WT/DS511/1  
G/AG/GEN/135  
G/L/1150  
 
20 September 2016  
(16-5027) Page: 1/5 
  Original: English  
 
  CHINA – DOMESTIC SUPPORT FOR  AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE RS 
REQUEST FOR CONSULTA TIONS BY THE UNITED STATES  
The following communication, dated 13 September 2016 , from the delegation of the United States  
to the delegation of China  and to the Chairperson of the Disp ute Settlement Body, is circulated in 
accordance with Article  4.4 of the DSU.  
 
_______________  
 
 
My authorities have instructed me to request consultations with the Government of the People 's 
Republic of China ( "China ") pursuant to Articles 1 and 4 of the  Understanding on Rules and 
Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes  ("DSU"), Article 19 of the Agreement on 
Agriculture  ("Agriculture Agreement "), and Article XXII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and 
Trade 1994 ("GATT 1994 ") with respect to all support China provides  in favor of agricultural 
producers .  China  appears to provide domestic support in excess of its commitment level of "nil" 
specified in Section I of Part IV of its Schedule  CLII because, for example, China provides domestic 
support in  excess of its product -specific de minimis  level of 8.5 percent1 for each of wheat, Indica 
rice, Japonica rice, and corn.  
  
The legal instrume nts through which China provides domestic support in favor of agricultural 
producers of wheat, Indica rice, Japoni ca rice, and corn include  but are not limited to : 
  
 Communist Party of China Central Committee and State Council  Several Opinions on 
Accelerating the Promotion of Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation and 
Continuing to Strengthen the Capacity to G uarantee Agricultural Product Supplies 
(Communist Party of China Central Committee, State Council, Zhong Fa [2012] No. 1, 
issued December 31, 2011)  
 
 Communist Party of China Central Committee and State Council  Several Opinions on 
Accelerating Development o f Modern Agriculture and Further Increasing Rural 
Development Dynamism (Communist Party of China Central Committee, State Council, 
Zhong Fa [2013] No. 1, issued December 31, 2012)  
 
 Communist Party of China Central Committee and State Council Publication of  "Several 
Opinions on Comprehensively Deepening Rural Reform and Accelerating the Promotion 
of Agricultural Modernization " (Communist Party of China Central Committee, State 
Council, Zhong Fa [2014] No. 1, issued January 19, 2014)  
 
 Communist Party of China  Central Committee and State Council Several Opinions on 
Strengthening Reform and Innovation and Accelerating Agricultural Modernization 
(Communist Party of China Central Committee, State Council, Zhong Fa [2015] No. 1, 
issued February 1, 2015)  
 
                                                
1 As specified in China's Protocol on the Accession of the People's Republic of China (WT/L/432) 
("Accession Protocol "), Part I, paragraph 1.2 (incorporating commitments referenced in paragraph 342 of 
China's Working Party Re port, including paragraph 235).  WT/DS511/1 • G/AG/GEN/135 • G/L/1150  
 
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   State Coun cil Opinion on Further Deepening Reform of the Grain Distribution System 
(State Council, Guo Fa [2004] No. 17, issued May 23, 2004)  
 
 Regulation on the Administration of Grain Distribution (Order of the State Council  
No. 407, adopted at the 50th executive m eeting of the State Council  on May 19, 2004, 
issued May 26, 2004, first amended July 18, 2013, by  Order of the State Council 
No. 638, further amended on February 6, 2016, by Order of the State Council No. 666 ) 
 
 Notice on Raising the Wheat Minimum Purchase Price for 2012 (National Development 
and Reform Commission , Ministry of Finance , Ministry of Agriculture , State 
Administration of Grain, Agricultural Development Bank of China , Fa Gai Dian [2011] 
No. 250, issued September 28, 2011)  
 
 Notice on Issuing the W heat Minimum Purchase Price Implementation Plan for 2012 
(National Development and Reform Commission , Ministry of Finance , Ministry of 
Agriculture , State Administration of Grain, Agricultural Development Bank of China , 
China Grain Reserves Corporation, Fa Gai Jing Mao [2012] No. 1494 , issued  
May 21, 2012)  
 
 Notice on Raising the Wheat Minimum Purchase Price for 201 3 (National Development 
and Reform Commission , Ministry of Finance , Ministry of Agriculture , State 
Administration of Grain, Agricultural Developme nt Bank of China , Fa Gai Jia Ge [2012] 
No. 3171, issued October 16, 2012 ) 
 
 Notice on Issuing the Wheat Minimum Purchase Price Implementation Plan for 2013 
(National Development and Reform Commission , Ministry of Finance , Ministry of 
Agriculture , State Admi nistration of Grain, Agricultural Development Bank of China , 
China Grain Reserves Corporation, Fa Gai Jing Mao [2013] No. 947 , issued  
May 20, 2013)  
 
 Notice on Raising the Wheat Minimum Purchase Price for 2014 ( National Development 
and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, State 
Administration of Grain, Agricultural Development Bank of China, Fa Gai Dian [2013]  
No. 205, issued October 12, 2013) 
 
 Notice on Issuing the  Wheat and Early -Season Indica  Rice Minimum Purchase Price  
Impleme ntation Plan for 2014 (National Development and Reform Comm ission, Ministry 
of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture , State Administration of Grain, Agricultural 
Development Bank of China, China Grain Reserves Corporation, Fa Gai Jing Mao  [2014 ] 
No. 1026, issue d May 20, 2014)  
 
 Notice on Announcing  the Wheat Minimum Purchase Price for 201 5 (National 
Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture , State 
Administration of Grain, Agricultural Development Bank of China, Fa Gai  Jia Ge  [2014] 
No. 2302, issued  October 16, 2014 ) 
 
 Notice on Issuing the Wheat and  Rice Minimum Purchase Price  Implementation Plan for 
2015 (National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of 
Agriculture , State Administration of Grain, Ag ricultural Development Bank of China,  
China Grain Reserves Corporation,  Guo Liang Tiao  [2015] No. 80, issued  May 18, 2015)  
 
 Notice on Announcing the Wheat Minimum Purchase Price for 2016 (National 
Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance, Min istry of Agriculture, State 
Administration of Grain, Agricultural Development Bank of China, Fa Gai Jia Ge [ 2015] 
No. 2301, issued October 10, 2015)  
 
 Notice on Issuing the Wheat and Rice Minimum Purchase Price Implementation Plan 
(National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of 
Agriculture , State Administration of Grain, Agricultural Development Bank of China, 
China Grain Reserves Corporation, Guo Liang Tiao [2016] No. 55, issued April 5, 2016)  
 WT/DS511/1 • G/AG/GEN/135 • G/L/1150  
 
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   National Development and Reform C ommission, State Administration of Grain, Ministry 
of Finance, and Agricultural Development Bank of China Notice on Issuing  the Xinjiang 
Uyghur Autonomous Region National Temporary Reserve Wheat Purchase Plan for 2015 
(National Development and Reform Commi ssion, State Administration of Grain, Ministry 
of Finance, Agricultural  Development Bank  of China , Guo Liang Tiao [2015] No. 93, 
issued June 6, 2015)  
 
 Notice on Raising the Rice Minimum Purchase Price s for 2012  (National Development 
and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture , State 
Administration of Grain, Agricultural Development Bank of China, Fa Gai  Dian [2012] 
No. 17, issued  February 2, 2012 ) 
 
 Notice on Issuing the Early -Season Indica Rice Minimum Purchase Price Implementation 
Plan for 2012 (National Development and Reform Commission , Ministry of Finance , 
Ministry of Agriculture , State Administration of Grain, Agricultural Development Bank of 
China , China Grain Reserves Corporation, Fa Gai Jing Mao [2012] No. 1943, issued  
July 2, 2012) 
 
 Notice on Issuing the Mid - to Late-Season Rice Minimum Purchase Price Implementation 
Plan for 2012 (National Development and Reform Commission , Ministry of Finance , 
Ministry of Agriculture , State Administration of Grain, Agricultural Development Ba nk of 
China , China Grain Reserves Corporation, Fa Gai Jing Mao [2012] No. 2726, issued  
August 28, 2012 ) 
 
 Notice on Raising the Rice Minimum Purchase Price s for 2013  (National Development 
and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture , State 
Administration of Grain, Agricultural Development Bank of China, Fa Gai  Jia Ge  [2013] 
No. 193, issued  January 30, 2013 ) 
 
 Notice on Issuing the  Early-Season Indica  Rice Minimum Purchase Price  Implementation 
Plan for 2013  (National Development and Refo rm Commission, Ministry of Finance, 
Ministry of Agriculture , State Administration of Grain, Agricultural Development Bank of 
China, China Grain Reserves Corporation, Fa Gai Jing Mao [2013] No. 1281, issued  
July 2, 2013 ) 
 
 Notice on Issuing the  Mid- to Late-Season Rice Minimum Purchase Price  Implementation 
Plan for 2013  (National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance, 
Ministry of Agriculture , State Administration of Grain, Agricultural Development Bank of 
China, China Grain Reserves Corporati on, Fa Gai Jing Mao [2013] No. 1836, issued  
September 18, 2013 ) 
 
 Notice on Raising the Rice Minimum Purchase Price s for 2014  (National Development 
and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture , State 
Administration of Grain, Agricultu ral Development Bank of China, Fa Gai  Dian [2014] 
No. 34, issued  February 11 , 2014 ) 
 
 Notice on Issuing the  Mid- to Late-Season Rice Minimum Purchase Price  Implementation 
Plan for 2014  (National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance, 
Minist ry of Agriculture , State Administration of Grain, Agricultural Development Bank of 
China, China Grain Reserves Corporation, Fa Gai Jing Mao  [2014] No. 2104, issued  
September 15, 2014 ) 
 
 Notice on Announcing the Rice Minimum Purchase Price s for 2015  (Nationa l 
Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture , State 
Administration of Grain, Agricultural Development Bank of China, Fa Gai  Jia Ge [2015] 
No. 225, issued  February 3, 2015 ) 
 
 Notice on Announcing the Rice Minimum Purchase  Prices for 2016  (National 
Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, State 
Administration of Grain, Agricultural Development Bank of China, Fa Gai Jia Ge [2016] 
No. 223, issued February 2, 2016 ) 
 WT/DS511/1 • G/AG/GEN/135 • G/L/1150  
 
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   Notice on Proper Hand ling of Autumn Grains Purchase Work for 2013 (National 
Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance, State Administration of 
Grain, Agricultural Development  Bank of China, Fa Gai Dian [2013] No. 229, issued 
November 15, 2013)  
 
 Ministry of Agricul ture Guiding Opinion on Corn Structural Adjustment in the "Sickle " 
Regions  (Ministry of Agriculture , Nong Nong Fa [2015] No. 4, issued November 2, 2015)  
 
 Notice on Issues Relating to National Temporary Reserve  Purchases of Corn for 2012 
(State Administrati on of Grain and Other  Departments,  Guo Liang Tiao [2012] No. 212, 
issued November 15, 2012)2 
 
 Notice on Issues Relating to National Temporary Reserve Purchases of Corn and 
Soybeans in the Northeast Region for 2013 (National Development and Reform 
Commissio n, State Administration of Grain, Ministry of Finance, Agricultural 
Development Bank of China, Guo Liang Tiao [2013] No. 265, issued  
November  22, 2013)3 
 
 Notice on Issues Relating to National Temporary Reserve Purchases of Corn in the 
Northeast Region for 2014 (National Development and Reform Commission, State 
Administration of Grain, Ministry of Finance, Agricultural Development Bank of China, 
Guo Liang Tiao [2014] No. 254, issued November  25, 2014)4 
 
 Notice on Issues Relating to National Temporary Reserve  Purchases of Corn in the 
Northeast Region for 2015 (National Development and Reform Commission, State 
Administration of Grain, Ministry of Finance , Agricultural Development Bank of China, 
Guo Liang Tiao [2015] No. 169, issued September 17, 2015)5 
 
as well  as any amendments, or related , successor, replacement , or implementing measures . 
 
China provides domestic support to agricultural producers that appears to be inconsistent with 
China's obligations pursuant to Articles 3.2, 6.3, and 7.2(b) of the Agricultu re Agreement because 
the level of domestic support provided exceeds China's commitment level of "nil" specified in  
Section I of Part IV of China 's Schedule  CLII.  In particular, China's domestic support in favor of 
                                                
2 Including provincial level measures that implement the National Temporary Reserve Purchases for 
Corn in the Northeast Region, such as the Notice on Proper Handling of National Temporary Reserve Corn  
Purchases Work for 2012 (Jilin Provincial Grain Administration, Agricultural Development Bank of China Jilin 
Branch, China Grain Reserves Corporation Jilin Branch, Ji Liang Tiao Lian [2012] No. 127, issued November 16, 
2012), and Heilongjiang Province Not ice on Issuing the "Heilongjiang Outline for Promoting the National 
Temporary Reserve Soybean and Corn Purchase Policy for 2012 " (Heilongjiang Province Grain Bureau, China 
Grain Reserves Corporation Heilongjiang Branch, Agricultural Development Bank of Chi na Heilongjiang Branch, 
Hei Liang Nong Lian [2012] No. 112, issued November 13, 2012).  
3 Including provincial level measures that implement the National Temporary Reserve Purchases for 
Corn in the Northeast Region, such as the Notice on Proper Handling of Issues Relating to National Temporary 
Reserve Purchases of Corn and Soybeans for 2013 (China Grain Reserves Corporation Heilongjiang Branch, 
China Grain Reserves Beifang Nongye Kaife Corporation, Heilongjiang Province Grain Bureau, Agricultural 
Development  Bank of China Heilongjiang Branch, Zhong Chu Liang Hei [2013] No. 249, issued November 25, 
2013).  
4 Including provincial level measures that implement the National Temporary Reserve Purchases for 
Corn in the Northeast Region, such as the Notice on Proper Handling of National Temporary Reserve Corn 
Purchase Work for 2014 (Jilin Province Grain Bureau, China Grain Reserves Corporation Jilin Branch, 
Agricultural Development Bank of China Jilin Branch, Zhong Chu Liang Ji Lian [2014] No. 211, issued 
December 16,  2014) and Notice on Issues Relating to Proper Handling of National Temporary Reserve 
Purchases of Corn for 2014 (China Grain Reserves Corporation Heilongjiang Branch, Heilongjiang Province 
Grain Bureau, China Grain Reserves Beifang Nongye Kaifa Corporatio n, Agricultural Development Bank of China 
Heilongjiang Branch, Zhong Chu Liang Hei [2014] No. 353, issued December 17, 2014).  
5 Including provincial level measures that implement the National Temporary Reserve Purchases for 
Corn in the Northeast Region, such as the Notice on Proper Handling of National Temporary Reserve Corn 
Purchase Work for 2015 (Jilin Province Grain Bureau, China Grain Reserves Corporation Jilin Branch, 
Agricultural Development Bank of China Jilin Branch, Zhong Chu Liang Ji Lian [2015] N o. 198, issued October 
30, 2015) and Notice on Proper Handling of National Temporary Reserve Corn Purchase Work  for 2015 (China 
Grain Reserves Corporation Heilongjiang Branch, China Grain Reserves Beifang Nongye Kaifa Corporation, 
Heilongjiang Province Gra in Bureau, Agricultural Development Bank of China Heilongjiang Branch, Zhong Chu 
Liang Hei [2015] No. 399, issued October 30, 2015).  WT/DS511/1 • G/AG/GEN/135 • G/L/1150  
 
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  agricultural producers, expressed in term s of its current Total Aggregate Measurement of Support 
("Total AMS"),6 appears to exceed China's final bound commitment level in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 
2015 on the basis of domestic support provided to producers of, inter alia , wheat, Indica rice, 
Japonica  rice, and corn. In each of these years, China appears to provide domestic support in  
excess of its product -specific de minimis  level of 8.5 percent for each product.  
 
   We look forward to receiving your reply to the present request and to scheduling  a mutually 
convenient date for consultations.  
 
 
__________  
                                                
6 Calculated in accordance with Articles 1(a), 1(h), 6.1, 6.2, and 6.4, and Annex 3 of the Agriculture 
Agreement, and parag raph 235 of the Working Party Report as incorporated into China's Accession Protocol, 
pursuant to Part I, paragraph 1.2.