TN/AG/S/29  
 
20 October  2016 
(16-5688) Page: 1/21 
Committee on Agriculture  
Special Session    
 
 SPECIAL AGRICULTURAL  SAFEGUARD  
NOTE BY THE SECRETAR IAT1 
1.1.  This present paper revises and updates the information regarding the potential application 
and the use of the special agricultural safeguard (SSG) provided in document G/AG/S/12, dated 
20 December 200 4. The paper takes into account the notifications by Members received by the 
Secre tariat up to 1 June  2016 and changes in the tariff classification which resulted in differences 
in the numbe r scheduled SSG entitlements  reported here as compared to document  G/AG/S/12 . 
1.2.  According to  the Notification Requirements and Formats (G/AG/2), Members having reserved 
the right in their Schedules to take recourse, in respect of certain products, to the Special 
Safeguard Provisions (Article 5 of the Agreement on Agricultu re) are required:  
a. in the case of the "volume -based" special safeguard, to submit a notification in the form 
of Table MA:3 as far as practicable before taking such action for the first time in any 
year in respect of each product, and in any event within ten days of the implementation 
of such action;  
b. in the case of the "price -based" special safeguard, to submit a notification in the form of 
Table  MA:4. Table MA:4 can be used either to provide an "up -front" notification of trigger 
prices or to notify, on a cas e-by-case basis, the first use of the price -based special 
safeguard for any particular product;  
c. to submit an annual notification in the form of Table MA:5, indicating the use of the 
special safeguard provisions in any year. This notification should be subm itted no later 
than 30  days f ollowing the year in question. Where the special safeguard provisions have 
not been invoked in any year, a statement to this effect should be made.  
1.3.  Thirty -nine Members have reserved the right in their Schedules to have, subject  to the 
relevant conditions being met, recourse to the SSG with respect to designated products.2 Table 1 
lists the Members  that have reserved the right to take recourse to the SSG.3 Furthermore, it 
presents information on the scope of the special safeguard  as measured by the number  of tariff 
lines covered by the SSG as a percentage of the number of all scheduled agricultural tariff lines of 
the Member concerned. The information is taken from the WTO Integrated Data Base (IDB) or for 
certain Members for whic h data was not available from the IDB, from the CTS data base. The basis 
for the tariff classification used by the individual Members is shown in the second column of 
Table  1. The information presented in this table does not indicate the respective shares o f total 
agricultural imports covered by the SSG – in calculating the percentages presented in Table 1, a 
                                                
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 The European Union is counted as one Member wit h commitments based on the EC -15 CXL  Schedule 
certified on 22  February  2010.  This paper does not include Poland and Hungary which became EU member 
States in 2004  and Bulgaria and Romania which became EU memb er States in 2007. Poland and Hungary  
invoked pri ce-based SSG actions in 2004. Bulgaria and Romania did not take any SSG actions during 2004-
2007.  
3 While some Members have reserved, in their Schedules, the right to apply the special safeguard 
provisions for products not covered by the Agreement on Agric ulture, in particular fish products, throughout 
this paper only those products are included in Annex 1 to the Agreement (except for the information presented 
in Attachment III  to this paper).  TN/AG/S/29  
 
- 2 - 
 
  SSG tariff line representing a relatively large actual (or potential) import value has the same 
weight as an SSG tariff line representing a relatively low actual (or potential) import value.  The 
figures  in the third and fourth columns refer to counts of the most detailed level of tariff 
disaggregation in the Consolidated Tariff Schedule (more than six digits). The breakouts at 
national level differ among  Members; in addition the version of the Harmonized system is not 
identical across countries.  Therefore the count of number of tariff lines with SSG is not directly 
comparable across Members.  
Table 1 – Scope of the Special Agricultural Safeguard  
Member  HS 
version  Number of tariff lines  Percentage of 
agricultural tariff lines 
covered by SSG (%)  Number of broad 
categories 
covered  in agriculture  with 
SSGs  
1 2 3 4 5 6 
Australia  HS 2007  752 10 1.3 2 
Barbados  HS 2007  704 128 18.2 10 
Botswana  HS 2007  889 351 39.5 17 
Canada  HS 2007  1,438  187 13.0 11 
Colombia  HS 2007  744 202 27.2 12 
Costa Rica  HS 2007  755 87 11.5 9 
Ecuador  HS 2002  952 10 1.1 1 
El Salvador  HS 2007  931 106 11.4 6 
European Union  HS 1996  2,200  685 31.1 14 
Guatemala  HS 2007  690 99 14.3 10 
Iceland  HS 2002  1,774  651 36.7 16 
Indonesia  HS 1996  1,006  9 0.9 2 
Israel  HS 2002  1,032  46 4.5 6 
Japan  HS 2002  1,410  147 10.4 11 
Korea, Republic of  HS 2007  1,576  123 7.8 10 
Malaysia  HS 2002  1,132  48 4.2 9 
Mexico  HS 2002  905 287 31.7 14 
Morocco  HS 20 02 2,589  595 23.0 8 
Namibia  HS 2007  888 350 39.4 17 
New Zealand  HS 2002  1,034  4 0.4 2 
Nicaragua  HS 2007  688 44 6.4 6 
Norway  HS 2007  1,092  532 48.7 17 
Panama  HS 2007  946 6 0.6 1 
Philippines  HS 1996  855 136 15.9 9 
South Africa  HS 2007  888 350 39.4 17 
Swaziland  HS 2007  888 350 39.4 17 
Switzerland  HS 2002  2,250  1,193  53.0 18 
Chinese Taipei  HS 2007  1,422  107 7.5 10 
Thailand  HS 2002  802 55 6.9 11 
Tunisia  HS 2002  2,280  145 6.4 6 
United States  HS 2007  1,824  188 10.3 10 
Uruguay  HS 2007  1,353  2 0.1 1 
Venezuela, Bolivarian 
Republic of  HS 1996  882 278 31.5 11 
Source: WTO Consolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS) database . 
 
2  OVERALL APPLICATION  
2.1.  Table 2 provides a summary of the number of tariff lines on which Members have applied  the 
SSG during 2004 to 2015 ver sus the number of tariff lines with scheduled SSG rights. A total of 
eight Members have notified that, in one or several of the years 2004 -2015, they have applied the  
SSG or, in the case of the European Union , made the SSG operational . The count of SSG act ions is 
based on the number of tariff lines on which the SSG is a pplied as notified by Members. As noted 
above, s ince tariff disaggregation differs in Members' notifications, the number of tariff lines  may 
not be directly comparable across Members .  TN/AG/S/29  
 
- 3 - 
 
  Table s 2a and 2b  – Potential and actual application of the Special Agricultural Safeguard 
by Member, 2004 -2015  
Table 2a – Price -based Special Agricultural Safegua rd Action s 
Member  Potential  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009  2010  2011  2012  2013  2014  2015  
Barbados  128 23 32 26 26 27 26             
European 
Union  685 18 16 16 22 22 22 22 21 20 17 8   
Japan  147 28 15 41 31 13 21 16 15 23 16 15 23 
Korea, 
Republic of  123 8 7 4 4 8 9 5 2 1 1     
Philippines  136 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 
Chinese 
Taipei  107 36 23 33 32 49 4 8 10 0  70 61 65 
United 
States  188 83 66 72 61 53 59 48 58 57 53 44   
Table 2b – Volume -based Special Agricultural Safeg uard Action s 
Member  Potential  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009  2010  2011  2012  2013  2014  2015  
Japan  147 5 4 2 5 9 3 5 14 15 1 3 15 
Korea, 
Republic of  123 4 8 17 6 0 0 0 0 0 0     
Norway  532 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Philippines  136 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
Chinese 
Taipei  107 34 32 21 20 17 35 54 32 24 22 29 70 
United 
States 188 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 
Source: WTO Consolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS) database.  
The figures in the second column refer to the number of tariff items for which the right to take recourse to 
the SSG has been reserved. The figures i n the columns for the years 2004  to 2015 present the number of 
tariff lines which, in each of these years, were actually subject to special safeguard action. Blank means no 
notificat ion has been received for the relevant year. Years refer to calendar years except for the EU 
(marketing year) and for Japan (fiscal year). In the case of the EU, for 2004/2005, 2005/2006, 2006/2007, 
2007/2008, 2008/2009, 2009/2010, 2010/2011, 2011/2012, 2012/2013, 2013/2014 and 2014/2015,  the 
relevant notifications state that the "price -based special safeguard has been made operational" for the 
products lis ted, whereas the volume -based special safeguard was "made operational" for some products in 
the fruit and vegetables sector but was not "invoked". For details, see Attachment I to this paper . In the case 
of the United States, information on application of volume -based SSG in 2015 is based on the MA:3 
notification G/AG/N/USA/103 which was circulated on 7 October 2015.  
 
2.2.  Chart 1 depicts application of price -based versus volume -based SSG actions by all Members 
per year. Chart 2 show s application of price -based SSG actions per year by Member and Chart 3 
shows application of volume -based  SSG actions  per year by Member . It can be noted that, each 
year the number of price-based SSG actions notified by all Members is larger than the number of 
volume -based SSG actions . The use of the price -based SSG has been gradually declining since 
2004. The number of Members notifying the use of price and volume -based SSG has been also 
decreasing over time .  TN/AG/S/29  
 
- 4 - 
 
  Chart 1 – Price -based SSG actions and volume -based SSG actions,  2004 -2015  
198
161193
177173
142
100107102158
129
93
43 44 41
31263859
4639
233289
050100150200250
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015Number of actions
Price-based SSG actions Volume-based SSG actions
 
Chart 2 – Price -based SSG actions by Member, 2004 -2015  
198
161193
177 173
142
100107102158
129
93
050100150200250
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015Number of actions
Barbados European Union Japan Korea, Republic of Philippines Chinese Taipei United States
 
 TN/AG/S/29  
 
- 5 - 
 
  Chart 3 – Volume -based SSG actions by Member, 2004 -2015  
43 4441
31
263859
46
39
233289
0102030405060708090100
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015Number of actions
Japan Korea, Republic of Norway Philippines Chinese Taipei United States
 
3  APPLICATION BY PRODU CT CATEGORY  
3.1.  Table 3 (see page 7) presents the number of  tariff lines that are scheduled with SSG per 
broad product cat egory. The definition and explanation of the product categories and codes used 
can be found  in Annex 1  on page 11. The table shows that  some Members have scheduled SSG 
rights across a wide range of product categories whereas some others  have access to SSG with 
only one or few product categories.  The information contained in Table 3 is based on data in 
Members' Uruguay Round Schedules, and accession protocols, as modified by technical 
rectifications in the WT/Let -series. The details are specified in  the exce l tables contained in  
attachment s to this paper  and available from Documents On -line. Charts 4 and 5 show the 
distribution of price -based and volume based SSG actions across broad product categories.  
Chart 4 – Price -based SSG actions by broad product categ ory, 2004 -2015  
198
161193
177173
142
100107102158
129
93
050100150200250
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015Number of actions
MEA DAI OAN FRV CER SIG OFL RES OVG SUG COC FOO BEV CHM FBR
 TN/AG/S/29  
 
- 6 - 
 
  Chart 5 – Volume -based SSG actions by broad product category, 2004 -2015  
43 4441
31
263859
46
39
233289
0102030405060708090100
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015Number of actions
MEA DAI FRV CER SIG SUG OFL RES OVG COC FOO FBR
 
3.2.  Tables 4 and 5 (see pages 8, 9 and 10, respectively) present annual application of price -
based and volume based SSG by Member and by broad product category respectiv ely. Annex 2 
(see page 13) contains this information summarizing application of price -based and volume -based 
SSG actions per year  for individual M embers , and application of SSG actions per year by broad 
product category  for individual M embers . In terms of trends, Table 4 indicates that Members' 
application s of price-based SSG actions are concentrated on a few product categories which do not 
vary significantly  over time . The following product categories  are among the most frequently 
affected  by price-based SSG actions : Dairy, Food Preparations, Meat, Fruit and Vegetables, and 
Sugar.  Table 5  indicates that s imilar to  price-based SSG actions, Members  applied volume -based 
SSG actions on a few product categories and these product categories remain the same year t o 
year. The following product categories are among the most frequently covered by volume -based 
SSG actions: Dairy, Food Preparations, Meat, C ereals and Fruit and Vegetables . 
3.3.  Several attachments  containing details from notified information are available in excel files 
from Documents On -line. These attach ments  contain:  
 List of Potential Application of the SSG by Member and Tariff Item  (Attachment I) ; 
 Price-based SSG actions as notified by Members, 2004 -2015 (Attachment II  – price) ; 
 Volume -based SSG actions as  notified by Members, 2004 -2015 (Attachment II – vol.); and  
 Up-front t rigger prices as notified by Members (Attachment III) .     
  
  TN/AG/S/29  
 
- 7 - Table 3 – Number of tariff lines with SSGs per broad product category  
WTO Member  LIV MEA DAI OAN OVG FRV CTS CER SIG OFL SUG COC FOO BEV RES TBO CHM FBR NAG ALL 
Australia  0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 10 
Barbados  5 31 8 1 0 29 0 1 0 42 4 0 0 1 0 0 6 0 0 128 
Botswana  0 64 21 6 1 45 14 45 12 39 17 1 1 32 18 22 0 10 3 351 
Canada  3 38 36 8 0 0 0 19 3 4 0 2 69 1 4 0 0 0 0 187 
Colombia  0 33 18 0 0 25 0 20 6 53 14 0 0 2 19 0 7 1 4 202 
Costa Rica  0 29 26 9 0 1 0 7 0 3 4 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 2 87 
Ecuador  0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 
El Salvador  0 17 17 0 0 0 0 6 0 31 16 0 0 0 0 19 0 0 0 106 
European Union  30 180 151 10 3 82 0 116 7 14 31 0 5 5 32 0 19 0 0 685 
Guatemala  0 25 17 1 0 14 0 13 0 11 4 0 0 2 3 9 0 0 0 99 
Iceland  23 164 40 10 38 93 0 42 13 95 36 2 36 9 30 0 6 0 14 651 
Indonesia  0 0 8 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 
Israel  2 31 0 0 0 8 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 46 
Japan  2 30 32 0 1 6 0 26 6 2 0 2 38 0 0 0 0 2 0 147 
Korea, Republic of  6 0 0 7 27 16 0 32 9 5 0 0 2 0 8 0 11 0 0 123 
Malaysia  8 23 4 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 48 
Mexico  1 60 31 9 0 23 5 36 0 36 16 13 16 30 0 9 0 0 2 287 
Morocco  19 91 151 0 0 0 0 94 0 112 94 0 6 0 28 0 0 0 0 595 
Namibia  0 64 20 6 1 45 14 45 12 39 17 1 1 32 18 22 0 10 3 350 
New Zealand  0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 
Nicaragua  0 13 10 0 0 4 0 7 0 6 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 44 
Norway  15 78 32 14 32 146 0 33 11 52 18 8 45 7 26 0 9 0 6 532 
Panama  0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 
Philippines  24 77 0 0 0 8 5 15 1 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 136 
South Africa  0 64 20 6 1 45 14 45 12 39 17 1 1 32 18 22 0 10 3 350 
Swaziland  0 64 20 6 1 45 14 45 12 39 17 1 1 32 18 22 0 10 3 350 
Switzerland  14 89 50 11 68 202 1 171 14 312 34 29 106 27 40 0 9 0 16 1,193  
Chinese Taipei  0 30 13 0 0 22 0 10 1 4 7 5 13 0 2 0 0 0 0 107 
Thailand  0 0 5 0 0 10 11 6 0 11 4 0 2 1 1 3 0 1 0 55 
Tunisia  10 22 88 0 0 11 0 6 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 145 
United States  0 12 79 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 16 32 34 1 2 0 0 6 0 188 
Uruguay  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
Venezuela, Bolivarian 
Republic of  0 34 35 0 2 1 0 46 7 78 24 0 11 0 27 0 13 0 0 278 
ALL Members  162 1,363  953 105 177 887 80 891 126 1,031  410 97 389 214 296 142 80 50 58 7,511  
Source: WTO Consolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS) database  
Note:  The individual tariff items concerned are specified in A ttachment III to this paper.    
  TN/AG/S/29  
 
- 8 - Table 4 – Price -based Special Agricultural Safeguard Action by Member an d Product Category , 2004 -2015  
Year  Member  LIV MEA DAI OAN FRV CTS CER SIG OFL RES OVG SUG COC FOO BEV TBO CHM FBR NAG All 
2004 Barbados  0 9 0 2 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 
2004 European Union  0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 
2004 Japan  0 0 0 0 2 0 5 4 0 0 0 0 0 17 0 0 0 0 0 28 
2004 Korea, Republic of  0 0 0 0 2 0 1 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 
2004 Philippines  0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
2004 Chinese Taipei  0 4 6 0 8 0 4 0 0 0 0 6 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 36 
2004 United States  0 3 43 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 12 6 14 1 0 0 0 0 83 
2004  Total  0 25 49 2 28 0 10 6 4 0 0 28 6 39 1 0 0 0 0 198 
2005 Barbados  0 13 1 2 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 32 
2005 European Union  0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 
2005 Japan  0 0 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 15 
2005 Korea, Republic of  0 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 
2005 Philippines  0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
2005 Chinese Taipei  0 6 6 0 7 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 23 
2005 United States  0 1 39 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 2 11 1 0 0 0 0 66 
2005  Total  0 27 47 2 29 0 3 3 5 0 0 18 2 23 1 0 0 0 0 161 
2006 Barbados  0 11 0 0 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 
2006 European Union  0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 
2006 Japan  0 0 1 0 4 0 7 5 0 0 1 0 0 23 0 0 0 0 0 41 
2006 Korea, Rep ublic of  0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 
2006 Philippines  0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
2006 Chinese Taipei  0 6 6 0 7 0 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 33 
2006 United States  0 2 35 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 9 9 11 1 0 0 1 0 72 
2006  Total  0 26 42 0 31 0 11 6 3 0 1 19 9 42 1 0 1 1 0 193 
2007 Barbados  0 12 0 0 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 
2007 European Union  0 9 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 
2007 Japan  0 0 1 0 0 0 2 4 0 0 2 0 0 22 0 0 0 0 0 31 
2007 Korea, Republic of  0 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 
2007 Philippines  0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
2007 Chinese Taipei  0 6 6 0 6 0 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 32 
2007 United States  0 3 32 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 5 11 1 0 0 1 0 61 
2007  Total  0 31 39 3 25 0 7 5 3 0 2 14 5 41 1 0 0 1 0 177 
2008 Barbados  0 8 0 0 17 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 27 
2008 European Union  0 9 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 
2008 Japan  0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 13 
2008 Korea, Republic of  0 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 
2008 Philippines  0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
2008 Chinese Taipei  0 14 9 0 15 0 0 0 4 2 0 0 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 49 
2008 United States  0 2 28 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 7 12 1 0 0 0 0 53 
2008  Total  0 34 38 3 35 0 2 3 6 2 5 11 9 23 2 0 0 0 0 173 
2009 Barbados  0 12 0 0 12 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 26 
2009 European Union  0 9 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 
2009 Japan  0 0 2 0 0 0 1 5 0 0 1 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 0 21 
2009 Korea, Republic of  0 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 9 
2009 Philippines  0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
2009 Chinese Taipei  0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 
2009 United States  0 2 30 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 6 8 10 1 0 0 0 0 59 
2009  Total  0 28 32 3 15 0 2 6 1 1 5 16 8 23 2 0 0 0 0 142  
  TN/AG/S/29  
 
- 9 - Year  Member  LIV MEA DAI OAN FRV CTS CER SIG OFL RES OVG SUG COC FOO BEV TBO CHM FBR NAG All 
2010 European Union  0 9 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 
2010 Japan  0 0 0 0 1 0 3 5 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 16 
2010 Korea, Republic of  0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 
2010 Philippines  0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
2010 Chinese Taipei  0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 
2010 United States  0 2 21 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 10 7 1 0 0 0 0 48 
2010  Total  0 20 21 3 4 0 4 5 0 0 3 14 10 15 1 0 0 0 0 100 
2011 European Union  0 8 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 
2011 Japan  0 0 1 0 0 0 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 15 
2011 Korea, Republic of  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
2011 Philippines  0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
2011 Chinese Taipei  0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 
2011 United States  0 1 34 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 10 5 1 0 0 0 0 58 
2011  Total  0 20 35 3 2 0 4 4 1 0 2 14 10 11 1 0 0 0 0 107 
2012 European Union  0 7 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 
2012 Japan  0 0 3 0 0 0 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 23 
2012 Korea, Republic of  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
2012 Philippines  0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
2012 United States  0 2 31 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 7 10 1 0 0 0 0 57 
2012  Total  0 10 34 3 1 0 5 5 1 0 1 14 7 20 1 0 0 0 0 102 
2013 European Union  0 5 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 
2013 Japan  0 0 3 0 1 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 16 
2013 Korea, Republic of  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
2013 Philippines  0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
2013 Chinese Taipei  0 14 9 0 13 0 10 1 4 2 0 0 3 14 0 0 0 0 0 70 
2013 United States  0 1 28 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 3 6 10 1 0 0 0 0 53 
2013  Total 0 21 40 2 16 0 10 6 5 3 1 13 9 31 1 0 0 0 0 158 
2014 European Union  0 7 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 
2014 Japan  0 0 3 0 1 0 1 6 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 15 
2014 Philippines  0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
2014 Chinese Taipei  0 14 10 0 9 0 10 1 0 0 0 0 5 12 0 0 0 0 0 61 
2014 United States  0 2 22 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 2 9 1 0 0 0 0 44 
2014  Total  0 24 35 1 13 0 11 7 1 0 0 4 7 25 1 0 0 0 0 129 
2015 Japan  0 0 6 0 2 0 1 9 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 23 
2015 Philippines  0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 
2015 Chinese Taipei  0 14 5 0 14 0 10 1 6 2 0 0 3 10 0 0 0 0 0 65 
2015  Total  0 19 11 0 16 0 11 10 6 2 0 0 3 15 0 0 0 0 0 93 
 TOTAL   0 285 423 25 215 0 80 66 36 8 21 165 85 308 13 0 1 2 0 1,733   
  TN/AG/S/29  
 
- 10 - Table 5 – Volume -based Special Agricultural Safe guard Action by Member and Product Category, 2004 -2015  
Year  Member  LIV MEA DAI OAN FRV CTS CER SIG OFL RES OVG SUG COC FOO BEV TBO CHM FBR NAG All 
2004 Japan  0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 
2004 Korea, Republic of  0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 
2004 Chinese Taipei  0 1 8 0 9 0 4 0 2 0 0 2 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 34 
2004  Total  0 1 9 0 11 0 4 2 4 0 0 2 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 43 
2005 Japan  0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 
2005 Korea, Republic of  0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 8 
2005 Chinese Taipei  0 15 6 0 7 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 32 
2005  Total  0 15 8 0 7 0 1 0 2 0 5 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 44 
2006 Japan  0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
2006 Korea, Republic of  0 0 0 0 2 0 7 0 1 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 
2006 Norway  0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
2006 Chinese Taipei  0 2 6 0 9 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 21 
2006  Total  0 2 8 0 12 0 7 0 3 0 7 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 41 
2007 Japan  0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 
2007 Korea, Republic of  0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 
2007 Chinese Taipei  0 0 6 0 10 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 
2007  Total  0 0 11 0 10 0 3 0 3 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 31 
2008 Japan  0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 9 
2008 Chinese Taipei  0 0 9 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 17 
2008  Total  0 0 15 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 26 
2009 Japan  0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 
2009 Chinese Taipei  0 8 9 0 8 0 0 0 4 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 35 
2009  Total  0 8 10 0 8 0 0 1 4 2 1 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 38 
2010 Japan  0 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 
2010 Chine se Taipei  0 12 13 0 1 0 10 1 0 0 0 0 5 12 0 0 0 0 0 54 
2010  Total  0 12 16 0 1 0 10 2 0 0 1 0 5 12 0 0 0 0 0 59 
2011 Japan  0 0 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 
2011 Chinese Taipei  0 14 17 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 32 
2011  Total  0 14 31 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 46 
2012 Japan  0 0 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 
2012 Chinese Taipei  0 4 17 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 
2012  Total  0 4 31 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 39 
2013 Japan  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
2013 Chinese Taipei  0 16 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 
2013  Total  0 16 4 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 
2014 Japan  0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 
2014 Chinese Taipei  0 8 5 0 8 0 0 0 6 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 29 
2014  Total  0 8 7 0 8 0 0 0 6 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 32 
2015 Japan  0 0 12 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 15 
2015 Philippines  0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
2015 Chinese Taipei  0 12 15 0 7 0 10 1 6 2 0 0 5 12 0 0 0 0 0 70 
2015 United States1 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 
2015  Total  0 13 30 0 7 0 10 2 6 2 0 0 5 14 0 0 0 0 0 89 
 TOTAL   0 93 180 0 72 0 35 8 26 6 18 2 14 52 0 0 0 1 0 511 
1 In the case of the United States, information on application of volume -based SSG in 2015 is based on the MA:3 notification G/AG/N /USA/103 that was circulated on 
7 October  2015.  TN/AG/S/29  
 
- 11 - 
 
  ANNEX 1: PRODUCT CAT EGORIES  
LEVEL  1: BROAD  LEVEL  2: SPECIFIC  
1 LIV LIVE ANIMALS  BOV BOVINE  
SWI SWINE 
SHG SHEEP AND GOAT  
PTY POULTRY  
HOR HORSES  
OTH OTHER 
2 MEA MEAT BOV BOVINE  
SWI SWINE 
SHG SHEEP AND GOAT  
PTY POULTRY  
HOR HORSES  
OTH OTHER 
3 DAI DAIRY MLK MILK 
MPO MILK POWDERS  
BUT BUTTER  
CHS CHEESE  
OTH OTHER 
4 OAN OTHER ANIMAL PRODUCTS  EGG EGGS 
HSB HAIR, SHELLS, BONES , ETC. 
SKF HIDES AND SKINS 
OTH OTHER 
5 FRV FRUIT AND VEGETABLES  VEF FRESH VEGETABLES  
VEP PROCESSED VEGETABLES  
RTB ROOTS AND TUBERS  
FRU FRUIT 
NUT NUTS 
FNP PROCESSED FRUIT OR NU TS 
BEV FRUIT AND VEGETABLE B EVERAGES  
6 CTS COFFEE, TEA, SPICES  COF COFFEE 
TEA TEA 
MAT MATE 
SPI SPICES 
7 CER CEREALS  WHE  WHEAT 
MAZ CORN 
RIZ RICE 
MLT MALT 
COA COARSE GRAINS  TN/AG/S/29  
 
- 12 - 
 
  LEVEL  1: BROAD  LEVEL  2: SPECIFIC  
8 SIG STARCHES , INULIN , GUM WHE  WHEAT 
MAZ CORN 
VEP PROCESSED VEGETABLES  
RTB ROOTS AND TUBERS  
OTH OTHER 
9 OFL OIL SEED S, FATS AND OILS  SED SEEDS 
OIL VEGETABLE OILS AND FA TS 
FAA FATS/OILS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN  
OTH OTHER FATS AND OILS  
10 RES RESIDUES OF PROCESSIN G 
INDUSTRY  WHE  WHEAT 
MAZ CORN 
ANF ANIMAL FEED  
ALC ALCOHOL RESIDUES  
OIL OILCAKES AND SOLID  RESIDUES  
OTH OTHER RESIDUES  
11 OVG PLANTS AND VEGETAL 
MATERIAL  LTR LIVE TREES AND PLANTS  
CFL CUT FLOWERS  
ANF ANIMAL FEED  
GUM GUMS, SAPS AND RESINS  
SED SEEDS 
MED MEDICINAL /PERFUMERY PLANTS  
OTH OTHER 
12 SUG SUGAR SCB CANE OR BE ET SUGAR  
OTH OTHER 
13 COC COCOA COB COCOA BEANS /POWDER /BUTTER  
OTH OTHER 
14 FOO FOOD PREPARATIONS  CER CEREAL 
OIL OILS 
COF COFFEE 
TEA TEA 
OTH OTHER 
15 BEV BEVERAGES  WAT  WATERS  
ALC ALCOHOLIC  
OTH OTHER 
16 TBO TOBACCO  TOB TOBACCO 
CIG CIGARS , CIGARETTES  
OTH OTHER 
17 CHM ESSENTIAL OILS , FATTY ACIDS AND ALCO HOLS AND OTHER CHEMI CALS 
18 FBR FIBRES COT COTTON  
SIL SILK 
WOO  WOOL 
OTH OTHER 
19 NAG NON-ANNEX 1 PRODUCTS  TN/AG/S/29  
 
- 13 - 
 
  ANNEX 2 : APPLICATION OF SSG I N 2004 -2015 BY MEMBER  
Barbados – Application of price -based and volume -based SSG actions per year  
2332
26 262726
0 0 0 0 0 0
05101520253035
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009Number of actions
Price-based SSG actions Volume-based SSG actions
 
Barbados – Application of SSG actions per year by product categories  
9131112
8121
221216
1514
17121111
05101520253035
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009Number of actions
MEA DAI OAN FRV OFL BEV
 
 TN/AG/S/29  
 
- 14 - 
 
  EUROPEAN UNION1 – Application of price -based and volume -based SSG actions per year  
18
16 1622 22 22 22
21
20
17
8
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0510152025
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014Number of actions
Price-based SSG actions Volume-based SSG actions
 
EUROPEAN UNION1 – Application of SSG actions per year by product categories  
8
6 69 9 9 987
573 3 3 3
3
3
2110
10 1010 10 10 10
10
10
10
0510152025
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014Number of actions
MEA OAN SUG
 
1 In the case of the EU, for 2004/2005, 2005/2006, 2006/2007, 2007/2008, 2008/2009, 2009/2010, 
2010/2011, 2011/2012, 2012/2013, 2013/2014 and 2014/2015,  the relevant notifications state that the 
"price -based special safeguard has been made operational" for the products listed, whereas the volume -
based special safeguard was "made operational" for some products in the fruit and vegetables sector but was 
not "invoked". For details, see A ttachment  I to this paper.  TN/AG/S/29  
 
- 15 - 
 
  Japan – Application of price -based and volume -based SSG actions per year  
28
1541
31
1321
161523
161523
54259
351415
1315
051015202530354045
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015Number of actions
Price-based SSG actions Volume-based SSG actions
 
Japan – Application of SSG actions per year by product categories  
13 36 7
3 31517
3518
241 112
527
2 1
1345
11
6
25
42
6645
6610
1
2
2 211
19
1223
22
1012 7610
747
05101520253035404550
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015Number  of actions
DAI FRV CER SIG OVG FOO FBR
 
 TN/AG/S/29  
 
- 16 - 
 
  Korea – Application of price -based and volume -based SSG actions per year  
8
7
4 489
5
2
1 14817
6
0 00 0 0 0024681012141618
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013Number of actions
Price-based SSG actions Volume-based SSG actions
 
Korea – Applicati on of SSG actions per year by product categories  
4
24
2 2 21
27
4
1 1
12
11
1
1 15
31
157
2
4 4
3
21 12
1
11
0510152025
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013Number  of actions
FRV CER SIG OFL OVG FOO CHM
 
 TN/AG/S/29  
 
- 17 - 
 
  Norway – Application of price -based and volume -based SSG actions per year  
1
01234
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014Number  of actions
Price-based SSG actions Volume-based SSG actions
 
Norway – Application of SSG actions per year by product categories  
1
01234
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014Number of actions
FRV
 
 
 TN/AG/S/29  
 
- 18 - 
 
  Philippines – Application of price -based and volume -based SSG actions per year  
2 2
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 15
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 001
0123456
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015Number  of actions
Price-based SSG actions Volume-based SSG actions
 
Philippines – Application of SSG actions per year by product categories  
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 16
1 1
01234567
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015Number  of actions
MEA FRV
 TN/AG/S/29  
 
- 19 - 
 
  Chinese Taipei – Application of price -based and volume -based SSG actions per year  
36
23333249
481070
6165
34 32
2120
173554
32
24222970
01020304050607080
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015Number  of actions
Price-based SSG actions Volume-based SSG actions
 
Chinese Taipei – Application of SSG actions per year by product categori es 
521
8 614 122024
4302226 1412
121218
91317
1713
1520
1714
161619
811
315
1721
84410101020
24
444
44612
2
2224
84
253 58
16
410105
21214 1222
020406080100120140160
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015Number  of actions
MEA DAI FRV CER SIG OFL RES SUG COC FOO
 
 TN/AG/S/29  
 
- 20 - 
 
  United States1 – Application of price -based and volume -based SSG actions per year  
83
6672
61
5359
4858 57
53
44
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 03
0102030405060708090
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015¹Number  of actions
Price-based SSG actions Volume-based SSG actions
 
United States1 – Application of SSG actions per year by product categories  
3 1 2 3 2 2 2 1 2 1 243
39 35 32
28 30
2134 312822
33
3
33
11
321
2
312
89
4
16
44
43
46
29
5
78
1010
7
6
214
1111
11
1210
75
10
10
91
11
1
11
11 1
1
1
0102030405060708090
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015¹Number of actions
MEA DAI FRV OFL RES SUG COC FOO BEV FBR
 
1 Information on application of volume -based SSG in 2015 is based on the MA:3 notificati on 
G/AG/N/USA/103 which  was circulated on 7 October 2015.  Some data lab els are not shown due to limited 
space . TN/AG/S/29  
 
- 21 - 
 
  A spreadsheet with Attachments I -III containing details from notified information is available in 
electronic format (Microsoft Excel) from Documents On -line. 
 
__________  
                                                
 In English only.