RESTRICTED  
  
G/SCM/M/84  
 
5 August 2013  
(13-4181)  Page: 1/6  
Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures    
 
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING  
HELD ON 22 APRIL 2013 
CHAIR: MR SAM C.S. HUI (HONG KONG, CHINA) 
1.  The Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures ("Committee") held a special 
meeting on 22 April 2013, convened in WTO/AIR/4114/Rev.1.  
2.  The Committee adopted the following agenda:  
1   WTO SECRETARIAT PRESENTATION ON ACCESSING DOCUMENTS FOR 
MEETINGS ON THE MEMBERS' WEBSITE ........................................................................... 2  
2   REVIEW OF 2011 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS NOT YET 
REVIEWED ...................................................................................................................... . 2 
2.1   Australia (G/SCM/N/220/AUS/Rev.1) ............................................................................ 2  
2.2   European Union - Austria and Greece (G/SCM/N/220/EEC/Add.1 and 
G/SCM/N/220/EEC/Add.11) ................................................................................................ 2  
2.3   The Former Yugoslav Republic  of Macedonia (G/S CM/N/220/M KD) .................................... 2  
2.4   Georgia (G/SCM/N/155/GEO-G/SCM/N/186/GEO-G/SCM/N/220/GEO) ............................... 2  
2.5   Honduras (G/SCM /N/220/HND/Re v.1) .......................................................................... 3  
2.6   Swaziland (G/SCM/N/155/SWZ- G/SCM/N/186/SWZ-G/SC M/N/220/S WZ) .......................... 3  
3   REVIEW OF 2009 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS NOT YET 
REVIEWED ...................................................................................................................... . 3 
3.1   Singapore (G /SCM/N/186/ SGP) ................................................................................... 3  
4   CONTINUATION OF REVIEW OF 2011 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY 
NOTIFICATIONS ............................................................................................................... 3  
4.1   Argentina (G /SCM/N/220/ ARG) ................................................................................... 3  
4.2   Armenia (G/S CM/N/220/AR M) ..................................................................................... 3  
4.3   Brazil (G/S CM/N/220/B RA) ......................................................................................... 3  
4.4   European Union (G/SCM/N/220/ EEC/Add.25 and G/SCM/N/220/EEC/Add.27) ..................... 4  
4.5   Honduras (G /SCM/N/220/ HND) ................................................................................... 4  
4.6   India (G/S CM/N/220/IN D) .......................................................................................... 4  
4.7   Nicaragua (G/SCM/N/220/NIC) .................................................................................... 4  
4.8   Turkey (G/SCM/N/220/TUR) ........................................................................................ 4  
4.9   United States (G/SCM/N/220/ USA) .............................................................................. 5  
5   CONTINUATION OF REVIEW OF  2009 NEW AND FULL NO TIFICATIONS ...................... 5  
5.1   China (G /SCM/N/186) ................................................................................................ 5  
5.2   Gabon (G/S CM/N/186/G AB) ........................................................................................ 6  
5.3   Namibia (G/S CM/N/186/NAM) ..................................................................................... 6  
5.4   Turkey (G/SCM/N/186/TUR) ........................................................................................ 6  G/SCM/M/84 
 
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1  WTO SECRETARIAT PRESENTATION ON ACCESSING DOCUMENTS FOR MEETINGS ON THE MEMBERS' WEBSITE 
3.  The Chair recalled that, based on instructions from the General Council, the Secretariat no 
longer distributed paper packets of previously-cir culated documents to be discussed at meetings. 
Instead, delegations were requested to download copies of the relevant documents from the "documents for meetings" website. A number of delegations had informed the Secretariat of 
difficulties in accessing these documents from the website.  In an attempt to clarify these issues 
and to respond to specific problems, the Secretariat had arranged for a brief presentation for the benefit of delegations attending the Rules Committees. The presentation would not be repeated in the other Rules Committee meetings.  
4.  Mr John Dickson, Chief of the Official Docume nts and Records Section, provided a presentation 
on accessing documents for meetings from the Members' website, and responded to Members' questions.  
5.  The Chair thanked Mr Dickson on behalf of the Committee, and noted that the Secretariat stood 
ready to provide assistance with document access at any time.  
2  REVIEW OF 2011 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS NOT YET REVIEWED 
6.  The Chair recalled that in accordance with the Committee's procedures in G/SCM/117, only 
notifications that had been circulated to Members in all three WTO working languages not later 
than 19 December 2012 were on the agenda for review. These had been listed in the airgram WTO/AIR/4065 dated 20 December 2012. 
2.1  Australia (G/SCM/N/220/AUS/Rev.1) 
7.  Written questions and replies with respect to this notification can be found in: 
- Questions from the EU: G/SCM/Q2/AUS/48 
- Replies from Australia: G/SCM/Q2/AUS/49 
 
8.  The Committee took note of the no tification, questions and answers.  
2.2  European Union - Austria an d Greece (G/SCM/N/220/EEC/Add.1 and 
G/SCM/N/220/EEC/Add.11) 
9.  There were no questions regarding this notification. 10.  The Committee took note of the notification. 
2.3  The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (G/SCM/N/220/MKD) 11.  Written questions and replies with respect to this notification can be found in: 
- Questions from the EU: G/SCM/Q2/MKD/3  
- Replies by the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: G/SCM/Q2/MKD/4 
 
12.  The Committee took note of the notification, questions and answers. 
2.4  Georgia (G/SCM/N/155/GEO-G/SCM/N/186/GEO-G/SCM/N/220/GEO) 
13.  This triple-symbolled notification was taken up only under this agenda item, i.e. as a 2011 
notification.  
14.  There were no questions regarding this notification.  
15.  The Committee took note of the notification.  G/SCM/M/84 
 
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  2.5  Honduras (G/SCM/N/220/HND/Rev.1) 
16.  Written questions regarding this notification can be found in:  
- Questions from the EU: G/SCM/Q2/HND/9 
 
17.  Honduras stated that the replies were bein g prepared and would be submitted when ready.  
18.  The Committee took note of the questions and statement. 
2.6  Swaziland (G/SCM/N/155/SWZ-G/SCM/N/186/SWZ-G/SCM/N/220/SWZ) 
19.  This triple-symboled notification was taken up only under this agenda item, i.e. as a 2011 
notification.  
20.  There were no questions regarding this notification.  21.  The Committee took note of the notification.  
3  REVIEW OF 2009 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS NOT YET REVIEWED 3.1  Singapore (G/SCM/N/186/SGP) 22.  There were no questions concerning this notification.  
23.  The Committee took note of the notification. 
4  CONTINUATION OF REVIEW OF 2011 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS 
4.1  Argentina (G/SCM/N/220/ARG) 
24.  Written questions regarding this notification can be found in:  
- Questions from the EU: G/SCM/Q2/ARG/34  
- Questions from the US: G/SCM/Q2/ARG/35  
 
25.  Argentina stated that the answers were being prepared and should be provided soon.  
26.  The Committee took note of the questions and statement.  
4.2  Armenia (G/SCM/N/220/ARM) 
27.  Written questions regarding this notification can be found in:  
- Questions from the US: G/SCM/Q2/ARM/1 
 
28.  The representative of Armenia was not present at the meeting. 
4.3  Brazil (G/SCM/N/220/BRA) 29.  Written questions regarding this notification can be found in:  
- Questions from Japan: G/SCM/Q2/BRA/37  
 
30.  Brazil noted that these questions had not been  reflected in the draft agenda for the meeting, 
and that it was not able to provide answers at  the meeting, but would circulate the written 
answers soon.  
31.  The Committee took note of the questions and statement.  G/SCM/M/84 
 
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  4.4  European Union (G/SCM/N/220/EEC/Add.25 and G/SCM/N/220/EEC/Add.27) 
32.  Written questions and replies regarding this notification can be found in:  
- Questions from Argentina: G/SCM/Q2/EU/19  
- Questions from the US: G/SCM/Q2/EU/21 
- Replies to Argentina: G/SCM/Q2/EU/25  
- Replies to the US: G/SCM/Q2/EU/27  
33.  The Committee took note of the questions and answers. 
4.5  Honduras (G/SCM/N/220/HND) 
34.  Written questions and replies regarding this notification can be found in:  
- Questions from the EU: G/SCM/Q2/HND/5  
- Questions from Colombia: G/SCM/Q2/HND/6 
- Replies to the EU: G/SCM/Q2/HND/7  - Replies to Colombia: G/SCM/Q2/HND/8  
 
35.  The Committee took note of the questions and answers. 
4.6  India (G/SCM/N/220/IND) 
36.  Written questions regarding this notification can be found in:  
- Questions from the US: G/SCM/Q2/IND/23  
- Questions from Canada: G/SCM/Q2/IND/24  - Questions from the EU: G/SCM/Q2/IND/26  
 
37.  Subsequent to the meeting, India submitted written replies which can be found in:  
- Replies to the EU: G/SCM/Q2/IND/28 
- Replies to Canada: G/SCM/Q2/IND/29 
- Replies to the US: G/SCM/Q2/IND/30  
38.  The Committee took note of the questions.   
4.7  Nicaragua (G/SCM/N/220/NIC) 
39.  Written questions regarding this notification can be found in:  - Questions from the US: G/SCM/Q2/NIC/3 and Corr.1  
 
40.  Nicaragua stated that the written replies would be submitted as soon as they were received 
from capital.  
41.  The Committee took note of the questions and statement.  
4.8  Turkey (G/SCM/N/220/TUR) 
42.  Written questions and replies regarding this notification can be found in:  
- Questions from the EU: G/SCM/Q2/TUR/26  
- Replies from Turkey: G/SCM/Q2/TUR/27   
43.  The Committee took note of the questions and answers. G/SCM/M/84 
 
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  4.9  United States (G/SCM/N/220/USA) 
44.  Written questions and replies regarding this notification can be found in:  
- Questions from Japan: G/SCM/Q2/USA/55  
- Replies from the US: G/SCM/Q2/USA/60 
- Question from Canada: G/SCM/Q2/USA/54 (follow-up, raised in the October 2012 
special meeting, to the reply to question 8) 
 
45.  The US indicated that while the Agreemen t did not require notification of individual 
beneficiaries, the company in question did appe ar to have received benefits under certain 
programmes, subsequent to the period covered by the notification. The municipal-level support did not appear to be specific. The state-level support might have been from recently-enacted 
programmes that might not have been notified. The US would review the programmes for inclusion 
in its next notification.  
46.  To date, no written version of the US reply has been provided.  
47.  The US stated that the company in question, when previously located in Quebec, had received 
a non-refundable financial contribution under "Investissement Quebec", which had not been 
notified by Canada. The US was concerned that Ca nada's subsidy notifications might be incomplete 
with respect to support programmes at the provincial level, and requested Canada to examine 
whether Investissement Quebec administered su pport programmes that should be notified.  
48.  Canada took note of the questions posed by the US. 
49.  The Committee took note of the questions, answers and statements. 
5  CONTINUATION OF REVIEW OF 2009 NEW AND FULL NOTIFICATIONS 5.1  China (G/SCM/N/186) 50.  Written questions and replies concerning this notification can be found in: 
- Questions from the US: G/SCM/Q2/CHN/43 and Corr.1 
- Questions from Canada: G/SCM/Q2/CHN/44 - Questions from Japan: G/SCM/Q2/CHN/45 
- Replies to the US: G/SCM/Q2/CHN/47 
- Replies to Canada: G/SCM/Q2/CHN/48  
51.  To date, no written replies to the questions from Japan have been provided.  
52.  The US considered this notification to be incomplete and grossly deficient. China's notifications 
were not up to date, as this one covered only 2005-2008, and the central government subsidies 
were largely the same partial listing as in China's only other notification, in 2006. 
53.  Many of the programmes appeared to be so cial-welfare related, for example to promote 
employment for the handicapped, and did not appear to be specific per SCM Article 2. In the light 
of the numerous other programmes in the US Article 25.10 counter-notification, these 
programmes did not appear fully representative of China's overall subsidy regime, which contained 
many sector-specific programmes intended to bene fit manufacturers that potentially had a more 
direct impact on trade. The notification also was manifestly incomplete, including only 7 of the 198 programmes identified in the US counter-notification.  
54.  Further, this notification contained no subsidy administered by provincial or local 
governments, although the US counter-notification made clear that China maintained a vast number of such programmes. US experience and an alysis showed that often only broad support 
policies were issued at the central government level, with concrete implementation at the sub-
central level. Thus, a notification without sub-central programmes was seriously incomplete.  G/SCM/M/84 
 
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  55.  Also absent from China's notification we re many programmes that the US and others had 
identified in various countervailing duty investigations, including, for example, grant programmes, policy lending by state-owned banks, and provisio n of goods at less than adequate remuneration. 
56.  China indicated that it was working on the 2011 notification, which would be submitted when 
ready. The US continued to misunderstand China's programmes and their interrelationships, which 
China would address under another agenda item.  
57.  The Committee took note of the questions, answers and statements.  
5.2  Gabon (G/SCM/N/186/GAB) 58.  Written questions regarding this notification can be found in: 
- Questions from the US: G/SCM/Q2/GAB/1 
- Questions from Turkey: G/SCM/Q2/GAB/2 
 
59.  The representative of Gabon was not present at the meeting. 
5.3  Namibia (G/SCM/N/186/NAM) 
60.  Written questions regarding this notification can be found in:  
- Questions from Thailand: G/SCM/Q2/NAM/3 
 
61.  The representative of Namibia was not present at the meeting.  
5.4  Turkey (G/SCM/N/186/TUR) 62.  Written questions regarding this notification can be found in: 
- Questions from Australia: G/SCM/Q2/TUR/23 
 
63.  Turkey stated that its WTO commitments allowed it to provide export subsidies to 44 
agricultural product groups, while due to budget constraints it subsidized only 14 product groups. 
Turkey was working on a detailed written reply.  
64.  The Committee took note of the questions and statements. 
65.  The meeting was closed. 
_________