G/TRIMS/W/153  
 
13 April 2015  
(15-1965)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Trade-Related Investment Measures  Original: English  
 
 RUSSIAN FEDERATION – SUPPORT MEASURES FOR THE AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR 
QUESTIONS FROM JAPAN 
The following communication, dated 10 April 2015, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Japan. 
_______________ 
 
The Russian Federation adopted Resolutions No. 29, 30, 31 and 32 as of 15 January 2014 for 
providing various subsidies to auto manufacturers, of which requirements include production of automobiles in "industrial assembly mode". Though the Russian Federation has replied in part to the questions raised by the other Members in this Committee, Japan still shares the concern that 
these subsidies are provided on the condition of use of domestic content. Therefore, Japan asks 
the Russian Federation to addr ess the following questions.  
 
Question 1 
 At the TRIMs Committee's meeting on 6 October 2014, as a reply to the United States' questions 
submitted on 13 June 2014, the Russian Federation stated that "industrial assembly mode" under 
Resolutions No. 29-32 means that "the producer has a valid agreement on industrial assembly". Japan understood that "a valid agreement on industrial assembly" referred in the statement is the industrial assembly agreement with Ministry of Economic Development (MED) under the Auto 
Investment Programs provided under Joint Orders No.73/81/58n of 15 April 2005 and 
No.678/1289/184n of 24 December 2010. Is Japan's understanding correct?   
If they are not the same agreements, please prov ide the following information with regard to the 
industrial assembly agreements required for the subsidies under Resolutions No. 29-32: (i) relevant legal provisions; (ii) conditions to conclude the agreements; and (iii) terms to be 
provided for the agreements. 
 Question 2  
Are the industrial assembly agreements referred in the above-mentioned Russian Federation's 
statement limited to the agreements listed in Tabl es 42, 43 and 44 of the Working Party Report on 
the accession of the Russian Federation? If there are any additional signed agreements under the 
Auto Investment Programs that are not included in the Tables 42-44, please indicate them and 
explain the reasons.  
Question 3 
 Are there any auto manufacturers who have signed agreements with the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT) to receive the subsidies under Resolutions No. 29-32, but have not signed industrial 
assembly agreements with the MED under the Auto Investment Programs? 
 Question 4 
 
Does the Russian Federation publicly disclose the names of auto manufacturers who have signed agreements with MIT to receive subsidies under Resolutions No. 29-32? If so, where can the 
information be found?  
 G/TRIMS/W/153 
 
- 2 - 
 
  Question 5 
 Could the Russian Federation explain whether auto manufacturers need to submit the industrial assembly agreements under the Auto Investment Programs at any stage of the procedure to 
obtain the subsidies under Resolutions No. 29-32 (for example, on application for signing the 
agreement with the Ministry  of Industry and Trade)?   
 
Question 6 
 Can auto manufacturers receive subsidies under Resolutions 29-32 without meeting the local content requirements set out in the Auto Investment Programs? If so, please indicate which auto 
manufacturers have received subsidies under Resolutions No. 29-32 without being subject to the 
local content requirements set out in Auto Investment Programs.   
 
Question 7 
 Could the Russian Federation explain the rationale for requiring the production through "industrial 
assembly mode"  as a condition to provide the subsidies under Resolutions No.29-32? 
 
__________