G/AG/GEN/138/Rev.2  
 
18 February  2019 
(19-0954) Page: 1/12 
Committee on Agriculture    
 
ARTICLE 18.6 - REVIE W IN THE COMMITTEE O N AGRICULTURE  
Revision  
This document presents an overview of the questions raised by Members under Article 18.6 of the 
Agreement on Agriculture  (AoA) . Article 18.6 provides Members with the opportunity to raise any 
matter relevant to the implementation of commitments under the reform programme as set out  in 
the AoA . This document summarizes all the matters raised during the period between 1995 and 
2018, including information on Members who raised, and responded to, q uestions, the subject and 
product coverage of these questions. In preparing this report, the Secretariat used data extracted 
from the A griculture Information Management System (A G IMS) which includes questions and 
responses provided during the review proce ss of the Committee on Agriculture  (CoA) .1 
 
This note is divided into two sections:  
 
1. General overview and;  
2. Questions raised in 201 8. 
 
Further, Annex 1 lists the issues  raised under Article 18.6 of the AoA  in 201 8, the total number of 
questions raised regar ding these issues and the CoA meetings in which th ese issues have been 
raised. Annex 1 also contains the AG IMS codes to access the complete questions and responses, if 
available.   
 
1  GENERAL OVERVIEW  
1.1.   In the period between 1995 and  2018, there were a total of 1,086  questions raised under 
Article  18.6. Chart 1 indicates the number of questions raised each year, including repeated 
questions from previous meetings for which there had been no response. In the first year of the 
Committee, Members raised nine questions. In the following years of the CoA meetings there was a 
substantial increase in the number of questions raised. Questions under Article 18.6 have particularly 
intensified over the last years , peaking  in 201 8 when Members posed close to 190 questions . 
Additionally, a s can be seen in Chart  2, the average number of questions raised under Article 18.6 
per meeting has also been increasing since 2011 reaching an average of 42 questions per meeting  
in 201 8.  
                                                
1 Database available at: http://agims.wto.org/ . G/AG/GEN/138/Rev.2  
 
- 2 - 
 
  Chart 1  - Questions by year, 1995 -2018 
 
Chart 2 – Average number of questions per meeting , 1995 -2018  
 
 
0255075100125150175200
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018NUMBER 
Years 
010203040NUMBERG/AG/GEN/138/Rev.2  
 
- 3 - 
 
  1.2.  The majority of questions raised in the period covered by this report related to market access 
issues (3 79), followed by domestic support ( 343) and export competition ( 265). Questions regarding 
export restrictions constituted a relatively small part, as only 14  issues  were raised  under this area . 
There were 82 questions raised concerning policies that cover more than one area (mix) . One issue 
was presented a s a general statement, and was therefore not counted as a question.  
Chart 3 - Questions by pillar, 1995 -2018 
 
 
1.3.  The majority of questio ns in the period of 1995 to 201 8 were raised by developed country 
Members. While developing country Members have submitted more than one hundred questions 
since 1995, only 17 developing country Members have actively participated in submitting these 
questions. In  terms of responses to que stions, the majority of questions were directed at developing 
economies, while around  40% of the questions concerned policies implemented by developed 
country Members .  
1.4.  Chart 4 presents the breakdown of questions raised by Member s each year. The increase i n 
the number of questions raised over the last years has been largely driven by developed country 
Members . 2018 has been the year with the highest percentage of  questions raised by developing 
country Members  account ing for close than 20 % of the total numbe r of questions . Not included in 
the chart are eight questions that were presented jointly by developed and developing country 
Members  (mixed group) and  13 issues that were either general questions without a specific 
respondent identified or statements for the Membership's information.  
Domestic Support 
32%
Market Access
35%Export restrictions
1%Export competition
24%Mix
8%G/AG/GEN/138/Rev.2  
 
- 4 - 
 
  Chart 4- Questions raised by Member s per year, 1995 -2018 
 
 
1.5.  In some instances,  questions posed in the context of Article 18.6 focused on specific product 
categories. As seen on Chart 5, over the per iod 1995 -2018, questions wer e concentrated on three 
product categories, as identified by the Secretariat: dairy,  cerea ls and sugar  products ( 253, 199 and 
87 questions, respectively).  
Chart 5 – Questions by product group , 1995 -2018 
 
 
1.6.  Multiple questions may be raised on a single issue under Article 18.6. While tracking issues 
from one Committee to the next is not always possible, some issues raised in Committee meetings 
are obviously issues that have been raised previously. These issues may be repeated because 
responses had not been provided when the issue was initially raised, or they may be old issues that 
are the subject of new questions. Chart 6 illustrates the number of new and repeated issues raised 
in CoA meetings each year from 19 95 to 201 8. 
92738
2314211220 20 2313 142311 1582849
3471 67123112148
032
3
01
55 7 4
0 20
1113
056
112
424
1136
020406080100120140160180200NUMBER 
Developed Developing
050100150200250300NUMBERG/AG/GEN/138/Rev.2  
 
- 5 - 
 
  Chart 6 – New and repeated issues, Article 18.6 Review , 1995 - 2018 
 
 
2  QUESTIONS RAISED IN 2018 
2.1.  Members rai sed a total of 1 84 questions in 201 8 on 54 implementation issues . Some of  these 
questions related to new issues, others were questions on issues that had been pr eviously raised  
(See Annex 1). The majority of issues concerned  domestic support p olicies  (77 questions) , followed 
by questions regarding  policies with the capacity to restrict market access  (48 questions ).  
Chart 7 – Questions by pillar, 2018 
 
 
 
036 6
1314 52 3 2 258
2 2107111419
1418
72326
20
1117
1218 1619
71318 1116
51713
12232044
4036
010203040506070NUMBER
Repeated Issues New Issues
Domestic 
Support
42%
Market Access
26%Export 
competition
17%Mix
15%G/AG/GEN/138/Rev.2  
 
- 6 - 
 
  2.2.  The maj ority of questions asked in 201 8 came from developed countr y Members (80%), while 
the policies implemented by developing country Members  were the target of the majority of 
questions, receiving up to 70% of the questions raised in 2018 (See chart 8). Least -developed 
country Members did not raise  nor received any questions in 201 8.  
Chart 8 –Participation  by Members , 201 8 
 
 
2.3.  In line with the trend seen in the 1995 -2018 period, the majority of questions in 2018 
concerned policies targeting dairy, sugar and cereals. A number of questions also focused o n policies 
targeting fruits and vegetables, meat, and beverages  including  spirits.  
Chart 9 – Questions by product group , 201 8 
 
148
3654
130
D E V E L O P E D D E V E L O P I NGQuestion Response
05101520253035404550G/AG/GEN/138/Rev.2  
 
- 7 - 
 
   
2.4.  A total of  18 issues were raised in 201 8 that ha d been flagged by Members in previous  
Committee meetings. These issues include Canada' s new milk ingredient class (4 8 questions in 
11 Committee meetings), Canada's wine sale policy ( 22 questions in 11 Committee meetings)  and 
Brazil's domestic support programmes (22 questions in 22 Committee meetings) . See Annex 1 for a 
complete list of questions.  
 
_______________  
  
  G/AG/GEN/138/Rev.2  
 
- 8 - ANNEX 1  
ARTICLE 18.6 - REVIE W IN 201 8 
Question 
Summary  Question raised by Products  Number of 
questions  CoA meeting s AG IMS ID number1 
Canada's new milk 
ingredient class Australia, India, New  Zealand, 
United States of America  Dairy, Milk, Milk 
powders, Butter, 
Cheese, Other  48 79, 80, 81, 82, 
83, 84, 85, 86, 
87, 88, 89  89020, 89053, 89055, 88120, 88121, 88065, 
88064, 88061, 87015, 87063, 87064, 87065, 
87159, 87160, 8 6002, 86030, 86033, 85002, 
85003, 85004, 85005, 85006, 85008, 85011, 
85051, 85052, 85053, 85054, 85055, 85056, 
84012, 84018, 84020, 84021, 84022, 84023, 
84025, 84027, 84029, 84030, 84035, 84111, 
84107, 84031, 83054, 83039, 82012, 82059, 
82013, 82001, 81001 , 81009, 81049, 81054, 
81055, 81056, 80003, 80005, 80006, 80025, 
79035  
India's pulses 
policies  Australia, Canada, Russian 
Federation, Ukraine, 
United  States  of America  Processed vegetables  29 84, 85, 86, 87, 
88, 89  89004, 89007, 89024, 89057, 88060, 88066, 
88092, 88095, 88109, 87001, 87017, 87073, 
87074, 87087, 87088, 87077, 87070, 87071, 
87072, 87075, 87076, 86061, 86062, 86063, 
86065, 86039, 86035, 85064, 84044  
Canada's wine sale 
policy  Australia, European Union, 
New Zealand, United  States  of 
America  Alcoholic  22 79, 80, 81, 82, 
83, 84, 85, 86, 
87, 88, 89  89021, 89054, 88096, 87016, 87066, 86034, 
85012, 85057, 84017, 84106, 84033, 84112, 
84105, 83007, 83041, 83104, 83135, 82057, 
82002, 81003, 81011, 81024, 81046, 81047, 
81097, 80008, 80009, 800 94, 80095, 79003  
Brazil's domestic 
support 
programmes  United  States  of America , 
Ukraine  Wheat, Corn, Rice, 
Malt, Coarse grains, 
Cotton  22 65, 66, 68, 69, 
70,71, 72, 73, 74, 
75, 76, 77, 78, 
79, 80, 81, 83, 
84, 85, 86, 87  87014, 87062, 86031, 85049, 84073, 83038, 
81008, 80024, 79001, 78002, 77066, 76039, 
75023, 74021, 73026, 72051, 71028, 70007, 
69027, 68007, 66002, 65011  
Russian Federation's 
railway subsidy for 
exports  Australia, Canada, 
European  Union, Ukraine, 
United  States  of America  Cereals, Wheat, 
Corn, Rice, Malt, 
Coarse grains  9 85, 86, 87, 88  88073, 87022, 87098, 86010, 86068, 86067, 
86038, 86047, 85036  
                                                
1 For details of the questions and answers please visit the AG IMS ( http://agims.wto.org/ ), select the function "Search Q&A Submitted Since 1995 " and input the  
ID number of the question(s) concerned.   
  G/AG/GEN/138/Rev.2  
 
- 9 - Question 
Summary  Question raised by Products  Number of 
questions  CoA meeting s AG IMS ID number1 
U.S. Proposed 
domestic support 
measures  Australia, Canada, 
European  Union, India, Japan, 
New Zealand  Swine, Milk, Fresh 
vegetables, Wheat, 
Corn,  Coarse grains  8 88 ,89  89047, 89066, 88030, 88048, 88028, 88047, 
88029, 88098  
India's sugar 
policies  Australia, Brazil, European 
Union, Russia n Federation  Sugar, Cane or beet 
sugar, Other  8 87, 88, 89  89058, 89090, 88046, 88130, 88129, 88128, 
88127, 88039, 88042, 88043, 87002, 87079  
Philippines' rice 
waiver  Australia, Thailand, 
United  States of America   Rice 8 84, 85, 86, 87, 
88, 89  89063, 88032, 87082, 86008, 85071, 84057, 
84015, 84079  
Thailand's import 
permits for feed 
wheat  Australia, European Un ion, 
United States of America  Animal feed, Wheat, 
Corn 8 83, 84, 85, 86, 88  88002, 86106, 85039, 84074, 84059, 83107, 
83045, 83013  
Korea's rice imports  Australia, Thailand, 
United  States of America  Rice 8 23, 78, 86, 87, 
88, 89  89029, 89060, 88045, 87090, 86036, 23006, 
78020, 78024  
Pakistan's sugar 
policies  Australia, Brazil, Guatemala, 
Russia n Federation  Sugar, Cane or beet 
sugar, Other  7 85, 86, 87, 88, 89  89061, 89091, 88033, 88124, 88125, 87081, 
86007, 86009, 85069  
U.S. dairy policies  Canada  Dairy, Milk, Milk 
powders, Butter, 
Cheese, Other  6 85, 86, 87, 89  89005, 89006, 87105, 87106, 86084, 85079  
Indonesia's dairy 
import system  New Zealand, 
United  States  of America  Dairy, Milk, Milk 
powders, Butter, 
Cheese, Other  6 84, 86, 87, 88  88035, 88071, 87018, 87089, 86046, 84075  
Pakistan's wheat 
export subsidies  Australia, 
United  States  of America  Wheat  6 76, 77, 87, 88, 89  89030, 88072, 87021, 76020, 76028, 77029  
Thailand's sugar 
policies  Australia, European Union, 
Brazil  Sugar, Cane or beet 
sugar, Other  6 76, 77, 89  76001, 76021, 76033, 77031, 77046  
India's minimum 
support prices  Australia, Canada, 
European  Union  Cereals, Wheat, 
Corn, Rice, Malt, 
Coarse grains  5 86, 87  87068, 86004, 86005, 86074, 86066  
India's skim milk 
powder export 
subsidies  Australia, European Union, 
New Zealand, 
United  States  of America  Dairy, Milk, Milk 
powders, Butter, 
Cheese, Other  4 88, 89  89026, 88070, 88037, 88122, 88040  
Suriname's poultry 
tariffs  United States of America  Poultry  4 86, 87, 88,  89 89031, 88074, 87023, 86049  
India's Merchandise 
Exports from India 
Scheme (MEIS)  Australia, New Zealand, 
United States of America  India's Merchandise 
Exports from India 
Scheme (MEIS)  3 88, 89  89059, 88123, 88038, 88067  
Indonesia's soybean 
imports  United States of America  Oilseeds  3 86, 87, 88  88097, 87019, 86048  
Mongolia's quota 
regime for 
importation  Russia n Federation  Milk, Cereal  3 86, 87, 88  88104, 87094, 86001  
EU intervention 
stocks of skim milk 
power  Australia, Canada, 
New Zealand  Milk powders  3 85, 86, 87  87069, 86003, 86032, 85059   
  G/AG/GEN/138/Rev.2  
 
- 10 - Question 
Summary  Question raised by Products  Number of 
questions  CoA meeting s AG IMS ID number1 
India's quantitative 
restrictions  Australia, 
United  States  of America  Fresh vegetables  3 85, 86  86006, 86037, 85060  
European Union's 
sugar policies  Australia  Sugar, Cane or beet 
sugar, Other  3 84, 87, 88  88063, 87067, 84037  
Thailand's import 
licensing for meat  United States of America   Meat, Bovine, Swine, 
Sheep and goat, 
Poultry, Horses, 
Other  2 88, 89  89032, 88075  
Indonesia's import 
restrictions on 
horticultural 
products  Japan,  
United  States  of America     2 87, 88  88036, 87020  
U.S. support to the 
cotton sector  Brazil, European Union  Cotton  2 86, 87  87103, 86069  
Turkey's IPR 
programme  Russian Federation  Wheat  2 84, 86  86029, 84113  
United Kingdom - 
Modification of 
agricultural schedule 
of commitments  Indonesia, India    2 83, 88  88011, 83069  
European Union - 
Modification of 
agricultural schedule 
of commitments  Canada    1 89 89001  
China's credit 
programme  United States of America    1 89 89022  
EU's drought 
support to farmers  Ukraine    1 89 89056  
Ghana's poultry 
imports  United States of America   Poultry  1 89 89023  
India's dairy loans  United States of America   Dairy, Milk, Milk 
powders, Butter, 
Cheese, Other  1 89 89027  
India's whey milk 
powder duty  United States of America   Milk powders  1 89 89025  
Japan's export 
subsidies  United States of America     1 89 89028  
Pakistan's 
import  tariffs for 
dairy products  European Union  Dairy, Milk, Milk 
powders, Butter, 
Cheese, Other  1 89 89062  
Sri Lanka's tax on 
imported milk 
powder  New Zealand  Milk powders  1 89 89064   
  G/AG/GEN/138/Rev.2  
 
- 11 - Question 
Summary  Question raised by Products  Number of 
questions  CoA meeting s AG IMS ID number1 
China's premium 
contributions for 
rice, corn and wheat 
seeds.  Canada  Wheat, Corn, Rice  1 88 88102  
EU's CAP reform  New Zealand    1 88 88062  
India's proposed 
domestic support 
programmes  European Union    1 88 88041  
Republic of  Korea's 
support for  seaweed 
producers.  China    1 88 88034  
Russia n Federation's 
modification of 
excise taxes on wine  European Union  Alcoholic  1 88 88031  
Turkey's export 
subsidies  European Union  Poultry, Eggs, Fresh 
vegetables, 
Processed 
vegetables, Cut 
flowers  1 88 88059  
Zimbabwe's export 
incentive  United States of America     1 88 88076  
U.S. Commodity 
Credit Corporation 
funds  Canada    1 87 87104  
Switzerland's levies 
on imports of 
certain agricultural 
goods  European Union    1 87 87102  
Norway’s export 
subsidy for butter  New Zealand  Butter  1 87 87096  
Moldova's draft 
regulation on 
amendments to Law 
on Internal Trade  Ukraine    1 87 87092  
Switzerland -
Liechtenstein's new 
support policy for 
dairy and cereals  European Union  Dairy, Milk, Milk 
powders, Butter, 
Cheese, Other, 
Cereals, Wheat, 
Corn, Rice, Malt, 
Coarse grains  1 87 87091, 87100  
India's rice 
procurement  European Union  Rice 1 87 87078   
  G/AG/GEN/138/Rev.2  
 
- 12 - Question 
Summary  Question raised by Products  Number of 
questions  CoA meeting s AG IMS ID number1 
EU - Amendments 
to Income 
Stabilisation Tool  India   1 87 87080  
Argentina's export 
subsidies to pork 
meat European Union  Meat, Bovine, Swine, 
Sheep and goat, 
Poultry, Horses, 
Other  1 86 86064  
Egypt's domestic 
support for wheat  Canada  Wheat  1 86 86060  
 
 
 
__________