WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/AG/N/PAN/27 
20 September 2012 
 (12-5052) 
Committee on Agriculture Original:   Spanish 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
  The following submission, dated 12 July 2010, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of Panama .  The notification concerns domestic support commitments ( Table DS:1 and 
the relevant Supporting Tables) for the years  2008  and 2009 . 
 
_______________ 
 
  
  G/AG/N/PAN/27 
Page 2 Table DS:1 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Panama 
 
REPORTING PERIOD:  2008 
 
Current Total Aggregate Measurement of Support 
 
Total AMS commitment level for period in question Currency Current total AMS 
(from Section I of Part IV of the Schedule) (from Section I of Part IV of the Schedule) (from attached Supporting Tables) 
1 2 3 
- - "de minimis"  
   G/AG/N/PAN/27
 Page 3Supporting Table DS:1 
 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Panama 
 
REPORTING PERIOD:  2008 
 
Measures Exempt from the Reduc tion Commitment - "Green Box" 
 
Measure type Name and description of measure with 
reference to criteria in Annex 2 Monetary value of measure 
in year in question 
(balboas) Data source 
1 2 3 4 
(a) General services  Ministry of Agricultural Development(1) 
Establishes general policy for the agriculture sector;  
provides technical assistance for the country's producers;  
is responsible for pest control and sanitary surveillance at the domestic level and for agricultural imports/exports;  
and establishes the basis for running the sector in general. 51,683,314 MIDA-DPS 
Pest and disease control 
 Screwworm eradication and control 
Eradication of the screwworm fly;  establishment and 
maintenance of a control barrier and the release of sterile 
screwworm flies in Panama through the plant in operation. 10,565,000 MIDA-DPS 
 Preventive health campaigns (toxicology and diseases) 
General plant and animal health campaigns, including 
payments for sanitary slaughter with a view to the complete eradication of bovine tuberculosis from the 
Bocas del Toro area. 1,995,011 MIDA-DPS  
  G/AG/N/PAN/27 
Page 4 Measure type Name and description of measure with 
reference to criteria in Annex 2 Monetary value of measure 
in year in question 
(balboas) Data source 
1 2 3 4 
Information services and training 
services Subsistence farming and sustainable agriculture 
programmes, including crop promotion, use of accessible 
technology and environmental protection 
Aid and training programmes for subsistence farmers in 
remote areas, including programmes for the promotion of 
equal opportunities (gender programmes), improvement of nutritional status and sustainability of productive resources.  
Includes formalizing community organizations, developing 
management skills of participating social actors, and establishing local production support infrastructures with the 
active participation of producers' families and organizations, 
in the context of sustainable natural resource management. 1,649,374 MIDA-DPS 
Extension and advisory services - 
transfer  Farming promotion and technological development 
programme 
Development of controlled-environment farming, 
improvement of established plantations, dissemination of 
livestock technology with drought preparation programmes, and provision of training and transfer of technology through 
visits, demonstrations of production activities and business 
self-management coaching for groups of producers. 522,681 MIDA-DPS 
 Agricultural Research Programme (IDIAP) 
Conducts key agricultural resear ch projects;  helps farmers 
obtain improved plant and animal varieties and find more effective ways of cultivating land  or feeding cattle;  monitors 
the effects of pesticides and other farming methods with a 
view to ensuring the protection of human health. 2,098,424 MIDA-IDIAP  
   G/AG/N/PAN/27
 Page 5Measure type Name and description of measure with 
reference to criteria in Annex 2 Monetary value of measure 
in year in question 
(balboas) Data source 
1 2 3 4 
 Programme to modernize and strengthen regions and 
outreach agencies 
Provision of supplementary audiovisual and other equipment 
as a support for producer training geared towards 
strengthening their technical skills, knowledge and use of 
technology, with a view to modernizing their agricultural activities.  Includes crop-zoning programmes for better use 
of natural resources. 833,082 MIDA-DPS 
Inspection, health, safety, 
standardization, etc. Inspection, health, standardization and integrated pest 
management programmes 
Measures geared towards maintaining and improving the 
phytosanitary conditions of specific areas with coordinated 
diagnosis, trapping, surveying, sampling, discussion and 
assessment activities.  Provision of toxic waste laboratory services and assistance w ith traceability systems for 
agriculture and livestock production. 824,060 MIDA-DPS 
Marketing, promotion and market 
information services Trade information service programme:  Agricultural 
Marketing Institute 
Conducts surveys to collect national production data by 
product and by sector, and provides information on international prices and general marketing conditions to 
other agricultural marketing boards and the general public. 1,530,774 MIDA-IMA 
 Promotion programmes:  Agricultural Marketing Institute 
Modernization of the Open Fairs Programme to improve 
producers' direct marketing of agricultural production, 
providing access to points of  sale, collection centres 
(stall awnings, shelving, freezer s, scale weights, vehicles, 
lorries, lifting devices, etc.) an d agro-industrial services 
(storage, drying, milling, packing, etc.). 871,151 MIDA-IMA 
Infrastructure services (irrigation, 
dams/reservoirs, environmental 
programmes, roads, etc.) Production road programmes 
Rehabilitation of rural roads in national agricultural areas, 
with the construction of ditches and roads and spraying of 
selected materials. 2,398,534 MIDA-DPS  
  G/AG/N/PAN/27 
Page 6 Measure type Name and description of measure with 
reference to criteria in Annex 2 Monetary value of measure 
in year in question 
(balboas) Data source 
1 2 3 4 
 Irrigation programmes 
Modernization of irrigation infrastructure, including the 
construction, rehabilitation, maintenance and repair of 
hydraulic structures and conduits, and acquisition of 
pumping equipment for irrigation systems for public use.  
Includes funding of the Barú, Tonosí and Remigio Rojas irrigation works. 14,178,921 MIDA-DPS 
 Rehabilitation of other infrastructure 
Rehabilitation and equipping of public infrastructure with a 
view to providing producer support, e.g. processing plants 
for training in agro-industrial techniques, silos, cold-storage 
plants and reproduction of genetic material for distribution 
to producers.  Equipping and adaptation of seed laboratories 
and quality controls. 794,758 MIDA-DPS 
(f) Payments for relief from 
natural disasters  Special Contingency Credit Fund (FECC) - Law No. 24 
Financial assistance programme providing credit at 
preferential interest rates to agricultural producers affected 
by adverse weather conditions and other contingencies. 1,139,850 MIDA-FECC 
(i) Structural adjustment 
assistance provided through investment aids Cattle improvement programme 
Large-scale bovine breeding stock replacement scheme to 
accelerate improvement of herd  productive capacity and 
boost competitiveness in domestic and international markets.96,160 MIDA-DPS 
 Agricultural processing programme - Law No. 25 
Direct support for investment in technology and soft loans 
for agricultural processing with a view to overcoming 
structural weaknesses in the relevant production chain. 3,894,657 MIDA-OTA 
    
     
   G/AG/N/PAN/27
 Page 7Measure type Name and description of measure with 
reference to criteria in Annex 2 Monetary value of measure 
in year in question 
(balboas) Data source 
1 2 3 4 
 Agricultural competitiveness programme 
Direct support at a percentage of the investment made by the 
producer with bank or cooperative financing, with a view to increasing the productivity and competitiveness of 
agricultural activities in order to consolidate existing 
production.  Investment assistance and support geared towards the use of private specia lized technical services that 
generate technological changes, improvements to the 
marketing of produce and business management for agricultural producers, including risk management through 
insurance for productive hectar es and other vulnerabilities. 6,373,442  MIDA-OPC 
   
Prepared by the Trade Policy Office (OPC) on the basis of inform ation supplied by the following bodies:  the Sectoral Planning Directorate (DPS) of the Ministry of Agricultural 
Development (MIDA), the Agricultural Processing Office (OTA, Law No. 25), the Office for the Speci al Contingency Credit Fund (F ECC, Law No. 24), the Trade Policy Office (OPC) of 
the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA), the Agricultur al Research Institute (IDIAP), the Agricultural Insurance Instit ute (ISA) and the Agricultural Marketing Institute (IMA). 
(1) General services:  Refers to the actual annual operating budget in balboas registered  by Panama's Financial Administration Sys tem in the fiscal year 2008. 
Note: Figures for other components refer to the investment budget in balboas, as implemented in the fiscal year 2008 by program me and subproject. 
  Exchange rate:  US$1 = 1 Panamanian balboa (B). 
  
  G/AG/N/PAN/27 
Page 8 Supporting Table DS:2 
 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Panama 
 
REPORTING PERIOD:  2008 
 
Measures Exempt from the Reduction Co mmitment - Special and D ifferential Treatment - "Development Programmes" 
 
Measure type Name and description of measure 
with reference to criteria in Article 6.2 Monetary value of measure 
in year in question 
(balboas) Data source 
1 2 3 4 
Investment subsidies generally 
available to agriculture Agricultural credit and loan programme:  
Generally available loans to small-scale 
producers with an annual income not exceeding 
US$100,000.  The programme funds the banking system's loan portfolio in order to extend softer 
loans to the agricultural sector. 14,928,518.52 Banking Supervisory Authority:  Special 
Interest Compensation Fund (FECI) 
Prepared by the National Directorate for the Administration of International Trade Treaties and Trade Protection (DINATRADEC) o f the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MICI) on the basis of 
information supplied by the Banking Supervisory Authority. 
Note: Exchange rate:  US$1 = 1 Panamanian balboa (B).  
   G/AG/N/PAN/27
 Page 9Supporting Table DS:4 
 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Panama 
 
REPORTING PERIOD:  2008 
 
Calculation of the Current Total Aggregate Measurement of Support 
 
Description of basic products (including 
non-product-specific AMS) Product-specific AMS (from Supporting 
Tables DS:5 to DS:7 below) 
(balboas) Product-specific measurements of support 
(from Supporting Table DS:8 below) Current total AMS (aggregate) 
(balboas) 
1 2 3 4 
Industrial tomatoes 358,545.71 - " de minimis " (1) 
Prepared by the Trade Policy Office (OPC) of the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA). 
(1) The total gross value of industrial tomato productio n in 2008 amounted to B 9,655,595 at market prices. 
Note:  Exchange rate:  US$1 = 1 Panamanian balboa (B). 
  
  G/AG/N/PAN/27 
Page 10 Supporting Table DS:6 
 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Panama 
 
REPORTING PERIOD:  2008  
 
Product-Specific Aggregate Measurements of Support:  Non-Exempt Direct Payments 
 
Description of basic 
product Calendar 
year 2008 Measure type(s) Applied 
administered 
price  
External 
reference 
price 
 Eligible 
production 
(kilos) Total 
price-related 
direct payments
(balboas) Other 
non-exempt 
direct payments
(balboas) Associated 
fees/levies Total direct 
payments 
(balboas) Data source 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 
((4-5)*6) 8 9 10 
(7+8-9) 11 
Industrial tomatoes(1)  Direct payment for 
price differential   12,237,055 358,545.71   358,545.71 MIDA-OPC 
Prepared by the Trade Policy Office (OPC) of the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA). 
(1) A budgetary outlay of B 358,545.71 is the result of price suppor t per kilo corresponding to the difference between the referen ce (B 0.1157 per kilo) agreed upon by producers as a price for their 
crops, and the price paid by processing industries for production purchased (B 0.0864 per kilo), i.e. budgetary outlays for sup port are given on the basis of B 0.0293 per kilo of tomatoes delivered to 
the industries. 
Note:  Exchange rate:  US$1 = 1 Panamanian balboa (B). 
  
   G/AG/N/PAN/27
 Page 11Table DS:1 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Panama 
 
REPORTING PERIOD:  2009 
 
Current Total Aggregate Measurement of Support 
 
Total AMS commitment level for period in question Currency Current total AMS 
(from Section I of Part IV of the Schedule) (from Section I of Part IV of the Schedule) (from attached Supporting Tables) 
1 2 3 
- - "de minimis"  
  G/AG/N/PAN/27 
Page 12 Supporting Table DS:1 
 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Panama 
 
REPORTING PERIOD:  2009  
 
Measures Exempt from the Reduc tion Commitment - "Green Box" 
 
Measure type Name and description of measure with 
reference to criteria in Annex 2 Monetary value of measure 
in year in question 
(balboas) Data source 
1 2 3 4 
(a) General services 
 Ministry of Agricultural Development(1) 
Establishes general policy for the agriculture sector;  
provides technical assistance for the country's producers;  
is responsible for pest control and sanitary surveillance at the 
domestic level and for agricultur al exports;  establishes the 
basis for running the sector in general. 47,722,282 MIDA-DPS 
Research Agricultural Res earch Programme (IDIAP) 
The IDIAP develops, implements and promotes mechanisms 
and instruments that guarantee and facilitate timely access to 
new technologies, goods and scientific and other services, 
derived from research and adaptation work, with a view to developing the country's agricultural production. 2,819,600 MIDA-IDIAP 
Pest and disease control Scre wworm eradication and control 
Eradication of the screwworm fly;  establishment and 
maintenance of a control barrier and release of sterile 
screwworm flies in Panama through the plant in operation. 7,891,783 MIDA-DPS 
 Preventive health campaigns (toxicology and diseases) 
General plant and animal health campaigns, including 
payments for sanitary slaughter with a view to the 
complete eradication of bovine tuberculosis f rom the Bocas del Toro area. 565,207 MIDA-DPS  
   G/AG/N/PAN/27
 Page 13Measure type Name and description of measure with 
reference to criteria in Annex 2 Monetary value of measure 
in year in question 
(balboas) Data source 
1 2 3 4 
Information services and training 
services Subsistence farming and sustainable agriculture 
programmes, including crop promotion, use of accessible 
technology and environmental protection 
Aid and training programmes for subsistence farmers in 
remote areas, including programmes for the promotion of 
equal opportunities (gender programmes), improvement of nutritional status and sustainability of productive resources.  
Includes formalizing community organizations, developing 
management skills of participating social actors, and establishing local production support infrastructures with the 
active participation of producers' families and organizations, 
in the context of sustainable natural resource management. 3,929,798 MIDA-DPS 
Extension and advisory services - 
transfer  Farming promotion and technological development 
programme 
Development of controlled-environment farming, 
improvement of established plantations, dissemination of 
livestock technology with drought preparation programmes, and provision of training and transfer of technology through 
visits, demonstrations of production activities and business 
self-management coaching for groups of producers. 1,105,611 MIDA-DPS 
 Programme to modernize and strengthen regions and 
outreach agencies 
Provision of supplementary audiovisual and other equipment 
as a support for producer training geared towards 
strengthening their technical skills, knowledge and use of 
technology, with a view to modernizing their agricultural activities.  Includes crop-zoning programmes for better use 
of natural resources. 1,178,809 MIDA-DPS  
  G/AG/N/PAN/27 
Page 14 Measure type Name and description of measure with 
reference to criteria in Annex 2 Monetary value of measure 
in year in question 
(balboas) Data source 
1 2 3 4 
Inspection, health, safety, 
standardization, etc. Inspection, health, standardization and integrated pest 
management programmes 
Measures geared towards maintaining and improving the 
phytosanitary conditions of specific areas with coordinated 
diagnosis, trapping, surveying, sampling, monitoring, 
epidemiological surveillance, discussion and assessment activities.  Provision of toxic waste laboratory services and 
assistance with traceability and certification systems for 
agriculture and livestock production.  539,560 MIDA-DPS 
Marketing, promotion and market 
information services Trade information service programme:  Agricultural 
Marketing Institute 
Conducts surveys to collect national production data by 
product and by sector, and provides information on 
international prices and general marketing conditions to other agricultural marketing boards and the general public. 1,158,773 MIDA-IMA 
 Promotion programmes:  Agricultural Marketing Institute 
Modernization of the Open Fairs Programme to improve 
producers' direct marketing of agricultural production, 
providing access to points of  sale, collection centres 
(stall awnings, shelves, freezers, scale weights, vehicles, lorries, lifting devices, etc.) an d agro-industrial services 
(storage, drying, milling, packing, etc.). 1,045,050 MIDA-IMA 
Infrastructure services (irrigation, 
dams/reservoirs, environmental 
programmes, roads, etc.) Production road programme 
Rehabilitation of rural roads in national agricultural areas, 
with the construction of ditches and roads and spraying of 
selected materials. 783,788 MIDA-DPS 
 Irrigation programmes 
Modernization of irrigation infrastructure, including the 
construction, rehabilitation, maintenance and repair of 
hydraulic structures and conduits, and acquisition of 
pumping equipment for irrigation systems for public use.  
Includes funding of the Barú, Tonosí and Remigio Rojas 
irrigation works. 3,507,515 MIDA-DPS  
   G/AG/N/PAN/27
 Page 15Measure type Name and description of measure with 
reference to criteria in Annex 2 Monetary value of measure 
in year in question 
(balboas) Data source 
1 2 3 4 
 Rehabilitation of other infrastructure 
Rehabilitation and equipping of public infrastructure with a 
view to providing producer support, e.g. processing plants for training in agro-industrial techniques, cleaning and 
adaptation of silos and cold storage facilities to help 
producers with produce storage.  Equipping and adaptation of seed laboratories and quality controls and laboratories for 
the reproduction of genetic material for distribution to 
producers. 992,911 MIDA-DPS 
MIDA-IMA 
(f) Payments for relief from 
natural disasters  Special Contingency Credit Fund (FECC) - Law No. 24 
Financial assistance programme providing credit at 
preferential interest rates to agricultural producers affected 
by adverse weather conditions and other contingencies. 1,567,079 MIDA-FECC 
(i) Structural adjustment 
assistance provided through 
investment aids Cattle improvement programme 
Large-scale bovine breeding stock replacement scheme and 
establishment of a bovine reproduction laboratory to 
accelerate improvement of herd  productive capacity and 
improve the quality of bovine meat and meat products on 
domestic and international markets. 1,459,737 MIDA-DPS 
 Agricultural processing programme - Law No. 25 
Direct non-refundable support covering part of the 
technological investment in agricultural processing with a 
view to overcoming structural weaknesses in the relevant production chain. 1,300,943 MIDA-OTA  
  G/AG/N/PAN/27 
Page 16  
Measure type Name and description of measure with 
reference to criteria in Annex 2 Monetary value of measure 
in year in question 
(balboas) Data source 
1 2 3 4 
 Agricultural competitiveness programme 
Direct support at a percentage of the investment made by the 
producer with bank or cooperative financing, with a view to 
increasing the productivity of agricultural activities in order 
to consolidate existing production.  Investment assistance and support geared towards th e use of private specialized 
technical services that gene rate technological changes, 
improvements to the marketing of produce and business management for agricultural producers, including risk 
management through insurance for productive hectares and 
other vulnerabilities. 4,864,516  MIDA-OPC 
Prepared by the Trade Policy Office (OPC) on the basis of inform ation supplied by the following bodies:  the Sectoral Planning Directorate (DPS) of the Ministry of Agricultural Development 
(MIDA), the Agricultural Processing Office (O TA, Law No. 25), the Office for the Special  Contingency Credit Fund (FECC, Law No.  24), the Trade Policy Office (OPC) of the Ministry of 
Agricultural Development (MIDA), the Agricultural Research In stitute (IDIAP) and the Agricultu ral Marketing Institute (IMA). 
(1) General services:  Refers to the actual annual operating budget in balboas of the Mi nistry of Agricultural Development (MIDA),  as registered by Panama's Fina ncial Administration System in the 
fiscal year 2009. 
Note: Figures for other components refer to the investment budget in balboas, as implemented in the fiscal year 2009 by program me and subproject. 
  Exchange rate:  1 US dollar = 1 Panamanian balboa (B). 
  
   G/AG/N/PAN/27
 Page 17Supporting Table DS:2 
 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Panama 
 
REPORTING PERIOD:  2009 
 
Measures Exempt from the Reduction Co mmitment - Special and D ifferential Treatment - "Development Programmes" 
 
Measure type Name and description of measure 
with reference to criteria in Article 6.2 Monetary value of measure 
in year in question 
(balboas) Data source 
1 2 3 4 
Investment subsidies generally 
available to agriculture Agricultural credit and loan programme:  
Generally available loans to small-scale producers 
with an annual income not exceeding 
US$100,000.  The programme funds the banking system's loan portfolio in order to extend softer 
loans to the agricultural sector. 17,461,198.25 Banking Supervisory Authority:  Special 
Interest Compensation Fund (FECI) 
Prepared by the National Directorate for the Administration of International Trade Treaties and Trade Protection (DINATRADEC) o f the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MICI) on the basis of 
information supplied by the Banking Supervisory Authority. 
Note: Exchange rate:  US$1 = 1 Panamanian balboa (B).  
  G/AG/N/PAN/27 
Page 18 Supporting Table DS:4 
 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Panama 
 
REPORTING PERIOD:  2009 
 
Calculation of the Current Total Aggregate Measurement of Support 
 
Description of basic products 
(including non-product-specific AMS) Product-specific AMS (from Supporting 
Tables DS:5 to DS:7 below) 
(balboas) Product-specific measurements of support 
(from Supporting Table DS:8 below) Current total AMS 
(aggregate) 
(balboas) 
1 2 3 4 
Industrial tomatoes 733,998 - " de minimis " (1) 
Prepared by the Trade Policy Office (OPC) of the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA). 
(1) The total gross value of industrial tomato production in 2009 amounted to B 14,036,458 at market prices. 
Note:  Exchange rate:  US$1 = 1 Panamanian balboa (B). 
  
   G/AG/N/PAN/27
 Page 19Supporting Table DS:6 
 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Panama 
 
REPORTING PERIOD:  2009  
 
Product-Specific Aggregate Measurements of Support:  Non-Exempt Direct Payments 
 
Description of 
basic product Calendar 
year 
2009 Measure 
type(s) Applied 
administered 
price External 
reference 
price Eligible 
production 
(kilos) Total 
price-related 
direct 
payments 
(balboas) Other 
non-exempt 
direct 
payments 
(balboas) Associated 
fees/levies Total direct 
payments 
(balboas) Data source 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 
((4-5)*6) 8 9 10 
(7+8-9) 11 
Industrial 
tomatoes(1)  Direct payment 
for price 
differential   16,131,826 733,998   733,998 MIDA-OPC 
Prepared by the Trade Policy Office (OPC) of the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA). 
(1) A budgetary outlay of B 733.998 is the resu lt of price support per kilo corresponding to the difference between the refer-ence  (B 0.1819 per kilo) agreed upon by producers as a price for their 
crops, and the price paid by processing industries for production purchased (B 0.1364 per kilo), i.e. budgetary outlays for sup port are given on the basis of B 0.0455 per kilo of tomatoes delivered to 
the industries. 
Note: Exchange rate:  US$1 = 1 Panamanian balboa (B). 
 
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