G/AG/W/232  
 
23 March 2023  
(23-2092) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Agriculture  Original: English  
 
STREAMLINING AGRICULTURAL NOTIFICATIONS AND IMPROVING TRANSPARENCY  
COMMUNICATION FROM CHINA  
The following communication, dated 23 March 2023, is being circulated at the request of China.  
 
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1.  Improving transparency and enhancing Members' fulfilment of notification obligations is an 
integral part of WTO reform, including in the agriculture area. Members have made serious efforts 
in this regard and tabled specific proposals as in JOB/AG/213 and G/AG/W/230 aimed at updating, 
improving, and streamlining agricultural transparency and notification obligations. In the meantime, 
it has been recognized that streamlining the notification requirements could also be an important 
effort to help Members better implemen t their notification obligations.  
2.  As regards transparency on agricultural measures, it has been noted that certain types of 
agricultural information have been required by multiple WTO committees. For example, information 
in respect of the implementatio n of agricultural tariff quotas is required to be submitted to the 
Committee on Agriculture (CoA), Import Licensing Committee (LIC) and the Working Party on State 
Trading Enterprises (WPSTE). Similarly, there is an obvious duplication in notification and 
transparency obligations within the CoA in respect of data on international food aid which may in 
fact be required by four different agricultural notifications. These overlapping transparency 
requirements, even with differing purpose and context, have inevi tably led to redundant and 
duplicate notification efforts by Members for many years. Further, some of the existing notification 
obligations in the area of export subsidies, namely Tables ES:1 and ES:2, have already, or would 
soon, become unnecessary pursua nt to Members' obligations under the 2015 Nairobi Ministerial 
Decision prohibiting the use of such subsidies.  
3.  In light of the above, consolidating and streamlining the existing redundant or overlapping 
agricultural notification requirements across dif ferent WTO committees as well as within the CoA, 
without compromising the existing level of transparency, could be an efficient approach for Members 
to make progress on transparency. This should enhance the efficiency and quality of notification 
requiremen ts, while also increasing coordination and cooperation across different WTO committees.  
4.  Members in the CoA have already embarked on the path of rationalizing transparency 
requirements and avoiding duplication across different WTO committees. During the  second triennial 
review of the Nairobi Ministerial Decision on Export Competition, Members agreed to use, where 
relevant, the reply to the questionnaire of the WPSTE for the section on agricultural exporting STEs 
of the export competition questionnaire (E CQ).1 During the Informal CoA meeting in October 2022, 
the Secretariat presented specific ideas2 on streamlining export subsidy notifications for Members' 
consideration. Along the same lines, Members may explore to streamlining and addressing possible 
duplication in TRQ notification requirements across the CoA (Tables MA:1 and MA:2), WPSTE (for 
agricultural importing STEs) and the LIC (Section of the questionnaire in G/LIC/2). To this end, the 
following two specific suggestions towards simplifying and str eamlining agricultural notifications are 
proposed:  
 
1 Paragraph 40 (d) of G/AG/33.  
2 RD/AG/96.  G/AG/W/232  
 
- 2 - 
 
  1  NOTIFICATIONS ON AGRICULTURAL TARIFF QUOTA ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE COA 
AND LIC  
1.1.  Paragraph 1 of the Bali Decision on Tariff Rate Quotas (WT/MIN(13)/39 - WT/L/914) states 
clearly that tariff quota administration of scheduled tariff quotas shall be deemed to be an instance 
of "import licensing" within the meaning of the Uruguay Round Agr eement on Import Licensing 
Procedures. Paragraphs 2 -5 of the Bali TRQ Decision refer to specific provisions of the Import 
Licensing Agreement and adds greater specificity in their application to TRQ administration 
arrangements. The Committee has already re ceived a written proposal3 for the review of the 
MA:1 format in order for Members' MA:1 notifications to include specific information on the 
implementations of these specific paragraphs of the Bali Decision dealing with import licensing and 
the associated  application process. This points to a clear linkage and duplication between MA:1 
notification requirement on tariff quota administration under the CoA and the information required 
on TRQs by the Import Licensing Committee under its annual questionnaire in  G/LIC/2.  
1.2.  It is suggested that the CoA undertakes an examination of duplication in the MA:1 notification 
requirement under the CoA and the annual import licensing questionnaire in G/LIC/2 with a view to 
consolidating and streamlining transparency requirem ents in respect of agricultural tariff quota 
administration in the two Committees. This examination may, for example, explore if the information 
in Members' MA:1 notifications may be relied on or referenced, rather than it being repeated, in the 
relevant s ection of the import licensing questionnaire in G/LIC/2. The CoA and LIC Secretariats may 
coordinate on this matter and assist Members' deliberations, including by way of comparing the 
information on TRQ administration presented by Members to the two Commi ttees.  
2  COA NOTIFICATIONS AND TRANSPARENCY IN THE PILLAR OF EXPORT COMPETITION, 
INCLUDING SPECIFICALLY IN RESPECT OF INTERNATIONAL FOOD AID  
2.1.  According to the Nairobi Ministerial Decision on Export Competition (WT/MIN(15)/45 — 
WT/L/980), all forms of export  subsidies will be eliminated by the end of 2023 by all Members, 
except LDCs and NFIDCs who retain the right to provide export subsidies under Article 9.4 of the  AoA 
for a few additional years post -2023. Considering that export subsidies may not practicall y be 
provided by most Members after 2023, maintaining regular/annual ES:1 and ES:2 notification as 
currently required under G/AG/2 may be neither necessary nor useful. Similarly, there is a need to 
streamline and address duplication in the existing notific ation and transparency requirements on 
international food aid within the CoA. Currently there are as many as four places where Members 
could potentially provide information on international food aid, namely ES:1 (column 5), ES:3, NF:1, 
and the Nairobi Expo rt Competition Questionnaire (ECQ). Streamlining and rationalizing 
transparency obligations in this area is imperative and urgent also in view of the ongoing discussions 
on international food aid under the CoA Work Programme on food security pursuant to pa ragraph  8 
of the MC -12 Declaration on the Emergency Response to Food Insecurity.  
2.2.  Taking into consideration the Secretariat's suggestions in RD/AG/96, the following is proposed:  
1) Dispense Members from submitting Table ES:1 notification containing 'nil' state ment from 
year 2024 and onwards. Only Members who actually provide export subsidies in a given year 
should be required to submit Table ES:1 notification for the year concerned.  
2) Table ES:2 notification which primarily seeks to address circumvention of expo rt subsidy 
reduction commitments under Article 10.3 of the AoA should be discontinued from the 
year 2023 and onwards. Members may rely on total export statistics routinely provided by the 
Secretariat in its background documents in the G/AG/W/32 series.  
3) Consolidated information on international food aid may be submitted by all food aid providing 
Members at one place under the food aid section of the annual ECQ; ongoing discussions and 
suggestions under the CoA food security work programme should also be tak en into account.  
 
3 G/AG/W/230.   
  G/AG/W/232  
 
- 3 - ANNEX  
Table 1 - Notification of agricultural TRQ administration under the Committee on Agriculture and the Import Licensing Committee  
Agreement on Agriculture notification requirement (G/AG/2)  Import Licensing  Questionnaire (G/LIC/2)  
Basic requirement : a comprehensive one -off notification in 1995 on the administration of 
quotas (Table MA:1) followed by the ad hoc notification of any changes in their 
administration.  
The initial notification should normally be m ade in advance of the opening of the quota but 
in any event no later than 30 days following that date. Notifications of changes should be 
made, where possible, prior to the change being implemented, but in any event not later 
than 30 days following the cha nge; 
a) allocation of quotas to supplying countries, including: (i) details of basis for 
determining the allocation (e.g. representative period or "other terms and 
conditions" as specified in Part I, Section I of Schedules); (ii) any limitation on the 
period of access;  
b) allocation of licenses or of access to quotas to importers, including details of: 
(i) government agency, trading or administrative body competent to grant licenses 
or access to quotas, including those which have formally, or in effect, exclusiv e or 
special privileges; (ii) any limitations on eligibility of applicants; (iii) how licenses 
or access are to be allocated by the competent agency (e.g. first -come -first-served, 
pro rata); (iv) any limitations on the period of validity or use of the lice nses 
granted;  
c) details of other arrangements (not involving import licenses) under which access 
to quotas is to be administered;(d) any other information relevant to the 
implementation of market access opportunities under such arrangements.  Basic requiremen t: Article 5 - Notification  
Article 5.1 : Members which institute licensing procedures or changes in these 
procedures shall notify the Committee of such within 60 days of publication.  
Article 7.3 : Members undertake to complete the annual questionnaire on import 
licensing procedures promptly and in full.  
Several questions under paragraph 6 of the 'Questionnaire on Import Licensing 
Procedure' in Annex to G/LIC/2, including  questions I, II, IV, V, VII, VIII : 
I: Is information published, and where, concerning allocation of quotas and 
formalities of filing applications for licence? If not, how is it brought to the attention 
of possible importers? Of governments and export promotion bodies of exporting 
countries and their trade re presentatives? Is the overall amount published? The 
amount allocated to goods from each country? The maximum amount allocated to 
each importer? How to request any exceptions or derogation from the licensing 
requirement?  
II: How is the size of the quotas de termined: on a yearly, six -monthly or quarterly 
basis? Are there cases where the size of quota is determined on a yearly basis but 
licenses are issued for  imports on a six -monthly or quarterly basis? In the latter 
case, is it necessary for importers to app ly for fresh licence on a six -monthly or 
quarterly basis? Are licences allotted for certain goods partly or only to domestic 
producers of like goods? What steps are taken to ensure that licence allocated are 
actually used for imports? Are unused allocation s added to quotas for a succeeding 
period? Are the names of importers to whom licence have been allocated made 
known to governments and export promotion bodies of exporting countries upon 
request? If not, for what reason? (Indicate products to which replie s relate.)  
IV: From the time of announcing the opening of quotas, as indicated in I above, what 
is the period of time allowed for the submission of applications for licences?  
V: What are the minimum and maximum lengths of time for processing applications?  
VI: How much time remains, at a minimum, between the granting of licence and the 
date of opening of the period of importation?   
  G/AG/W/232  
 
- 4 - Agreement on Agriculture notification requirement (G/AG/2)  Import Licensing  Questionnaire (G/LIC/2)  
VII: Is consideration of licence applications effected by a single administrative 
organ? Or must the application be passed on to other organs for visa, note or 
approval? If so, which? Does the importer have to approach more than one 
administrative organ?  
VIII: If the demand for licence cannot be fully satisfied, on what basis is the 
allocation to applicants made? First come, first s erved? Past performance? Is there 
a maximum amount to be allocated per applicant and, if so, on what basis is it 
determined? What provision is made for new importers? Are applications examined 
simultaneously or on receipt?  
 
 
 
   
  G/AG/W/232  
 
- 5 - Table 2 - Notifications of international food aid under the Committee on Agriculture  
Column 5 of the 
Table ES:1 (G/AG/2)  Table ES:  3 (G/AG/2)  NF:1 (G/AG/2)  QUESTIONNAIRE of the Nairobi Export Competition Decision  
(Annex of the WT/MIN(15)/45 — WT/L/980 ) 
Export Subsidies: Budgetary 
Outlay and Quantity 
Reduction Commitments food 
aid* quantity.  Export Subsidies:  Notification 
of the total volume of food aid.  
Description of products, 
Calendar, Quantity of food aid 
to all destinations.  Table NF:1 Notification under 
Article  16:2 of the Agreement: 
Monitoring of the Follow -up to the 
Decision on Measures Concerning the 
Possible Negative Effects of the Reform 
Programme on Least -Developed and 
net Food -Importing Developing 
Countries:  
(1) Quantity of food aid provided to 
least-developed  and net food -
importing developing countries:  
(2) Indication of the proportion in fully 
grant form or appropriate concessional 
terms:  Food aid  
Consistent with the Bali Ministerial Declaration on Export 
Competition, Members shall continue to provide information on 
International Food Aid within the context of an annual examination 
process, based on the following structure:  
1. Product description.  
2. Quantity and/or value of food aid provided.  
3. Description of whether food aid is provided on in -kind, u ntied 
cash-based basis and whether monetization was permitted.  
4. Description of whether in fully grant form or concessional terms.  
5. Description of relevant needs assessment (and by whom) and 
whether food aid is responding to a declaration of emergency o r an 
emergency appeal (and by whom).  
6. Description of whether re -export of food aid is an option under 
the terms of the provision of food aid.  
* Members are to provide data on food aid to all destinations.  
 
 
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