  India MA:2 - Imports under TQs  Transparency issues  97041  
G/AG/N/IND/20  United States of America  India MA:2 - Imports under TQs  Transparency issues  97042  
G/AG/N/IND/20  Australia  India MA:2 - Imports under TQs  Tariff quota fill  97127  
G/AG/N/IND/20  Brazil  India MA:2 - Imports under TQs  Tariff quota fill  97128  
G/AG/N/IND/20  United States of America  India MA:2 - Imports under TQs  Tariff quota fill  97040  
G/AG/N/MKD/28  Australia  North Macedonia  MA:2 - Imports under TQs  Tariff quota fill  97129  
G/AG/N/PHL/70  United States of America  Philippines  MA:2 - Imports under TQs  Transparency issues  97043  
G/AG/N/ZAF/95  European Union  South Africa  MA:2 - Imports under TQs  Tariff quota fill  97067  
G/AG/N/COG/5  Canada  Congo  DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Transparency issues (including 
Table DS:2)  97130  
G/AG/N/SLV/65  Canada  El Salvador  DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Transparency issues (including 
Table DS:2)  97138  
G/AG/N/SLV/68  Canada  El Salvador  DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Transparency issues (including 
Table DS:2)  97139  
G/AG/N/IND/18  United States of America  India DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Transparency issues (including 
Table DS:2)  97044  
G/AG/N/IND/18  United States of America  India DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Transparency issues (including 
Table DS:2)  97045  
G/AG/N/IND/18  United States of America  India DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Transparency issues (including 
Table DS:2)  97046  
G/AG/N/IND/18  United States of America  India DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Transparency issues (including 
Table DS:2)  97047  
G/AG/N/IND/18  United States of America  India DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Transparency issues (including 
Table DS:2)  97048  
G/AG/N/IND/18  United States of America  India DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Transparency issues (including 
Table DS:2)  97049  
G/AG/N/IND/18  United States of America  India DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Transparency issues (including 
Table DS:2)  97050  
G/AG/N/IND/18  United States of America  India DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Transparency issues (including 
Table DS:2)  97051  
G/AG/N/IND/18  United States of America  India DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Transparency issues (including 
Table DS:2)  97052   
  G/AG/R/98  
 
- 12 - Document Symbol  Question by  Answer by  Notification Format  Keywords  ID Number  
G/AG/N/IND/18  United States of America  India DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Transparency issues (including 
Table DS:2)  97053  
G/AG/N/IND/18  United States of America  India DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Transparency issues (including 
Table DS:2)  97055  
G/AG/N/IND/18  United States of America  India DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Public stockholding for food 
security purposes  97054  
G/AG/N/IND/18  United States of America  India DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Domestic food aid  97056  
G/AG/N/IND/18  United States of America  India DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Domestic food aid  97058  
G/AG/N/IND/18  Paraguay  India DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Input subsidies availa ble to low -
income or resource -poor producers  97136  
G/AG/N/IND/18  United States of America  India DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Input subsidies available to low -
income or resource -poor producers  97057  
G/AG/N/IND/18  Brazil  India DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Market price support  97140  
G/AG/N/IND/18  European Union  India DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Market price support  97001  
G/AG/N/IND/18  Paraguay  India DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Market price support  97135  
G/AG/N/IND/18  Paraguay  India DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Market price support  97134  
G/AG/N/IND/18  United States of America  India DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Market price support  97059  
G/AG/N/IND/18  United States of America  India DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Market price support  97060  
G/AG/N/NOR/114  New Zealand  Norway  DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Payments based on 85 % or less of 
the base level of production  97097  
G/AG/N/PAN/54  Australia  Panama  DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Scheduled commitment level  97141  
G/AG/N/PRY/33  Thailand  Paraguay DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Article 6.2 (Special and Differential 
Treatment/Development 
Programmes)  97142  
G/AG/N/PRY/33  European Union  Paraguay  DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Investment subsidies generally 
available to agriculture  97072  
G/AG/N/PRY/33  European Union  Paraguay  DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Input subsidies available to low -
income or resource -poor producers  97071  
G/AG/N/PHL/75  United States of America  Philippines  DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Market price support  97061  
G/AG/N/PHL/75  United States of America  Philippines  DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Market price support  97062  
G/AG/N/TON/6  Canada  Tonga  DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Transparency issues (including 
Table DS:2)  97143   
  G/AG/R/98  
 
- 13 - Document Symbol  Question by  Answer by  Notification Format  Keywords  ID Number  
G/AG/N/TUN/60  European Union  Tunisia  DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Market price support  97077  
G/AG/N/TUN/60  Canada  Tunisia  DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Excessive rates of inflation  97145  
G/AG/N/TUR/36  United States of America  Turkey  DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Transparency issues (including 
Table DS:2)  97063  
G/AG/N/TUR/48  Brazil  Turkey  DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Classification of measures  97146  
G/AG/N/VNM/14  Canada  Viet Nam  DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Transparency issues (including 
Table DS:2)  97147  
G/AG/N/VNM/14  Canada  Viet Nam  DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Public stockholding for food 
security purposes  97149  
G/AG/N/VNM/14  Canada  Viet Nam  DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Direct payments: payments for 
relief from natural disasters  97150  
G/AG/N/VNM/14  Canada  Viet Nam  DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Market price support  97148  
G/AG/N/VNM/14  United States of America  Viet Nam  DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Market price support  97068  
G/AG/N/VNM/14  United States of America  Viet Nam  DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Market price support  97070  
G/AG/N/VNM/14  United States of America  Viet Nam  DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Market price support: Eligible 
production  97069  
G/AG/N/VNM/14  Thailand  Viet Nam  DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Other product -specific AMS/EMS  97151  
G/AG/N/VNM/14  United States of America  Viet Nam  DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Other product -specific AMS/EMS  97073  
G/AG/N/VNM/17  European Union  Viet Nam  DS:1 - Exempt and non -exempt 
support - Current total AMS  Input subsidies available to low -
income or resource -poor produ cers 97082  
G/AG/N/AUS/130  India Australia  DS:2 - New or modified DS  Transparency issues (including 
Table DS:2)  97088  
G/AG/N/EU/66  Paraguay  European Union  DS:2 - New or modified DS  Transparency issues (including 
Table DS:2)  97137  
G/AG/N/EU/66  United States of America  European Union  DS:2 - New or modified DS  Transparency issues (including 
Table DS:2)  97074  
G/AG/N/EU/66  United States of America  European Union  DS:2 - New or modified DS  Transparency issues (including 
Table DS:2)  97075  
G/AG/N/EU/66  United States of America  European Union  DS:2 - New or modified DS  Transparency issues (including 
Table DS:2)  97076  
G/AG/N/EU/66  United States of America  European Union  DS:2 - New or modified DS  Transparency issues (including 
Table DS:2)  97078  
G/AG/N/EU/66  Canada  European Union  DS:2 - New or modified DS  Direct payments: payments under 
environmental programmes  97152   
  G/AG/R/98  
 
- 14 - Document Symbol  Question by  Answer by  Notification Format  Keywords  ID Number  
G/AG/N/JPN/255  Brazil  Japan  DS:2 - New or modified DS  Transparency issues (including 
Table DS:2)  97153  
G/AG/N/CHN/54  United States of America  China  ES:2 - Total exports  State trading enterprises  97079  
G/AG/N/TUN/61  Canada  Tunisia  ES:1 - Export subsidies  Special and differential treatment 
(Article 9.4)  97144  
G/AG/N/TUN/61  European Union  Tunisia  ES:1 - Export subsidies  Special and differential treatment 
(Article 9.4)  97084  
G/AG/N/KGZ/30  United States of America  Kyrgyz Republic  ER:1 - Export restrictions  Transparency issues  97080  
G/AG/N/USA/129  Canada  United States of America  NF:1 - NFIDC Decision  Other forms of assistance  97154  G/AG/R/98  
 
- 15 - 
 
  Table 3 - Questions raised under agenda item "Overdue notifications"  
Question by  Answer by  ID Number  
India Australia  97089  
India Brazil  97090  
India European Union  97091  
United States of America  India 97081  
European Union  Pakistan  97155  
Brazil  Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of  97156  
European Union  South Africa  97083  
European Union  Thailand  97157  
India United States of America  97092  
 
  G/AG/R/98  
 
- 16 - 
 
  ANNEX 2  
CHAIR REPORT ON THE INFORMAL MEETING ON  
THE BALI DECISION ON TRQ ADMINISTRATION  
(AGENDA ITEM – 2D(I))  
The Committee considered the issue of the follow -up to the Bali TRQ Decision at its informal meeting 
on 29 March 2021. The discussion focused on the future operation of paragraph 4 of the under fill 
mechanism and on the remaining recommendations contained in Annex 2 to G/AG/29.  
 
On the issue of the future operation of paragraph 4 of the underfill mechanism, the discussion was 
organized around the three questions shared with Members in advance of  the meeting.  
 
Members broadly shared the understanding that the closure of the matter would remain outstanding 
in the event a developing importing Member does not achieve the required increase in the fill rate 
while either retaining the current TRQ admin istration method or using an alternative administration 
method.  
 
Some Members supported the idea of clarifying the existing paragraph 4 as a possible solution to 
address that outstanding situation for developing importing Members. One Member considered th at 
if the matter remained unresolved under paragraph 4, the option of paragraph 5 of the underfill 
mechanism may be invoked.  Another suggestion was to apply an administration method which was 
'no more administratively burdensome than absolutely necessary ' pursuant to Article 3.2 of the 
Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures.  
 
On Annex B of the underfill mechanism, some Members noted the potential inequality in 
commitments among Members and urged for the mechanism to be permanent and applicable on an 
erga omnes  manner. One Annex B Member expressed its preparedness to forego the annex provided 
all Members were subjected to the obligation to change the TRQ administration method, along with 
appropriate S&D. Members also shared the understanding that the right  of Members in Annex  B 
would  only start in the event of no agreement on the future application of paragraph 4.  
 
Some Members questioned the presumption that a TRQ underfill would necessarily be due to a 
particular administration method; as market circumsta nces could equally be responsible for low fill 
rates.  Others noted that the standard obligation in paragraph 4 of the underfill mechanism to apply 
first-come first -served or automatic import licensing does not make any presumption about the 
reasons of unde rfill. One developing Member considered it important not to dilute the current 
S&D treatment in paragraph 4.  
 
To my question on whether Members would be willing to accept another extension in the event of 
no agreement, the views were divergent. One Member  was not prepared to accept any extension 
and suggested that the outstanding issue of paragraph 4 be taken up at MC -12. Another Member 
suggested not to burden the MC -12 agenda and to rather find a solution to the outstanding issue of 
underfill mechanism in  the CoA.   
 
On other aspects of the agreed recommendations dealing with transparency and the Bali 
TRQ Decision triennial review, a suggestion was made to undertake analytical work on the corelation 
between TRQ administration methods and fill rates. The Secretariat background note in 
G/AG/W/183/Rev.1 could assist in this endeavour and on issues to be taken up in the first triennial 
review to be conducted in 2022. It was also suggested to enhance the Table MA:2 notification format 
for a fulsome appreciatio n of the Members' implementation of their TRQ commitments.   
 
I invited Members to continue their engagement to better understand each other's positions and 
noted that informal consultations might be organized prior to the next CoA to progress the 
outstandi ng issue of paragraph 4 of the underfill mechanism.  
 
  G/AG/R/98  
 
- 17 - 
 
  ANNEX 3  
 
CHAIR REPORT ON THE INFORMAL  MEETING ON  
THE NAIROBI DECISION ON EXPORT COMPETITION -TRIENNIAL REVIEW  OF 29 MARCH   
(AGENDA ITEM – 2D(II)) 
The Committee discussed the second Triennial Review of the Nairobi Decision on Export Competition 
during its informal meeting on 29 March.  
 
I reminded Members that this second Triennial Review was taking place in 2021 in accordance with 
Paragraph 5 of the Nairobi Decision . 
 
I also noted that Export C ompetition would be considered under three parallel tracks this year: i) the 
annual dedicated discussion, ii) the triennial review and iii) the negotiation track under the CoA 
Special Session.  
 
I invited Members to respond to the questions shared with them  in advance of the meeting.  
 
With regards to the first question related to issues to be addressed during the Triennial Review, 
Members stressed the importance of transparency in relation to Export Competition. They noted that 
the Triennial Review should lo ok at ways to improve current monitoring practices including the rate 
of replies to the Export Competition Questionnaire (ECQ), especially since all Members were 
expected to answer the ECQ in 2021.  
 
Several Members noted the central role of the ECQ to moni tor Members' implementation of the 
Nairobi Decision on Export Competition and to ensure the absence of circumvention. One member 
noted that the risk of circumvention was still relevant notably in view of recent developments in the 
context of the COVID -19 pandemic.  
 
Some also raised concerns regarding the completeness of and need to update the questionnaire and 
suggested that Members consider updating, completing, streamlining or clarifying the ECQ to ensure 
effective monitoring based on appropriate data and  information.  
 
Some Members referred to document JOB/AG/184 and the suggestions contained therein, including 
the provision of additional trade data at national and global levels.  
 
Other issues raised related to(i)increased transparency regarding the use of  export subsidies under 
article 9.4 of the Agreement on Agriculture; and (ii) the need to streamline the ECQ and notifications 
under Table ES:1 and to the Working Party on State Trading Enterprises. One Member also suggested 
incorporating the ECQ into the formal notification requirements under G/AG/2.  
 
Some Members confirmed their readiness to discuss the updating of disciplines on export finance, 
agricultural exporting state trading enterprises or international food aid, including for one Member 
by discuss ing potential links between food aid and PSH.  
 
Several Members welcomed the efforts made by Members' with export subsidy reductions 
commitments to modify their schedules pursuant to the Nairobi Decision and encouraged remaining 
Members to do so as quickly as possible.  
 
Regarding my second question, some Members expressed their readiness to consider 
recommendations or decisions by the Committee to guide work until the next review. One Member 
further noted that decisions could rather be left for discussions t aking place under the CoASS.  
 
In replying to my third question, several Members were of the view that the Triennial Review and 
the negotiation process on Export Competition could be considered as "complementary. For one 
Member, the review could help highlight unfinished business on Export Competition while another 
Member noted that both the Review and the negotiation could contribute to an outcome on 
transparency at MC12.  
 G/AG/R/98  
 
- 18 - 
 
  One Member also asked the Secretariat to prepare a compilation of questions and  answers by 
Members in the context of the Export Competition monitoring process since the Nairobi Ministerial 
Decision, for a better visibility on issues raised by Members. I suggest we invite the Secretariat to 
prepare that compilation  
 
Finally, some Memb ers also suggested developing an electronic platform to enhance transparency 
and facilitate replies to the ECQ. With regards to this possible online ECQ, the meeting took good 
note of the information provided by the Secretariat on the AG -IMS Export Competi tion questionnaire 
extension project during the information session of 29 March. The project is aimed at developing 
functionalities such as on -line replies to the questionnaire and on -line reporting.  
 
To conclude, I would like to invite  Members having expressed an interest to circulate written 
contributions, to do so, including with specific inputs on possible elements to enhance the current 
monitoring practices and the rate of replies to the  ECQ and on the content of the ECQ itself.  
 
This ends m y report.  
 
  G/AG/R/98  
 
- 19 - 
 
  ANNEX 4  
CHAIR REPORT ON THE I NFORMAL MEETING ON 'ENHANCING TRANSPARENCY  
AND THE COA REVIEW PROCESS ' OF 29 MARCH  
(AGENDA ITEM 2.E)  
At yesterday's informal meeting, the Committee continued its deliberations on enhancing 
transparency and the revi ew process, a topic that has been taken up in a number of informal 
meetings.  
 
During the meeting I recalled the two main themes that have frequently figured in our discussions 
on transparency. First, the issue of timeliness and completeness of notificatio ns, particularly 
regarding the large number of overdue notifications in the areas of domestic support and export 
subsidies.  
 
The second issue concerned the importance of timely and complete responses to questions raised 
under the Committee 's review proces s. Both of these themes are also routinely taken up in the 
formal meeting under the agenda items on 'overdue notifications ' and 'deferred replies ' respectively.   
I also recalled the Secretariat's effort towards enhanced transparency and an efficient COA re view 
process, inter alia , through the launch of and continuous improvements in the Agriculture 
Information Management System (AG -IMS) with its two components, namely the on -line notification 
system and the Q&A component.   
 
During yesterday's informal meeti ng, a couple of Member noted the usefulness of the AG IMS in 
producing reports based on notified domestic support data. In this regard, the Secretariat took note 
of a specific request for the AG -IMS to generate reports on product -specific market price supp ort 
based on notified amounts in Supporting Tables DS:5.  
 
Another Member emphasized the importance of the Committee 's Q&A process as demonstrated by 
the increasing number of questions raised in the Committee over recent years and called on Members 
to provide complete responses to questions in cases where they had initially provided a partial 
response with the commitment to complete it at a later stage.  This Member also suggested that 
Members be more precise when using web references in their responses by indicating of the exact 
location or page in which the response to the question could be found.  
 
I concluded the meeting by noting that the Committee would continue its engagement on these 
matters.  
 
This concludes my report.  
 
 
__________