G/SCM/N/284/JAM  
G/SCM/N/290/JAM  
 
14 January 2016  
(16-0277)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Subsidies and 
Countervailing Measures  Original: English  
 
SUBSIDIES 
NEW AND FULL NOTIFICATION PURSUANT TO ARTICLE XVI:1  
OF THE GATT 1994 AND ARTICLE 25 OF THE AGREEMENT  
ON SUBSIDIES AND COUNTERVAILING MEASURES 
TRANSPARENCY NOTIFICATION CONCERNING  THE EXTENSIONS PROVIDED FOR IN 
ARTICLE 27.4 OF THE AGREEMENT ON SUBSIDIES AND COUNTERVAILING 
MEASURES OF THE TRANSITION PERIOD FOR THE ELIMINATION OF 
EXPORT SUBSIDIES, GRANTED PU RSUANT TO THE PROCEDURES 
IN THE GENERAL COUNCIL DECISION WT/L/691 
JAMAICA  
The following communication, dated 11 December 2015,  is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Jamaica. 
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The attached is the new and full notification  of Jamaica under Article XVI:1 of GATT 1994 and 
Article 25 of the Agreement on Subsidies and Count ervailing Measures ("the Agreement"). We also 
submit this notification for purposes of transpar ency in the context of the extensions granted to 
Jamaica under Article 27.4 of the Agreement, pursuant to the procedures in WT/L/691. 
1  EXPORT INDUSTRY ENCOURAGEMENT ACT 1. Description of the programme 
The Export Industry Encouragement Act was estab lished as an incentive framework geared toward 
the encouragement of export industries. 
2. Period covered by the notification 
Programme description for the calendar year 2014. 3. Policy objective and/or purpose of the subsidy 
The objective is to encourage investment and growth in export manufacturing industries. 4. Status of the subsidy 
By virtue of the Fiscal Incentives Act (FIA), 2013, the Export Industry Encouragement Act was 
repealed. Existing beneficiaries we re provided with the options of either having the incentives 
grandfathered for the remaining period granted or begin operations under the FIA. 
2  JAMAICA EXPORT FREE ZONES ACT 1. Description of the programme 
The Jamaica Export Free Zones Act provides an incentive and regulatory framework for the 
operation of Free Zones in Jamaica. G/SCM/N/284/JAM • G/SCM/N/290/JAM 
 
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  2. Period covered by the notification 
Programme description for the calendar year 2014. 
3. Policy objective and/or purpose of the subsidy 
The objective is to encourage investment, exports and foreign exchange earnings and to create 
employment opportunities. 
4. Status of the subsidy 
The Jamaica Export Free Zone Act is scheduled to be repealed on 31 December 2015. In order to 
meet Jamaica’s obligations to remove legislatio ns providing export subsidies, government will 
promulgate the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Act. The SEZ Bill has been passed by both the Lower 
House and Upper House of Representatives on 1 and 11 December, respectively. 
3  INDUSTRIAL INCENTIVES (FACTORY CONSTRUCTION) ACT 
1. Description of the programme 
Provides an enabling framework for the provision of factory space in Jamaica. 2. Period covered by the notification 
Programme description for the calendar year 2014. 3. Policy objective and/or purpose of the subsidy 
To facilitate and encourage the construction of factories in Jamaica. 4. Status of the subsidy 
By virtue of the Fiscal Incentives Act (FIA), 2013, the Industrial Incentives (Factory Construction) 
Act was repealed. There was very little activity under the programme and therefore no incentives 
were recorded as grandfathered.  
4  FOREIGN SALES CORPORATION ACT 1. Description of the programme 
A legislative framework for the operation of Foreign Sales Corporation (FSCs) in Jamaica.  2. Period covered by the notification 
Programme description for the calendar year 2014.  3. Policy objective and/or purpose of the subsidy 
To attract foreign investment into the country and to promote Jamaica as an attractive FSC 
location. 
4. Status of the subsidy 
By virtue of the Fiscal Incentives Act (FIA), 2013, the Foreign Sales Corporation Act was repealed. 
There was very little activity under the programme and therefore no incentives were recorded as 
grandfathered.  
5. Information referred to in Paragraph 2(a)  of the General Council  Decision of 2007 
At the close of fiscal year 2015/16 all pieces of legi slation that had been granting export subsidies 
would have been repealed and Jamaica would have  been operating under the Omnibus Incentives 
and Special Economic Zone regimes, both of which would be consistent with Jamaica's WTO obligations. 
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