G/SCM/W/557/Rev.5  
 
11 April 2024  
(24-3042) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures  Original: English  
 
PROPOSED GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSION OF QUESTIONS  
AND ANSWERS UNDER ARTICLES 25.8 AND 25.9  
2024 APRIL MEETING OF THE SUBSIDIES AND  
COUNTERVAILING MEASURES COMMITTEE  
PROPOSAL FROM AUSTRALIA , CANADA , THE EUROPEAN UNION, JAPAN, 
THE UNITED KINGDOM , AND THE UNITED STATES 
Revision  
The following communication, dated  and received on  10 April 2024, is being circulated at the request 
of the delegation s of Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the 
United States . 
 
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1. At MC12 Members committed to work towards necessary reforms to improve all of the 
functions of the WTO.1 Since MC12, all WTO committees have made reforms, either by simply taking 
the reformed actions or through Committee decisions.  These  improvements not only improve the 
implementation of the various WTO agreements, but provide tangible benefits and increased 
transparency to both WTO Members and their stakeholders.  
 
2. Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States  
again put forward for consideration of Members a proposal on submissions of requests for 
information under Article 25.8 and written answers to questions submitted under Article 25.9 of the 
Agreement on Subsidies and Counterva iling Measures.  This proposal seeks to facilitate greater 
information sharing and transparency among Members while also recognizing  the difficulties faced 
by some Members when responding to questions.  Indeed, this proposal reflects the practice that 
nearly  all Members already follow when answering Article 25.8 questions and is a proposal the 
Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures can adopt, in line with the agreed -upon 
outcomes at MC12.  This proposal will increase the ability of Members to adequ ately monitor other 
Members ' subsidy practices and will increase transparency for businesses and the public on those 
programs.  
 
Proposed text:  
 
3. Pursuant to Article 25.8 of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures: "Any 
Member may, at any time, make a written request for information on the nature and extent of any 
subsidy granted or maintained by another Member (including any subsidy referred to in Part IV), or 
for an explanation of the reasons for which a specific measure has been considered as not subject 
to the requirement of notification."  
 
4. Article 25.9 of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures  then states, 
"Mem bers so requested shall provide such information as quickly as possible and in a comprehensive 
manner, and shall be ready, upon request, to provide additional information to the requesting 
Member. In  particular, they shall provide sufficient details to ena ble the other Member to assess 
 
1 WT/MIN(22)/24 , "MC12 Outcome Document " adopted on 17 June 2022.  G/SCM/W/557/Rev.5  
 
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  their compliance with the terms of this Agreement.  Any Member which considers that such 
information has not been provided may bring the matter to the attention of the Committee."  
 
5. The submission of requests for informatio n under Article 25.8 and the submission of answers 
under Article 25.9 should be on the basis of a written procedure, i.e., on the basis of written 
questions and written answers.  
 
6. Members who receive a written request under Article 25.8 shall provide wr itten answers as 
quickly as possible, i.e., Members should, to the extent possible, and taking into account the time 
necessary to consult sub -central governments, provide answers within 90 days after the receipt of 
the request.  In answering a written reque st of a Member, the requested Member shall provide 
sufficient and comprehensive details in writing to enable the other Member to assess their 
compliance with the terms of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures.  Written 
replies to follow up questions should, to the extent possible, be answered within 60 days.  
 
7. All requests under Article 25.8 to which written responses have not been provided will remain 
on the agenda of the Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures until such time that the 
Members so requested have answered, as described under Article 25.9 and these procedures.  
 
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