TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3  
TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3  
 
23 November 2015  
(15-6190)  Page: 1/141  
Committee on Agriculture 
Special Session 
Sub-Committee on Cotton    
 
 COTTON 
BACKGROUND PAPER BY THE SECRETARIAT1 
Revision 
1. The Ministerial Decision on Cotton of 7 December 2013 (document WT/MIN(13)/41 
and WT/L/916 dated 11 December 2013) adopted by Ministers at the 9th WTO Ministerial 
Conference in Bali states, inter alia  that: 
"5. In this context, we therefore undertake to enhance transparency and monitoring in 
relation to the trade-related aspects of cotton. To this end, we agree to hold a dedicated 
discussion on a bi-annual basis in the context of the Committee on Agriculture in Special Session to examine relevant trade-related developments across the three pillars of Market 
Access, Domestic Support and Export Competition in relation to cotton. 
 6. The dedicated discussions shall be undertaken on the basis of factual information and 
data compiled by the WTO Secretariat from Members' notifications, complemented, as 
appropriate, by relevant information provided by Members to the WTO Secretariat.  7. The dedicated discussions shall in particular consider all forms of export subsidies for 
cotton and all export measures with equivalent effect, domestic support for cotton and tariff 
measures and non-tariff measures applied to cotton exports from LDCs in markets of interest to them." 
2. As requested by the Bali Ministerial Decisi on, and following up on the three dedicated 
discussions held so far
2, the WTO Secretariat has prepared a revised compilation of factual 
information and data available from Members' no tifications and other submissions, on Market 
Access, Domestic Support and Export Competition in relation to cotton, received up to 5 
November 2015. 
3. Further to Members' requests at the second dedicated discussion, this revised background 
paper also includes (i) Members' responses to the questionnaire on cotton policy developments 
circulated on 4 February  and 17 September 2 015; and (ii) relevant information on cotton 
markets and policies from Trade Policy Review reports circulated up to 5 November 2015, for the 32 Members identified in paragraph 10 of this paper.
3 
4. The paper is organized in three parts, namely: 
 Export Subsidies4; 
                                               
1 This document has been prepared under the Secret ariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice 
to the positions of Members or to their rights and obligations under the WTO. It has been prepared for 
information only and is not intended to provide any authorit ative or official legal interpretation of the provisions 
of the WTO Agreements in general on in relation to any measure listed in this document. 
2 June 2014, November 2014 and July 2015 
3 This  information is presented in Annexes 4 and 5. 
4 As regards " all forms of export subsidies for cotton and all export measures with equivalent effect " 
referred to in paragraph 7 of the Bali Ministerial De cision, Members can also refer to the Secretariat TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 2 - 
 
   Domestic Support; and 
 Market Access. 
5. The factual information and data contained in this paper have been compiled from: 
 Members' schedules and notifications in the Market Access (MA), Domestic Support (DS) 
and Export Subsidies (ES) series under the Committee on Agriculture; 
 Tariff data available in the WTO Integrated Database (IDB) and Consolidated Tariff 
Schedules Database (CTS); as well as 
 Non-tariff measures available in the WTO Integrated Trade Intelligence Portal (I-TIP) 
Goods Database. 
6. The specific sources of information for each of the areas covered are described under the 
relevant parts of the paper. 
7. With regards to Export Subsidies and Domestic Support (Part one and two of the paper), 
factual information and data were collected for all WTO Members with relevant commitments or who have reported measures benefitting cotton in their relevant notifications. 
8. With regards to Market Access (Part three of the paper), the Bali Ministerial Decision on Cotton 
notes that "the dedicated discussions shall in particular consider … tariff measures and non-tariff measures applied to cotton exports from  LDCs in markets of interest to them". 
9. A list of markets of interest to LDCs was established by collecting market access data for 
WTO Members that are either: (i) classified as developed economies for the purpose of the WTO Secretariat note on the "Participation of Developing Economies in the Global Trading System"
5; (ii) amongst the top 20 cotton importing countries in quantity for the period 
2010-2012; or (iii) amongst the top 20 cotton importing countries in quantity from LDCs for 
the period 2010-2012.6  
10. As a result, market access data are provided for the following 32 Members:7 Australia; 
Bahrain, Kingdom of; Bangladesh; Brazil; Canada; China; Colombia; Egypt; the European 
Union; Hong Kong, China; Iceland; India; Indonesia; Japan; Kenya; Korea, Republic of; Malaysia; Mauritius; Mexico; Morocco; New Zealand; Norway; Pakistan; Peru; Russian 
Federation; South Africa; Switzerland; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; Turkey; the United States of 
America and Viet Nam. 
11. Unless otherwise indicated, the term "cotton" in this paper refers to the products covered by 
the Harmonized System nomenclature (HS) headings 52.01, 52.02 and 52.03. 
                                                                                                                                               
background paper on export subsidies,  export credits and export credit guarantees or insurance programmes, 
international food aid, and agricultural exporting STEs (document G/AG/W/125/Rev.2 and addenda). 
5 Document WT/COMTD/W/201, Appendix 7 with the European Union counted as one and Switzerland 
and Liechtenstein also counted as one. 
6 The top 20 cotton importing countries were iden tified using COMTRADE data processed by the 
WTO Secretariat, and supplemented by data from th e International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC). 
7 In the absence of significant change in the list  of Members when using the period 2011-2013, the list 
used in document TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.1 has been ke pt unchanged for the sake of comparability.  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 3 - 
 
  TABLE OF CONTENTS 
1  EXPORT SU BSIDIES ..................................................................................................... 5  
1.1  EXPORT SUBSID Y COMMITMENTS ................................................................................. 5  
1.1.1  Bound export subsid y commitments for cotto n ............................................................. 6  
1.2  NOTIFIED EXPO RT SUBSID IES ..................................................................................... 8  
1.2.1  Notified budgetary outlays and quantities for cotto n (Table ES:1) ................................... 9  
1.2.2  Notified budgetary outlays and quan tities for cotton (Sup porting Table ES:2) .................. 11 
2  DOMESTIC SUPPORT .................................................................................................. 16  
2.1  PRODUCT SPECIFIC AGGREG ATE MEASUREMENT OF SUPPORT ........................................ 16 
2.1.1  Product-specific AMS notified for co tton ..................................................................... 17 
2.2  DIRECT PAYMENTS IN A CCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 6.5 ................................................. 26 
3  MARKET ACCESS ......................................................................................................... 29  
3.1  TARIFFS ................................................................................................................... 32 
3.2  SPECIAL SAFEGUA RD PROVIS IONS .............................................................................. 47 
3.2.1  Scheduled SSG provisions for cotton .......................................................................... 47 
3.2.2  Notified trigger prices for cotton ................................................................................ 48 
3.2.3  Invoked price-ba sed SSG for cotton .......................................................................... 48 
3.3  TARIFF RA TE QUOTAS ................................................................................................ 49 
3.3.1  Tariff rate quota commitments for co tton ................................................................... 49 
3.3.2  Most recent Tariff Rate Quota admi nistration method no tified fo r cotto n ......................... 50 
3.3.3  TRQ quantities and in -quota import s for co tton ........................................................... 53 
3.4  OTHER NON TARIFF MEASURES ................................................................................... 62 
ANNEX 1 ....................................................................................................................... . 72 
ANNEX 2 ....................................................................................................................... . 75 
ANNEX 3 ....................................................................................................................... . 78 
ANNEX 4 ....................................................................................................................... . 81 
ANNEX 5 ...................................................................................................................... 106 
TABLE OF CHARTS 
Charts on scheduled and notified export subsidy budgetary outlays and quantities 
Chart 1.1:  Brazil ............................................................................................................. . 12 
Chart 1.2: Colombia ......................................................................................................... 13 
Chart 1.3: Israel ............................................................................................................. . 13 
Chart 1.4: South Africa ..................................................................................................... 14 
Chart 1.5: United St ates of America ................................................................................... 14 
Chart 1.6: India ............................................................................................................... 15 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 4 - 
 
  Charts on product-specific AMS notified  for cotton by category of support 
Chart 2.1:  Brazil ............................................................................................................. . 20 
Chart 2.2:  China ..............................................................................................................  21 
Chart 2.3: Colombia ......................................................................................................... 21 
Chart 2.4: Euro pean Union ................................................................................................ 22 
Chart 2.5: India ............................................................................................................... 22 
Chart 2.6: Israel ............................................................................................................. . 23 
Chart 2.7: Mexico ............................................................................................................ 23 
Chart 2.8:  Peru ...............................................................................................................  24 
Chart 2.9: South Africa ..................................................................................................... 24 
Chart 2.10: United States of America .................................................................................. 25 
Chart 2.11: Viet Nam ....................................................................................................... 25 
Charts on direct payments for cott on in accordance with Article 6.5 
Chart 2.12: Euro pean Union .............................................................................................. 27 
Chart 2.13: United States of America .................................................................................. 28 
Charts on market access (overview) 
Chart 3.1: Total imports of cotton from World and LDCs, 2003-2013, value .............................. 29 
Chart 3.2: Total imports of cotton from World and LDCs, 2003-2013, quantity .......................... 29 
Chart 3.3: Number of scheduled TRQs for cotton by Member .................................................. 50 
Charts on notified in-quota imports compared to the scheduled quantity 
Chart 3.4: Chin a (CHNQ 010) ............................................................................................. 56 
Chart 3.5: Colombia (COLQ067) ......................................................................................... 56 
Chart 3.6: South Africa (ZAFQ053) ..................................................................................... 57 
Chart 3.7: United States  of Americ a (USAQ 049) ................................................................... 57 
Chart 3.8: United States  of Americ a (USAQ 050) ................................................................... 58 
Chart 3.9: United States  of Americ a (USAQ 051) ................................................................... 58 
Chart 3.10: United States  of Americ a (USAQ 052) ................................................................. 59 
Chart 3.11: United States  of Americ a (USAQ 053) ................................................................. 60 
Chart 3.12: United States  of Americ a (USAQ 054) ................................................................. 61 
Chart 3.13: Number of other non-tariff measures  applicable to cotton, per type of measure 
(1 January 2012 to 5 November 2015) ................................................................................ 63 
 
 
_______________ TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 5 - 
 
  1  EXPORT SUBSIDIES 
1.1.  Part One provides information on the use of export subsidies for cotton by Members. It is 
divided into two sections: 
 Section 1.1 provides information on export subsidy reduction commitments, both in 
terms of budgetary outlay and quantity; and 
 Section 1.2 provides information on notifi ed export subsidy budgetary outlays and 
quantities. 
1.2.  As noted earlier, with regards to " all forms of export subsidies for cotton and all export 
measures with equivalent effect " referred to in paragraph 7 of the Bali Ministerial Decision, 
Members can also refer to the Secretariat background paper on export subsidies, export credits and export credit guarantees or insurance progra mmes, international food aid, and agricultural 
exporting STEs (document G/AG/W/125/Rev.3 and addenda dated 27 July 2015). It can be noted 
in that regard that: (i) China listed in its reply to the questionnaire on export competition circulated to WTO Members on 26 November 2014, four agricultural exporting State Trading 
Enterprises for cotton; and (ii) the United States, Poland (European Union) and Japan respectively 
identified in their replies cotton and HS5202-5203 in the list of products covered by their export financing programmes. 
1.1  EXPORT SUBSIDY COMMITMENTS 
1.3.  This section lists export subsidy reduction commitments for cotton by Member and by 
implementation year
8, as specified in Members' schedules. The tables show, for each Member 
concerned, the annual and final bound export subsidy budgetary outlay and quantity 
commitments. The following column headings are used: 
XSID The number identifying export subsidy commitments for each Member in the 
CTS, in the same sequential order as scheduled. The seven-character code is 
comprised of the three-letter WTO Member code, followed by "X" for "export 
subsidy", followed by the three- digit sequential identifier; 
 
Product  The product or group of products as specified in the Member's schedule9; 
 Tariff Line(s)  The tariff item number(s) as specified in the Member's schedule reproduced in 
the CTS using the HS 2002 nomenclature; and 
 
1995… Budgetary outlay and quantity commitments for each implementation year. 
 
1.4.  For each Member, the currency/quantity unit and the type of year (i.e. calendar, financial, 
fiscal or marketing year) are indicated as specified in that Member's schedule. 
 
 
                                               
8 Throughout this paper, the term "i mplementation year" refers to the relevant calendar, financial, fiscal 
or marketing year as specif ied by individual Members. 
9 In original language only.  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3  
 
- 6 - 1.1.1  Bound export subsidy commitments for cotton 
Brazil 
Budgetary outlays commitments in US$ 
XSID Product Tariff Line(s) 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
BRAX013 Cotton 520100 208,534.1 203,406.2 198,278.3 193,150.4 188,022.6 182,894.7 177,766.8 172,638.9 167,511.0 162,383.1 
Quantity commitments in tonnes 
XSID Product Tariff Line(s) 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
BRAX013 Cotton 520100 3,670.9 3,618.8 3,566.6 3,514.5 3,462.4 3,410.3 3,358.1 3,306.0 3,253.9 3,201.8 
 
Colombia 
Budgetary outlays commitments in US$ 
XSID Product Tariff Line(s) 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
COLX018 ALGODON 5201, 5202, 5203 71,394,099  71,394,099  69,438,096  67,482,094  65,526,091 63,570,088  61,614,085  59,658,083  57,702,080  55,746,077 
Quantity commitments in tonnes 
XSID Product Tariff Line(s) 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
COLX018 ALGODON 5201, 5202, 5203 38,588 38,588 37,978 37,368 36,759 36,149 35,539 34,929 34,320 33,710 
 
Israel 
Budgetary outlays commitments in thousand US$ 
XSID Product Tariff Line(s) 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
ISRX006 Cotton  9,410 9,179 8,948 8,716 8,485 8,253 8,022 7,791 7,559 7,328 
Quantity commitments in thousand tonnes 
XSID Product Tariff Line(s) 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
ISRX006 Cotton  47.1 46.4 45.8 45.1 44.4 43.8 43.1 42.4 41.8 41.1 
  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3  
 
- 7 - South Africa  
Budgetary outlays commitments in rand (calendar year) 
XSID Product Tariff Line(s) 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 
ZAFX062 Cotton 5201, 5202, 5203 4,157,081 3,891,736 3,626,390 3,361,045 3,095,699 2,830,353 
Quantity commitments in tonne equivalent (calendar year) 
XSID Product Tariff Line(s) 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 
ZAFX062 Cotton 5201, 5202, 5203 4,600 4,433 4,266 4,100 3,933 3,766 
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 8 - 
 
  1.2  NOTIFIED EXPORT SUBSIDIES 
1.5.  This section lists export subsidies for cotton notified by Members in Table ES:1 as well as 
export subsidies for cotton notified in Supporting Tables ES:2 by developing country Members who 
have taken recourse to Article 9.4 of the Agreement on Agriculture. This section includes 
notifications circulated by the Secretariat up to 5 November 2015. 
1.6.  The following column headings are used: 
XSID The number identifying export subsidy commitments for each Member in the CTS, in the 
same sequential order as scheduled. The seven-character code is comprised of the 
three-letter WTO Member code, followed by "X" for "export subsidy", and by the three-digit sequential identifier. A blank indicates that no export subsidy reduction commitments are scheduled for the product in question; 
 
Product  The product or group of products as specified in the Member's schedule
10 or in the 
Member's notification; and 
 
1995… The notified budgetary outlay or quantity fo r each implementation year from 1995 up to 
the latest implementation year as indicated in the Member's most recent Table ES:1 
notification. A blank indicates that no notification has been received for the year in 
question or that, for Members without scheduled export subsidy commitments for cotton, the notification does not mention cotton. 
 
1.7.  For each Member, the currency/quantity unit and the type of year (i.e. calendar, financial, 
fiscal or marketing year) are indicated as specified in that Member's schedule or in the Member's notification. 
 
  
                                               
10 In original language only.  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3  
 
- 9 - 1.2.1  Notified budgetary outlays and qu antities for cotton (Table ES:1) 
Brazil 
Notified budgetary outlays in US$ (calendar year) 
XSID Product 1995  1996 1997 1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 2006  2007  2008  2009  2010  2011  2012  2013 
BRAX013 Cotton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Notified quantities in tonnes (calendar year) 
XSID Product 1995  1996 1997 1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 2006  2007  2008  2009  2010  2011  2012  2013 
BRAX013 Cotton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
 
Colombia 
Notified budgetary outlays in thousand US$ (calendar year) 
XSID Product 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
COLX018 ALGODON 0.211 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Notified quantities in tonnes (calendar year) 
XSID Product 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
COLX018 ALGODON 0.72 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
 
Israel 
Notified budgetary outlays in thousand US$ (marketing year, 1 Oc tober-30 September) 
XSID Product 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
ISRX006 Cotton 0  0 0 0  0 0 0 8862 0 0   0 0 0 0 0 0 
Notified quantities in thousand tonnes (m arketing year, 1 Octo ber-30 September) 
XSID Product 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
ISRX006 Cotton 0  0 0 0  0 0 0 0.6 0 0   0 0 0 0 0 0 
  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3  
 
- 10 - South Africa 
Notified budgetary outlays in rand (calendar year) 
XSID Product 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 
ZAFX062 Cotton 5,6541 0 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Notified quantities in tonnes (calendar year) 
XSID Product 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 
ZAFX062 Cotton 36  0 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
 
United States of America 
Notified budgetary outlays in thousand US$ (f iscal year beginning 1 October-30 September) 
XSID Product 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011  2012 
 Upland Cotton3         203,595.41 276,500.01 266,943.51 9,353.01 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Notified quantities in thousand tonnes (1 July-30 June) 
XSID Product 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
 Upland Cotton3         2,357.4  2,412.6 3,641.5  1,291.8  0 0 0 0 0 0 
¹ Direct export subsidies (as indi cated in Supporting Table ES:1). 
² Producer financed subsidies (as in dicated in Supporting Table ES:1). 
³ For U.S. notifications covering the implementation years 2003- 2005, the following footnote was included: "The panel and Appel late Body reports in the dispute United States – 
Subsidies on Upland Cotton (DS267) found th at certain payments to exporters under the Upland Cotton Domestic Marketing Certific ate Program constituted export subsidies within 
the meaning of the Agreement on Agriculture. On 8 February 2006, the United States enacted legisl ation to repeal the programme at the end of the 2005 marketing year 
(i.e., 31 July 2006). Quantity and budgetary da ta are based on when payments were made." For U.S. notifications covering the im plementation years 2006-2012, the following 
footnote was included: "The panel and Appell ate Body reports in the disp ute United States – Subsidies on Upland Cotton (DS267) found that certain payments to exporters under 
the Upland Cotton Domestic Marketing Certificate Program constituted export subsidies within the meaning of the Agreement on Ag riculture. On 8 February 2006, the United States 
enacted legislation to repeal the program at the end of the 2005 marketing year (i.e., 31 July 2006). All cotton under the prog ram was shipped by 31 July 2006; quantity and 
budgetary data are based on when payments were made." 
  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3  
 
- 11 - 1.2.2  Notified budgetary outlays and quantiti es for cotton (Supporting Table ES:2) 
India 
Notified budgetary outlays in million US$ (marketing year) 
XSID Product 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 
 Raw cotton (Full pressed bales)          0.0891 1.211     
Notified quantities in tonnes (marketing year) 
XSID Product 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 
 Raw cotton (Full pressed bales)          2,542 40,392      
1 International Air Freight Assistance in terms of Article 9.1 (d ) (as indicated in the footnote in India's Supporting Table ES:2  for implementation years 2004 and 2005). 
 
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 12 - 
 
  Charts on scheduled and notified export  subsidy budgetary outlays and quantities11 
1.8.   Based on the information presented in sections 1.1 and 1.2 above, the charts in this section 
show, by Member and by year, the export subsid y budgetary outlays and quantities notified in 
Table ES:1 and Supporting Tables ES:2, and the corresponding commitment levels where they 
exist. 
1.9.  In all charts, export subsidy budgetary outlay s notified and budgetary outlay commitments 
are plotted on the left axis and export subsidy quantities notified and quantity commitments are 
plotted on the right axis. 
Chart 1.1: Brazil 
00000000000000000000000000000000000000
08001600240032004000
025,00050,00075,000100,000125,000150,000175,000200,000225,000250,000
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
TonnesUS$
Notified Budgetary  outlay Notified quantity Budgetary  outlay  commitment Quantity commitment
 
                                               
11 Chart 34 of the Secretariat background document G/AG/W/125/Rev.2 shows the sum of the export 
subsidy budgetary outlays notified (Table ES:1) and scheduled by all Members for cotton, for the 
period 1995-2012. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 13 - 
 
  Chart 1.2: Colombia 
0.21 0 000000000000000.720 00000000000000
05,00010,00015,00020,00025,00030,00035,00040,000
010,00020,00030,00040,00050,00060,00070,00080,000
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
TonnesThousand  US$
Notified Budgetary  outlay Notified quantity Budgetary  outlay  commitment Quantity commitment
 
Chart 1.3: Israel 
0000000886
0 0 000000 00 00000.6 0 0 000000
01020304050
02,0004,0006,0008,00010,000
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Thousand  TonnesThousand  US$
Notified Budgetary  outlay Notified quantity Budgetary  outlay  commitment Quantity commitment0
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 14 - 
 
  Chart 1.4: South Africa 
5,65400 000000000000000036 000 000000000000000
06001,2001,8002,4003,0003,6004,2004,8005,400
0500,0001,000,0001,500,0002,000,0002,500,0003,000,0003,500,0004,000,0004,500,000
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Tonne equivalentRand 
Notified Budgetary  outlay Notified quantity Budgetary  outlay  commitment Quantity commitment
 
Chart 1.5: United States of America 
00000000203,595276,500
266,944
9,353
000000 000000002,3572,4133,642
1,292
000000
07001,4002,1002,8003,5004,200
050,000100,000150,000200,000250,000300,000
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Thousand  TonnesThousand  US$
Notified Budgetary  outlay Notified quantity
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 15 - 
 
  Chart 1.6: India 
000000000891,210
0000 00 0 0000002,54240,392
0000
06,00012,00018,00024,00030,00036,00042,000
02004006008001,0001,2001,400
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
TonnesThousand  US$
Notified Budgetary  outlay Notified quantity
 
 
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 16 - 
 
  2  DOMESTIC SUPPORT 
2.1.  Part Two provides information on the use of domestic support measures in favour of cotton 
based on Table DS:1 notifications circulated by the Secretariat up to 5 November 2015. It is divided into two sections: 
 Section 2.1 provides information on product-specific Aggregate Measurement of 
Support
12 a s  n o t i f i e d  i n  S u p p o r t i n g  T a b l e s  D S : 4  t o  D S : 8 .  T h e  s e c t i o n  a l s o  i n c l u d e s ,  
further to Members' requests at the third dedicated discussion, a table which provides,  
for each Member listed in Section 2.1, the level of product-specific AMS for cotton, 
together with the current Total AMS and the value of production for cotton (if available) for the most recent available year of notification; and    
 Section 2.2 provides information on direct payments in accordance with Article 6.5 as 
notified in Supporting Table DS:3. 
2.1  PRODUCT SPECIFIC AGGREGATE MEASUREMENT OF SUPPORT 
2.2.  This section details the level of product-specific AMS for cotton by Member and by 
implementation year. 
2.3.  The levels of the various domestic support categories that compose the product-specific 
support for cotton used in the AMS calculation are also listed. The different categories are the 
following: 
 market price support (Supporting Table DS:5); 
 non-exempt direct payments (Supporting Table DS:6); 
 other product-specific support (Supporting Table DS:7); and 
 product-specific support calculated using the Equivalent Measurement of Support (EMS) 
methodology (Supporting Table DS:8). 
2.4.  For each Member, the implementation years are those indicated in the Member's Table DS:1 
notifications, and the notified currency unit is indicated in brackets. 
Symbols used 
 
Product-specific AMS figures in italic and underlined represent support notified as de minimis. 
 
A blank indicates the absence of a notification for the year in question. 
 
"0" indicates that the Member notified zero support or that the Member has not notified any support for the support category concerned. 
 
Figures in brackets represent negative support.  
 
                                               
12 Also referred to as product-specific AMS. Thro ughout this paper, this term also includes the 
product-specific Equivalent Measurement of Support ca lculated according to Anne x 4 of the Agreement on 
Agriculture.  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3  
 
- 17 - 2.1.1  Product-specific AMS notified for cotton13 
Brazil 
(Thousand US$) 
 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009  2010 2011-2013  
Market price support 33,860.69 40.9 6.1 9,893.1 (4,873.8) (4,884.1)(20,445.5) (350.5) 0 0 0 315.8 186.0 259.8 0  00
Non-exempt direct 
payments 0 0 0000 00000 3 9 , 108.4 341,621.9 324,868.2 0  269,018.9 0
Other product-specific 
support 12,585.78 12,710.4 10,278.2 45,531.0 35,080.3 55,307.7 52,105.9 27,731.4 18,073.9 27,427.5 44,324.6 43,287.5 0 0 0  00
P r o d u c t - s p e c i f i c  E M S  0 0 0000 000000 0 0 0  00
Product-specific AMS  46,446.4 712,751.3 10,284.3 55,424.1 35,080.3 55,307. 752,105.9 27,731.4 18,073.9 27,427. 544,324.6 82,711. 7341,807.9 325,128.0 0  269,018.9 0
 
China (Million RMB) 
 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
Market price support 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Non-exempt direct payments 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Other product-specific support 2,854¹ 3,503¹ 1,790¹ 1,205.6² 1,034² 973.91² 1,100.39³ 880.35³ 4,099.45³ 2,766.73³ 5,0073 2,9773 
Product-specific EMS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Product-specific AMS 2,854 3,503 1,790 1,205.6 1,034 973.91 1,100.39 880.35 4,099.45 2,766.73 5,007  2,977 
 
Colombia 
(Thousand US$) 
 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
Market price support 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Non-exempt direct payments 2,980 289.2 1,002.6 757 2,306.5 1,115 2,899 8,983.5 20.5 10,445.4 30,595 18,091 24,775 17,755 25,261  25,592 
Other product-specific 
support 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Product-specific EMS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Product-specific AMS 2,980 289.2 1,002.6 757 2,306.5 1,115 2,899 8,983.5 20.5 10,445.4 30,595 18,091 24,775 17,755 25,261 25,592 
 
                                               
13 For implementation years 1995-1999, Pakistan maintained a positive applied administered price for "seed cotton", but Market Pr ice Support was calculated as zero 
because there was no eligible production.  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3  
 
- 18 - European Union 
(Million EUR) 
 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
Market price support 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Non-exempt direct payments 22.7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Other product-specific support 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Product-specific EMS 777.7 772.7 809.4 715.2 623.7 795 575.1 731.3 769.4 725.4 739.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Product-specific AMS 800.4 772.7 809.4 715.2 623.7 795 575.1 731.3 769.4 725.4 739.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
 
India 
(Million US$) 
  1995  1996 1997 1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003 2004  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009  2010 
Market price support  (2,106)  0 0 (64.79)  (72.45)  (91.46)  (147.3)  (94.01)  (140.62) (150.28)4 (68.99)4 (49.39)4 (6.64)4 243.144 6.954 0 
Non-exempt direct 
payments 0 0 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 0 
Other product-specific 
support 0 0 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 0 
Product-specific EMS 0  0 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 0 
Product-specific AMS (2,106)  0 0 (64.79)  (72.45)  (91.46)  (147.3)  (94.01)  (140.62) (150.28)  (68.99)  (49.39)  (6.64)  243.14  6.95 0 
 
Israel 
(Thousand US$) 
 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
Market price support 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Non-exempt direct payments 0 0 0 0 0 4,713 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Other product-specific support 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Product-specific EMS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Product-specific AMS 0 0 0 0 0 4,713 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
 
Mexico (Million 1991 Mex$) 
 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
Market price support  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Non-exempt direct payments 71.01 0 0 0 0 0 0 42.1 0.6 71.1 127.8 59.4 104.8 42.114 102.597 0.01 0 0 
Other product-specific support 0 2.2 3.4 9 5.8 2.1 1.4 23 23.5 7.9 7.4 0 31 0 24.608 34.95 50.13 25.31 
Product-specific EMS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Product-specific AMS 71.01 2.2 3.4 9 5.8 2.1 1.4 65.2 24.1 79 135.2 59.4 135.8 42.114 127.205 34.96 50.13 25.31 
  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3  
 
- 19 - Peru 
(Million US$) 
 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
Market price support 0 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Non-exempt direct payments 0 0 0  0 0 0 6.2 5.4 7 7.9 6.9 6.2 5.8 0 0 
Other product-speci fic support 0 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Product-specific EMS 0 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Product-specific AMS 0 0 0   0 0 0 6.2 5.4 7 7.9 6.9 6.2 5.8 0 0 
 
South Africa 
(Million rand) 
 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 
Market price support  0 46.66 33.74 (4.81) (42.95) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Non-exempt direct payments 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Other product-specific support 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Product-specific EMS 4.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Product-specific AMS 4.2 46.66 33.74 (4.81) (42.95) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
 
United States of America (Million US$) 
 1995 1996  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
Market price 
support  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Non-exempt 
direct payments 34.962
 6.401  444.942  824.027  2,136.897  987.003  2,723.039  921.055  185.501  1,790.501  1,283.707  1,080.050  0.831  953.161  33.119  0 0.001  0 
Other product-
specific support (3) (3) 20.678  110.653  216.238  62.75  87.073  265.738  249.413  447.914  336.992  285.127  207.079  176.802  115.154  81.249  75.083  636.148 
Product-specific  
EMS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Product-
specific AMS 31.962  3.401  465.62  934.68  2,353.135  1,049.753  2,810.112  1,186.793  434.914  2,238.415  1,620.699  1,365.177  207.91  1,129.963  148.273  81.249  75.084  636.148 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 20 - 
 
  Viet Nam 
(Billion VND) 
  2007 2008 
Market price support  0 0 
Non-exempt direct payments 0 0 
Other product-specific support 0.074  0 
Product-specific EMS 0 0 
Product-specific AMS 0.074  0 
¹ The following footnote was included in China's notification covering implementation years 1999-2001: "From 
the year 1999, cotton purchase in China became market oriented and the State Procurement Pricing for Cotton 
did not work any longer. Therefore, th ere was no price support in this re porting period. The product-specific 
de minimis  supports to cotton were primarily provided th rough interest subsidies for national cotton 
stockholdings." 
² The following footnote was included in China's no tification covering implementation years 2002-2004: 
"Support to cotton incl ude interest subsidy for national stock cotton". 
³ The following footnote was included in China's no tification covering implementation years 2005-2010: 
"Support to cotton includes subsidy for improved crop st rains and seeds, subsidy for reserve cost, cost subsidy 
for transporting cotton out of Xinj iang Uygur Autonomous Region". 
4 The following footnote was included in India's notification covering implementation years 2004-2009: "Applied 
administered price is procurement price for lint cotton. A co-efficient of 2.35 has been  used for conversion from 
seed cotton".  
Charts on product-specific AMS notified  for cotton by category of support 
2.5.  Based on the information presented in section 2. 1.1 above, the charts in this section show, 
by Member and by year, the various levels for the domestic support categories that were included 
in the calculation of the product-specific AMS notified for cotton. 
Chart 2.1: Brazil 
‐50,000050,000100,000150,000200,000250,000300,000350,000
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013Thousand  US$
Market price support Non‐exempt direct payments Other product‐specific support Product‐specific EMS
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 21 - 
 
  Chart 2.2: China 
01,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,000
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010Million RMB
Market price support Non‐exempt direct payments Other product‐specific support Product‐specific EMS
 
Chart 2.3: Colombia 
04,0008,00012,00016,00020,00024,00028,00032,000
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010Thousand  US$
Market price support Non‐exempt direct payments Other product‐specific support Product‐specific EMS
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 22 - 
 
  Chart 2.4: European Union 
0100200300400500600700800900
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012Million EUR
Market price support Non‐exempt direct payments Other product‐specific support Product‐specific EMS
 
Chart 2.5: India 
‐2,250‐2,000‐1,750‐1,500‐1,250‐1,000‐750‐500‐2500250
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010Million US$
Market price support Non‐exempt direct payments Other product‐specific support Product‐specific EMS
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 23 - 
 
  Chart 2.6: Israel 
05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,0003,5004,0004,5005,000
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010Thousand  US$
Market price support Non‐exempt direct payments Other product‐specific support Product‐specific EMS
 
Chart 2.7: Mexico 
020406080100120140
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012Million 1991 Mex$
Market price support Non‐exempt direct payments Other product‐specific support Product‐specific EMS
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 24 - 
 
  Chart 2.8: Peru 
0123456789
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010Million US$
Market price support Non‐exempt direct payments Other product‐specific support Product‐specific EMS
 
Chart 2.9: South Africa 
‐50‐40‐30‐20‐100102030405060
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013Million Rand
Market price support Non‐exempt direct payments Other product‐specific support Product‐specific EMS
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 25 - 
 
  Chart 2.10: United States of America 
‐30003006009001,2001,5001,8002,1002,4002,7003,000
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012Million US$
Market price support Non‐exempt direct payments Other product‐specific support Product‐specific EMS
 
Chart 2.11: Viet Nam 
00.010.020.030.040.050.060.070.08
2007 2008Billion VND
Market price support Non‐exempt direct payments Other product‐specific support Product‐specific EMS
 
 
Overview of cotton product-specific support, current total AMS and value of production 
for cotton 
2.6.  Further to Members' requests at the third dedi cated discussion, the following table shows, for 
each Member listed in Section 2.1 and for the most recent year of notification, the level of product-specific AMS for cotton, together with the current Total AMS and the value of production for cotton 
(if available). For ease of comparison, product-specific  AMS for cotton are further expressed in US 
dollars. The following column headings are used: TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 26 - 
 
  Member Name of  Member having notified product-specific support for 
cotton, as shown in Section 2.1.1;  
 Latest year notified  The most recent year for which a domestic support notification is 
available for the Member concerned;  
 Notified Currency  The currency used in the Member's notification; 
 
Cotton-specific AMS  Product-specific support notified for cotton. Italic and underlined 
figures  represent support notified as de minimis; 
 
Current Total AMS Sum of all product-specific and non-product-specific AMS as 
notified in Table DS:1 or Supporting Table DS:4. " De minimis" 
represents cases where all product-specific and non-product 
specific support are notified   as de minimis . "0" indicates that the 
Member has not notified any product-specific or non-product specific support; 
 
VoP-cotton Value of production data notified for cotton, if available; 
 Cotton-specific AMS in US$ Product-specific support notified for cotton expressed in US dollars. 
Where data were provided in a currency other than US$, the 
conversion to US$ was made using the exchange rates from the IMF's "International Financial Statistics". The IMF exchange rates 
are year averages for the relevant year of notification of each 
Member. Italic and underlined figures  represent support notified as de minimis.  
 
Member Latest year 
notified  Notified  
currency Cotton-specific  
AMS Current Total  
AMS VoP-cotton  Cotton-specific  
AMS 
(Million US$) 
Brazil  2013 Thousand US$ 0 de minimis   0 
China 2010 Million RMB 0 [ 2,977 ] de minimis 160,420 0 [ 446.55 ] 
Colombia  2010 Thousand US$ 25,592 25,592 77,454 25.592 
European Union 2012 Million EUR 0 5899.1   0 
India 2010 Million US$ 0 de minimis   0 
Israel 2010 Thousand US$ 0 530,954 21,399 0 
Mexico 2012 Million 1991 Mex$  0 [25.31 ] 330.72 791.67 0 [ 2.024 ] 
Peru 2010 Million US$ 0 de minimis   0 
South Africa 2013 Million rand 0 0   0 
United States of America 2012 Million US$ 636.148 6,863.273 7,748.402 636.148 
Viet Nam 2008 Billion VND 0 de minimis 41 0 
 
2.2  DIRECT PAYMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 6.5 
2.7.  This section details the levels of direct payments for cotton in accordance with Article 6.5 as 
notified in Supporting Table DS:3. Since 1995, two Members have notified this type of support for 
cotton: the European Union from implementation year 2006 onwards and the United States for 1995 only. 
2.8.  The notified currency unit is indicated in brackets in the title for both Members. 
2.9.  The information presented in each table is also  presented as a chart showing the level of the 
direct payment notified by the Member concerned. 
European Union 
(Million EUR) 
Description of Measure 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012  
Payments based on fixed area and yields: Cotton 
(Title IV, Chapter 10a of R 1782/2003)1 254.5 247.5 216.9 221.7 247.3 245.8 242.3 
¹ As of 2009, the reference for the payment also includes Title IV, Chapter 1 of Regulation 73/2009. 
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 27 - 
 
  United States of America 
(Million US$) 
Description of Measure 1995 
Payments based on 85% or less of base level of production: De ficiency payments  for marketing 
year 1995 were only made on 85% of base acreage and program yields have been held constant. 901.022  
 
Charts on direct payments for cott on in accordance with Article 6.5 
Chart 2.12: European Union 
190200210220230240250260
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012Million EUR
 
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 28 - 
 
  Chart 2.13: United States of America 
01002003004005006007008009001,000
1995Million US$
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 29 - 
 
  3  MARKET ACCESS 
3.1.  By way of an introduction to this Part on tariffs and non-tariff measures relevant to market 
access for cotton, the following overview charts sh ow the evolution of total imports of cotton with 
a breakdown between imports from LDCs and from the rest of the world, in value and quantity, 
over the period 2004-2014. 
Charts on market access (overview) 
Chart 3.1: Total imports of cotton1 from World and LDCs, 2004-2014, value 
0.0%2.0%4.0%6.0%8.0%10.0%12.0%14.0%
05,00010,00015,00020,00025,00030,000
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014USD Million
From World minus LDCs (Left axis) From LDCs (Left axis) Imports from LDC as % of total imports (Right axis)
 
1 Sum of available reporters – Source UN Comtrade – HS codes 5201, 5202 and 5203. 
Chart 3.2: Total imports of cotton1 from World and LDCs, 2004-2014, quantity 
0.0%2.0%4.0%6.0%8.0%10.0%12.0%14.0%
02,0004,0006,0008,00010,00012,000
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014Thousand  Tonnes
From World minus LDCs (Left axis) From LDCs (Left axis)
Imports from LDC as % of total imports (Right axis)
 
1 Sum of available reporters – Source UN Comtrade – HS codes 5201, 5202 and 5203. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 30 - 
 
   
3.2.  The following overview tables show total imports of cotton and imports from LDCs, in value 
and quantity, for the 32 Members identified in para graphs 8 to 10 of this paper. The last column 
shows the percentage of imports originating from LDCs.  
Imports of cotton14 from World and LDCs, 201415 in value  (US$ Million) 
World LDC Percentage of 
imports from LDCs 
(%) 
Australia 0 0 0 
Bahrain, Kingdom of 112 95 84 
Bangladesh1 2,429 65 3 
Brazil 68 25 37 
Canada 8 0 0 
China 5,099 278 5 
Colombia 63 2 3 
Egypt 177 44 25 
European Union2 470 58 12 
Hong Kong, China 71 1 1 
Iceland 0 0 0 
India 506 183 36 
Indonesia 1,402 230 16 
Japan 157 0 0 
Kenya3 5 4 80 
Korea, Republic of 564 2 0.4 
Malaysia 136 17 13 
Mauritius 44 35 80 
Mexico 429 0 0 
Morocco3 72 9 13 
New Zealand 0 0 0 
Norway 1 0 0 
Pakistan 524 77 15 
Peru3 128 1 0.8 
Russian Federation3 124 0 0 
South Africa 55 39 70 
Switzerland-Liechtenstein 30 0 0 
Chinese Taipei3 439 22 5 
Thailand 690 107 16 
Turkey 1,758 30 2 
United States of America 29 0 0 
Viet Nam3 1,170 187 16 
¹ Imports in 2011. 
2 Sum of EU member States (as repo rted to Comtrade), extra-trade. 
3 Imports in 2013. 
Source: UN Comtrade database.  
                                               
14 HS codes 5201, 5202, 5203. 
15 For those Members whose import statistics are not available for 2014, imports in previous years are 
listed. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 31 - 
 
  Imports of cotton16 from World and LDCs, 201417 in quantity (metric tonnes) 
 World LDC Percentage of 
imports from LDCs 
(%) 
Australia 223 0 0 
Bahrain, Kingdom of 13,197 3,716 28 
Bangladesh1 709,593 17,372 2 
Brazil 37,129 13,972 38 
Canada 12,167 4 0.0 
China 2,539,833 141,407 6 
Colombia 31,456 932 3 
Egypt 76,436 19,853 26 
European Union2 277,531 31,754 11 
Hong Kong, China 51,274 734 1 
Iceland 9 0 0 
India 232,756 93,770 40 
Indonesia 705,564 117,515 17 
Japan 74,833 202 0.3 
Kenya3 2,323 2,208 95 
Korea, Republic of 268,410 1,188 0.4 
Malaysia 69,395 9,658 14 
Mauritius 21,390 17,385 81 
Mexico 223,596 26 0.0 
Morocco3 35,005 4,317 12 
New Zealand 16 0 0 
Norway 163 0 0 
Pakistan 241,004 32,141 13 
Peru3 57,730 296 0.5 
Russian Federation3 79,123 0 0 
South Africa 31,519 22,333 71 
Switzerland-Liechtenstein 12,399 1 0.0 
Chinese Taipei3 249,445 11,351 5 
Thailand 335,660 54,119 16 
Turkey 920,758 15,456 2 
United States of America 19,206 0 0 
Viet Nam3 580,460 92,633 16 
¹ Imports in 2011. 
2 Sum of EU member States (as repo rted to Comtrade), extra-trade. 
3 Imports in 2013. 
 Source: UN Comtrade database.  
3.3.  As explained at the beginning of this background  paper, this Part on Market Access provides 
information on the cotton tariff levels and the use of various non-tariff measures for the 32 Members identified as per paragraphs 8 to 10. Part Three is divided into four sections: 
 Section 3.1 lists bound and applied tariffs for cotton based on (i) Members' schedules as 
reflected in the CTS database, and (ii) data on applied tariffs contained in the IDB database; 
 Section 3.2 provides information  on the special safeguard provisions for cotton based on 
Members' schedules and Table MA:3, MA:4 and MA:5 notifications; 
 Section 3.3 provides information on cotton tariff rate quotas based on Members' 
schedules and Table MA:1 and MA:2 notifications; and 
 Section 3.4 lists various other non-tariff measures, based on data contained in the 
WTO I-TIP Goods database and notifications under the Agreement on Import Licensing 
procedures. 
                                               
16 HS codes 5201, 5202, 5203. 
17 For those Members whose import statistics are not available for 2014, imports in previous years are 
listed. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 32 - 
 
  3.1  TARIFFS 
3.4.  This section lists bound and applied duties for cotton for the 32 Members identified in 
paragraphs 8 to 10 of this paper. 
3.5.  The following first table shows the average and maximum bound and applied duties for the 
cotton product group18, as they appear in the World Tariff Profile 2015.19 The methodology used to 
calculate these average and maximum duties, in particular the averaging and the ad valorem  
equivalent calculation, can be found in the World Tariff Profile 2015. 
Bound and Applied Tariff from World Tariff Profile 2015 for Cotton Product Group 
 Average Duty (%) Maximum Duty (%) 
Name  Bound Applied 
(2014) Bound Applied 
(2014) 
Australia  1.2 0 2 0 
Bahrain, Kingdom of  35 5 35 5 
Bangladesh20  200 3.5 200 5 
Brazil  55 6.9 55 10 
Canada  0.8 0 8 0 
China  22 18 40 40 
Colombia  75.8 5 99 5 
Egypt  5 4 5 5 
European Union  0 0 0 0 
Hong Kong, China  0 0 0 0 
Iceland  2.2 0 11 0 
India  110 6 150 30 
Indonesia  37.4 4 40 5 
Japan 0 0 0 0 
Kenya 100 0 100 0 
Korea, Republic of 2 0 2 0 
Malaysia  4 0 5 0 
Mauritius 122 0 122 0 
Mexico  39.4 0 45 0 
Morocco  22 2.5 34 2.5 
New Zealand  0 0 0 0 
Norway 0 0 0 0 
Pakistan 13 7.2 25 10 
Peru  30 6 30 6 
Russian Federation  0 0 0 0 
South Africa  60 4.6 60 15 
Switzerland  0 0 0 0 
Chinese Taipei 0 0 0 0 
Thailand 4.5 0 4.5 0 
Turkey 10.92 0 12.6 0 
United States of America 4.8 4.8 18.0 18.0 
Viet Nam 14 6 20  10 
                                               
18 Corresponding to the Harmonized System nomenclature 2012 (HS 2012) headings 52.01 to 52.03. 
19 http://www.wto.org/english/res_e /reser_e/tariff_profiles_e.htm . 
20 In the case of Bangladesh data on applied duties for 2013 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 33 - 
 
  Bound and Applied Cotton Tariffs (most recent year available) 
3.6.  The series of tables below show, for each Member, scheduled bound cotton tariffs as reflected 
in the CTS database and the applied cotton tariffs as reported in the IDB database. The following column headings are used: 
BOUND DUTIES: Bound duties presented according to the following column subheadings: 
 
 Tariff line (HS year):  The tariff item number(s) as specified in the 
Member's schedule reproduced in the CTS file, using the HS nomenclature 
indicated in brackets; 
 
 Designation: The product description for the corresponding tariff heading, 
subheading or line, as specified in the Member's schedule reproduced in the 
CTS file (in original language only); 
 
 Bound Duty:  The level of duty for the corresponding tariff line, as specified 
in the Member's schedule reproduced in the CTS file; and  
 
 Other Duty and Charges: The level of other duties and charges (and 
related information) for the corresponding tariff line, as and when specified in the Member's schedule reproduced in the CTS file.  
 
APPLIED DUTIES:  Applied duties (for the most recent year available as indicated in brackets), 
presented according to the following column subheadings: 
 
 Tariff line (HS year):  The tariff item number(s) as specified in the 
Member's IDB file, using the HS nomenclature indicated in brackets; 
 
 MFN:  The level of applied MFN duty for the corresponding tariff line, as 
specified in the Member's IDB file; and 
 
 LDC Preferential:  The level of duty for the corresponding tariff line, as 
specified in the Member's IDB file, applied in the context of a preferential 
regime for LDC imports. The absence of data in the column reflects either t h e  a b s e n c e  o f  s u c h  a  r e g i m e  f o r  t h a t  M e m b e r  o r  t h e  a b s e n c e  o f  
information on such a regime within the IDB. 
Australia 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2015) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential 
520100 Cotton, not carded or combed 0%    52010000 0% 0%  
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste and 
garnetted stock):           
520210 - Yarn waste (including thread waste)  2%   52021000 0% 0%  
52029 - Other:           
520291 -- Garnetted stock 2%    52029100 0% 0%  
520299 -- Othe r 2%    52029900 0% 0%  
520300 Cotton, carded or combed 0%    52030000 0% 0%  
Bahrain, Kingdom of 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2014) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential 
52010000 Cotton, not carded or combed 35%   52010000 5%  
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste and 
garnetted stock)      
52021000 - Yarn waste (including thread waste)  35%  52021000 5%  
52029 - Other:      
52029100 -- Garnetted stock 35%   52029100 5%  
52029900 -- Othe r 35%   52029900 5%  
52030000 Cotton, carded or combed 35%   52030000 5%  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 34 - 
 
   
Bangladesh 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2013) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 1996) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential 
520100 Cotton, not carded or combed 200%   52010000 0%  
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste and 
garnetted stock)       
520210 - Yarn waste (including thread waste)  200%   52021000 5%  
52029 - Other:       
520291 -- Garnetted stock 200%   52029100 5%  
520299 -- Othe r 200%      
      52029910¹ 0%  
      52029990² 5%  
520300 Cotton, carded or combed 200%   52030000 5%  
¹ Cotton waste. ² Cotton waste, nes. 
 
Brazil 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2014) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential  
520100 Algodón sin cardar ni peina r       
52010010 Sin desmota r 55%   52010010 6%  
52010020 Simplemente desmotado 55%   52010020 10%  
52010090 Los demás 55%   52010090 10%  
5202 Desperdicios de algodón (incluidos los 
desperdicios de hilados y las hilachas)       
52021000 Desperdicios de hilados 55%   52021000 6%  
52029 - Los demás:       
52029100 Hilachas 55%   52029100 6%  
52029900 Los demás 55%   52029900 6%  
52030000 Algodón cardado o peinado 55%   52030000 8%  
 
Canada 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2015) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential 
52010000 Cotton, not carded or combed 0%    52010000 0% 0%  
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste and 
garnetted stock)           
52021000 - Yarn waste (including thread waste)  0%   52021000 0% 0%  
52029 - Other:           
52029100 -- Garnetted stock 0%    52029100 0% 0%  
52029900 -- Othe r 0%    52029900 0% 0%  
520300 Cotton, carded or combed     52030000 0% 0%  
52030010 --- Slivers 0%          
52030090 --- Othe r 8%          
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 35 - 
 
  China 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2014) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 1996) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential 
5201 Cotton, not carded or combed           
52010000 - Cotton, not carded or combed 40%       
    52010000011 1% 1%  
    52010000802 0% 0%  
    52010000903 40% 40%  
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste and 
garnetted stock)           
52021000 -Yarn waste (including thread waste)  10%   5202100000 10% 0%  
52029 - Othe r:           
52029100 -- Garnetted stock 10%    5202910000 10% 0%  
52029900 -- Othe r 10%    5202990000 10% 10%  
5203 Cotton, carded or combed           
52030000 - Cotton, carded or combed 40%       
    52030000014 1% 1%  
    52030000905 40% 40%  
1 Cotton, not carded or combed: Cotton,not carded or combed: Cotton,not carded or combed [including absorbent cotton 
(in-quota)]. 
2 Cotton, not carded or combed: Cotton, not carded or combed: Cotton, not carded or combed [including absorbent cotton 
(custom, out-quota, interim)]. 
3 Cotton, not carded or combed: Cotton, not carded or combed: Cotton, not carded or combed [including absorbent cotton 
(out-quota)].  
4 Cotton, carded or combed: Cotton, carded or combed: Cotton, carded or combed (in-quota).  
5 Cotton, carded or combed: Cotton, carded or combed: Cotton, carded or combed (out-quota).  
 
Colombia 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2014) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential 
5201000000 Algodón sin cardar ni peina r 99%         
        5201001000 ¹ 5%   
        5201002000 ² 5%   
        5201003000 ³ 5%   
        5201009000 ⁴ 5%   
5202 Desperdicios de algodón (incluidos los 
desperdicios de hilados y las hilachas)           
5202100000 - Desperdicios de hilados 70%    5202100000 5%   
52029 - Los demás:            
5202910000 -- Hilachas 70%    5202910000 5%   
5202990000 -- Los demás  70%   5202990000 5%   
5203000000 Algodón cardado o peinado 70%    5203000000 5%   
¹ De longitud de fibra superi or a 34.92 mm (1 3/8 pulgada). 
² De longitud de fibra superior a 28.57 mm (1 1/8 pulg ada) pero inferior o igual a 34.92 mm (1 3/8 pulgada). 
³ De longitud de fibra superior a 22.22 mm (7/8 pulgad a) pero inferior o igual a 28.57 mm (1 1/8 pulgada). 
⁴ De longitud de fibra inferior o igual a 22.22 mm (7/8 pulgada). 
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 36 - 
 
  Egypt21 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2015) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential 
52010000 Cotton, not carded or combed  5%  5201000010 ¹ 0% 
 5201000030 ² 0% 
 5201000033 ³ 0% 
 5201000034 ⁴ 0% 
 5201000035 ⁵ 0% 
 5201000036 ⁶ 0% 
 5201000037 ⁷ 0% 
 5201000038 ⁸ 0% 
 5201000039 ⁹ 0% 
 520100004110 0% 
 520100004211 0% 
 520100004312 0% 
 520100004413 0% 
 520100004514 0% 
 520100004615 0% 
 520100004716 0% 
 520100004817 0% 
 520100005018 0% 
 520100009019 0% 
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste and 
garnetted stock)         
52021000 - Yarn waste (including thread waste)  5%  5202100000 5%  
52029 - Other:         
52029100 -- Garnetted stock 5%   5202910000 5%  
52029900 -- Othe r 5%   5202990000 5%  
52030000 Cotton, carded or combed 5%   5203000000 5%  
1 Raw cotton not mixed Giza 45 not carded or combed, not ginned. 
2 Raw cotton not mixed Giza 31 not carded or combed, not ginned. 
3 Raw cotton not mixed Giza 66 not carded or combed, not ginned. 
4 Raw cotton not mixed Giza 67 not carded or combed, not ginned. 
5 Raw cotton not mixed Giza 68 not carded or combed, not ginned. 
6 Raw cotton not mixed Giza 69 not carded or combed, not ginned. 
7 Raw cotton not mixed Giza 83 not carded or combed, not ginned. 
8 Raw cotton not mixed Giza 84 not carded or combed, not ginned. 
9 Raw cotton not mixed Giza 85 not carded or combed, not ginned. 
10 Raw cotton not mixed Giza 76 not carded or combed, not ginned. 
11 Raw cotton not mixed Giza 77 not carded or combed, not ginned. 
12 Raw cotton not mixed Giza 80 not carded or combed, not ginned. 
13 Raw cotton not mixed Giza 81 not carded or combed, not ginned. 
14 Raw cotton not mixed Giza 82 not carded or combed, not ginned. 
15 Raw cotton not mixed Giza 70 not carded or combed, not ginned. 
16 Raw cotton not mixed Giza 72 not carded or combed, not ginned. 
17 Raw cotton not mixed Giza 75 not carded or combed, not ginned. 
18 Other cotton not carded or combed, not ginned. 
19 Other cotton not carded or combed, ginned. 
 
European Union 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2015) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 1996) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential 
5201 Cotton, not carded or combed:       
52010010 - Rendered absorbent or bleached  0%  52010010  0% 0%  
52010090 - Othe r 0%   52010090  0% 0%  
                                               
21 Information on 2015 applied cotton tariffs is provided in Egypt's reply to the questionnaire (Annex 4). TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 37 - 
 
  Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2015) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 1996) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential 
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste and 
garnetted stock):       
52021000 - Yarn waste (including thread waste)  0%  52021000  0% 0%  
52029 - Other:       
52029100 -- Garnetted stock 0%   52029100  0% 0%  
52029900 -- Othe r 0%   52029900  0% 0%  
52030000 Cotton, carded or combed 0%   52030000  0% 0%  
 
Hong Kong , China 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2015) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential 
52010000 Cotton, not carded or combed 0%    52010000 0%   
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste and 
garnetted stock).          
52021000 - Yarn waste (including thread waste)  0%   52021000 0%   
52029 - Other:          
52029100 -- Garnetted stock 0%    52029100 0%   
52029900 -- Othe r 0%    52029900 0%   
52030000 Cotton, carded or combed 0%    52030000 0%   
 
Iceland  
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2014) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 1996) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential 
5201 Cotton, not carded or combed      
52010000 - Cotton, not carded or combed 0%   52010000 0% 0%  
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste and 
garnetted stock)      
52021000 - Yarn waste (including thread waste)  11%  52021000 0% 0%  
52029 - Other:      
52029100 -- Garnetted stock 0%   52029100 0% 0%  
52029900 -- Othe r 0%   52029900 0% 0%  
5203 Cotton, carded or combed      
52030000 - Cotton, carded or combed 0%   52030000 0% 0%  
 
India 
Bound Duties  Applied Duties 
(Year 2014)  
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential 
52010000 Cotton, not carded or combed 100%          
        52010011¹ 0% 0%  
        52010012² 0% 0%  
        52010013³ 0% 0%  
        52010014 ⁴ 0% 0%  
        52010015 ⁵ 0% 0%  
        52010019 ⁶ 0% 0%  
        52010020 ⁷ 0% 0%  
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste and 
garnetted stock)           
52021000 - Yarn waste (including thread waste)  100%    52021000  0% 0%  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 38 - 
 
  Bound Duties  Applied Duties 
(Year 2014)  
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential 
52029 - Other:           
52029100 -- Garnetted stock 100%    52029100  0% 0%  
52029900 -- Othe r 100%    52029900  0% 0%  
52030000 Cotton, carded or combed 150%    52030000  30% 0%  
1 Bengal deshi. 
2 Indian cotton of staple lengths 20.5 mm (25/32") and below (e g. oomras, yellow picking, Assam Comillas). 
3 Indian cotton of staple length exceeding 20.5mm (26/32") and but not exceeding 24.5mm (30/32"). 
4 Indian cotton of staple length over 24.5 mm (31/32") to 28 mm. 
5 Indian cotton of staple length 28.5 mm (1 4/32") and above but below 34.5 mm. 
6 Indian cotton of all staple length 34.5 mm and above (1 12/32"). 
7 Cotton, other than Indian, of all staple lengths. 
 
Indonesia  
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2014) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 1996) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential 
5201 Cotton, not carded or combed           
520100000 - Cotton, not carded or combed 27%    5201000000 0%   
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste and 
garnetted stock)           
520210000 - Yarn waste (including thread waste)  40%   5202100000 5%   
52029 - Othe r:           
520291000 -- Garnetted stock 40%    5202910000 5%   
520299000 -- Othe r: 40%    5202990000 5%   
5203 Cotton, carded or combed           
520300000 - Cotton, carded or combed 40%    5203000000 5%   
 
Japan 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2014) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential 
520100 - Cotton, not carded or combed 0%   520100000 0% 0%  
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste and 
garnetted stock)      
520210 - Yarn waste (including thread waste)  0%  520210000 0% 0%  
52029 - Other:      
520291 -- Garnetted stock 0%   520291000 0% 0%  
520299 -- Othe r 0%   520299000 0% 0%  
520300 - Cotton, carded or combed 0%   520300000 0% 0%  
 
Kenya 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2014) 
Tariff 
Line (HS 
2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential  
52010000 Cotton, not carded or combed. 100%   52010000  0%  
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste and 
garnetted stock).       
52021000 - Yarn waste (including thread waste)  100%   52021000  0%  
52029 - Other:       
52029100 -- Garnetted stock 100%   52029100  0%   
52029900 -- Othe r 100%   52029900  0%   TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 39 - 
 
  Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2014) 
Tariff 
Line (HS 
2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential  
52030000 Cotton, carded or combed 100%   52030000  0%   
 
Korea, Republic of 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2015) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential 
520100 Cotton, not carded or combed      
5201001000 --- Seed cotton  2%  5201001000 0% 0%  
52010090 --- Othe r         
5201009010 ----- Less than 232 mm (7/8 inch) of 
fibre-length 2%  5201009010 0% 0%  
5201009020 ----- Not less than 232 mm (7/8 inch), but 
less than 254 mm (1 inch) of fibre-length 2%  5201009020 0% 0%  
5201009030 ----- Not less than 254 mm (1 inch),but 
less than 285 mm (11/8 inch) of fibre-length 2%
  5201009030 0% 0%  
5201009050 ----- Not less than 285 mm (1-1/8 inch), 
but less than 349 mm (1-3/8 inch) of fiber 
length 2%  5201009050 0% 0%  
5201009060 ----- Not less than 349 mm (1-3/8 inch) of 
fiber-length 2%  5201009060 0% 0%  
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste and 
garnetted stock)      
5202100000 --- 1. Yarn waste (including thread waste)  2%  5202100000 0% 0%  
52029 - 2. Other:      
5202910000 --- A. Garnetted stoc k 2%   5202910000 0% 0%  
5202990000 --- B. Othe r 2%   5202990000 0% 0%  
5203000000 --- Cotton, carded or combed 2%   5203000000 0% 0%  
 
Malaysia  
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2013) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential  
520100000 Cotton, not carded or combed 0%   520100000 0%  
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste and 
garnetted stock)      
520210000 - Yarn waste (including thread waste)  5%  520210000 0%  
52029 - Other:       
520291000 -- Garnetted stock 5%   520291000 0%  
520299000 -- Othe r 5%   520299000 0%  
520300000 Cotton, carded or combed 5%   520300000 0%  
 
Mauritius 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2015) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential  
52010000 Cotton, not carded or combed 122%   52010000  0%  
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste and 
garnetted stock)      
52021000 - Yarn waste (including thread waste)  122%   52021000  0%  
52029 - Other:       
52029100 -- Garnetted stock 122%   52029100  0%  
52029900 -- Othe r 122%   52029900  0%  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 40 - 
 
  Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2015) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential  
52030000 Cotton, carded or combed 122%   52030000  0%  
 
Mexico 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2015) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential  
520100 Algodón sin cardar ni peina r 45%      
    52010001¹ 0%  
    52010002² 0%  
    52010099³ 0%  
5202 Desperdicios de algodón (incluidos los 
desperdicios de hilados y las hilachas)        
520210 Desperdicios de hilados 37%   52021001  0%  
52029 - Los demás:       
520291 Hilachas 37%   52029101  0%  
520299 -- Los demás        
52029901 Borra 37%   52029901  0%  
52029999 Demás 45%   52029999  0%  
520300 Algodón cardado o peinado 37%   52030001  0%  
¹ Con pepita. 
² Sin pepita, de fibra con más de 29 mm de longitud. ³ Los demás. 
 
Morocco 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2015) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential  
5201 Coton, non cardé ni peigné      
5201000010 ––– non égrené 19%   5201000010 2.5% 2.5%  
5201000091 ––– égrené:      
5201000091 –––– écru 19%   5201000091 2.5% 0%  
5201000099 –––– autres 19%   5201000099 2.5% 0%  
5202 Déchets de coton (y compris les déchets 
de fils et les effilochés).      
520210 – Déchets de fils      
5202100010 ––– déchets de fils pour essuyages 
industriels 19%  5202100010 2.5% 2.5%  
5202100090 ––– autres 19%   5202100090 2.5% 2.5%  
52029 – Autres:         
5202910000 –– Effilochés 19%   5202910000 2.5% 2.5%  
5202990000 –– Autres 19%   5202990000 2.5% 2.5%  
5203 Coton, cardé ou peigné      
52030010 ––– écru, décrué ou blanchi:      
5203001010 –––– écru 34%   5203001010 2.5% 2.5%  
5203001020 –––– décrué 34%   5203001020 2.5% 2.5%  
5203001090 –––– blanchi 34%   5203001090 2.5% 2.5%  
5203009000 ––– autres 34%   5203009000 2.5% 2.5%  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 41 - 
 
  New Zealand 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2015) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential  
52010000 Cotton, not carded or combed 0%   52010000  0% 0%  
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste and 
garnetted stock):      
52021000 - Yarn waste (including thread waste)  0%  52021000  0% 0%  
52029 - Other:       
52029100 -- Garnetted stock 0%   52029100  0% 0%  
52029900 -- Othe r 0%   52029900  0% 0%  
52030000 Cotton, carded or combed 0%   52030000  0% 0%  
Norway 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2015) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential  
5201000 Cotton, not carded or combed 0%    52010000  0% 0%  
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste and 
garnetted stock).           
5202100 - Yarn waste (including thread waste)  0%   52021000  0% 0%  
52029 - Othe r:           
5202910 -- Garnetted stock 0%    52029100  0% 0%  
5202990 -- Othe r 0%    52029900  0% 0%  
5203000 Cotton, carded or combed 0%    52030000  0% 0%  
Pakistan 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2014) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential  
520100 Cotton, not carded or combed           
52010010 --- American 5%        
52010020 --- Egyptian 5%        
    520100301 1%  
    520100402 1%  
    520100503 1%  
    520100604 1%  
    520100705 1%  
    520100806 1%  
52010090 --- Othe r 5%    52010090  1%   
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste and 
garnetted stock).           
52021000 - Yarn waste (including thread waste)  25%   52021000  10%   
52029 - Other:           
52029100 -- Garnetted stock 15%    52029100  10%   
52029900 -- Othe r 15%    52029900  10%   
52030000 Cotton, carded or combed 5%    52030000  5%   
1 Length not exceeding 20.5 mm. 
2 Length exceeding 20.5 mm but not exceeding 24.5 mm. 
3 Length exceeding 24.5 mm but not exceeding 28.5 mm. 
4 Length exceeding 28.5 mm but not exceeding 31 mm. 
5 Length exceeding 31 mm but not exceeding 34.5 mm. 
6 Length exceeding 34.5 mm. 
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 42 - 
 
  Peru 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2015) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential  
5201000000 ---Algodón sin cardar ni peinar. 30%      
    5201001000¹ 6%  
    5201002000² 6%  
    5201003000³ 6%  
    5201009000 ⁴ 6%  
5202 Desperdicios de algodón (incluidos los 
desperdicios de hilados y las hilachas)        
5202100000 - Desperdicios de hilados 30%   5202100000 0%  
52029 - Los demás:         
5202910000 -- Hilachas 30%   5202910000 0%  
5202990000 -- Los demás 30%   5202990000 0%  
5203000000 --- Algodón cardado o peinado 30%    5203000000 6%   
1 De longitud de fibra superior a 34.92 mm (1 3/8 pulgada). 
2 De longitud de fibra superior a 28.57 mm (1 1/8 pulg ada) pero inferior o igual a 34.92 mm (1 3/8 pulgada). 
3 De longitud de fibra superior a 22.22 mm (7/8 pulgad a) pero inferior o igual a 28.57 mm (1 1/8 pulgada). 
4 De longitud de fibra inferior o igual a 22.22 mm (7/8 pulgada). 
 
Russian Federation 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2014) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2007) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential 
520100 Cotton, not carded or combed:           
5201001000 - rendered absorbent or bleached 0%    5201001000 0% 0%  
5201009000 - othe r 0%    5201009000 0% 0%  
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste and 
garnetted stock):           
5202100000 - yarn waste (including thread waste)  0%   5202100000 0% 0%  
52029 - other:           
5202910000 -- garnetted stock 0%    5202910000 0% 0%  
5202990000 -- othe r 0%    5202990000 0% 0%  
5203000000 Cotton, carded or combed 0%    5203000000 0% 0%  
 
South Africa 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2015) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other Duties 
and Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential 
520100 Cotton, not carded or combed           
52010010 --- Not ginned  60% 4.4c/kg cotton fibre (Normal 
levy)+3.3c/kg 
cotton fibre (Special levy) 52010010
 0%   
52010020 --- Ginned but not further processed  60% 4.4c/kg cotton 
fibre (Normal levy)+3.3c/kg cotton fibre 
(Special levy) 52010020
 160c/
kg1  
52010090 --- Othe r 60%  4.4c/kg cotton fibre (Normal levy)+3.3c/kg cotton fibre (Special levy) 52010090
 15%  
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste and 
garnetted stock):           
520210 - Yarn waste (including thread waste)      52021000  0%   
52021010 --- Unprocessed  60%         
52021090 --- Othe r 60%          TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 43 - 
 
  Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2015) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other Duties 
and Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential 
52029 - Other:           
520291 -- Garnetted stock         
52029110 --- Unprocessed  60%   52029100  0%   
52029190 --- Othe r 60%          
520299 -- Othe r     52029900  0%   
52029910 --- Unprocessed  60%         
52029990 --- Othe r 60%          
52030000 Cotton, carded or combed 60%    52030000  15%  
1 "c/kg" stands for rand cent per kilo. 
 
Switzerland 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2015) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other Duties 
and Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential 
520100 Coton, non cardé ni peigné           
52010010 --- blanchi et dégraissé (hydrophile)  0%   52010010  0% 0%  
52010090 --- autres 0%    52010090  0% 0%  
5202 Déchets de coton (y compris les 
déchets de fils et les effilochés)           
52021000 - déchets de fils  0%   52021000  0% 0%  
52029 - Autres:           
52029100 -- effilochés 0%    52029100  0% 0%  
52029900 -- autres 0%    52029900  0% 0%  
52030000 - Coton, cardé ou peigné 0%    52030000  0% 0%  
 
Chinese Taipei 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2015) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other Duties 
and Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential 
52010000 Cotton, not carded or combed 0%    52010000  0% 0%  
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste 
and garnetted stock)          
52021000 Yarn waste (including thread waste)  0%   52021000  0% 0%  
52029 Other:           
52029100 Garnetted cotton stoc k 0%    52029100  0% 0%  
52029900 Other cotton waste 0%    52029900  0% 0%  
52030000 Cotton, carded or combed 0%    52030000  0% 0%  
 
Thailand 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2014) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other Duties 
and Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential 
520100 Cotton, not carded or combed 4.5%    52010000  0%   
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste 
and garnetted stock)           
520210 - Yarn waste (including thread waste)  4.5%    52021000  0%   
52029 - Other:           
520291 -- Garnetted stock 4.5%    52029100  0%   
520299 -- Othe r 4.5%    52029900  0%   
520300 Cotton, carded or combed 4.5%    52030000  0%   
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 44 - 
 
  Turkey 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2013) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other Duties and Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential 
520100 Cotton, not carded or 
combed         
5201001000 - Rendered absorbent or 
bleached 6% - Municipality share: 15% of 
customs duty, - Transportation 
infrastructure fee: 3% (in case 
of road, rail or air Transport) or 4% (in case of maritime transport) of the sum of CIF value, customs duty and other 
charges mentioned above. 5201001000 0% 0%
 
5201009000 - Othe r 6%  - Municipality share: 15% of 
customs duty, - Transportation infrastructure fee: 3% (in case of road, rail or air Transport) or 4% (in case of maritime 
transport) of the sum of CIF 
value, customs duty and other charges mentioned above.  5201009000 0% 0%  
5202 Cotton waste (including 
yarn waste and garnetted stock)   
        
5202100000 - Yarn waste (including 
thread waste) 12% - Municipality share: 15% of 
customs duty, - Transportation 
infrastructure fee: 3% (in case 
of road, rail or air Transport) or 4% (in case of maritime transport) of the sum of CIF value, customs duty and other 
charges mentioned above. 5202100000 0% 0%
 
52029 - Other:           
5202910000 -- Garnetted stock 12%  - Municipality share: 15% of 
customs duty, - Transportation 
infrastructure fee: 3% (in case 
of road, rail or air Transport) or 4% (in case of maritime transport) of the sum of CIF 
value, customs duty and other 
charges mentioned above. 5202910000 0% 0%
 
5202990000 -- Othe r 12%  - Municipality share: 15% of 
customs duty, - Transportation infrastructure fee: 3% (in case of road, rail or air Transport) or 4% (in case of maritime 
transport) of the sum of CIF 
value, customs duty and other charges mentioned above. 5202990000 0% 0%
 
5203000000 Cotton, carded or 
combed 12.6%  - Municipality share: 15% of 
customs duty, - Transportation infrastructure fee: 3% (in case 
of road, rail or air Transport) 
or 4% (in case of maritime transport) of the sum of CIF value, customs duty and other charges mentioned above. 5203000000 0% 0%
 
 
United States of America 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2015) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential 
520100 Cotton, not carded or combed:      
 - Having a staple length under 
28.575 mm (1-1/8 inches):      
52010005 -- Harsh or rough, having a staple 
length under 19.05 mm (3/4 inch) 0%  52010005  0% 0%  
 -- Other:         
52010012 --- Described in general note 4 of 
the tariff schedule and entered 
pursuant to its provisions 0%  52010012  0% 0%  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 45 - 
 
  Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2015) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential 
52010014¹ --- Described in U.S. Tariff-Rate 
Quota Notifications, TRQID USA035 0%  52010014  0% 0%  
52010018 --- Othe r 31.4¢/kg   52010018  31.4¢/kg 31.4¢/kg  
 - Having a staple length of 28.575 
mm (1-1/8 inches) or more but 
under 34.925 mm (1-3/8 inches):          
52010022 -- Described in general note 4 of the 
tariff schedule and entered pursuant to its provisions 4.4¢/kg
  52010022  4.4¢/kg 0%  
 -- Other, harsh or rough, having a 
staple length of 29.36875 mm (1-5/32 inches) or more and white in 
colour (except cotton of perished 
staple, grabbots and cotton pickings):          
52010024¹ --- Described in U.S. Tariff-Rate 
Quota Notifications, TRQID USA036 4.4¢/kg    52010024  4.4¢/kg 0%  
52010028 --- Othe r 31.4¢/kg    52010028  31.4¢/kg 31.4¢/kg  
  -- Other:           
52010034¹ --- Described in U.S. Tariff-Rate 
Quota Notifications, TRQID USA037 4.4¢/kg    52010034  4.4¢/kg 0%  
52010038 --- Othe r 31.4¢/kg    52010038  31.4¢/kg 31.4¢/kg  
  - Having a staple length of 34.925 
mm (1-3/8 inches) or more:           
52010055 -- Described in general note 4 of the 
tariff schedule and entered pursuant 
to its provisions 1.5¢/kg    52010055  1.5¢/kg 1.5¢/kg  
52010060¹ -- Described in U.S. Tariff-Rate 
Quota Notifications, TRQID USA038 1.5¢/kg    52010060  1.5¢/kg 1.5¢/kg  
52010080 -- Othe r 31.4¢/kg    52010080  31.4¢/kg 31.4¢/kg  
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste 
and garnetted stock):           
52021000 - Yarn waste (including thread 
waste) 0%   52021000  0% 0%  
  - Other:           
52029100 -- Garnetted stock     52029100  4.3% 0%  
5202910001 --- Having a staple length under 
28.575 mm (1-1/8 inches) 4.3%          
5202910002 --- Having a staple length 28.575 
mm (1-1/8 inches) or more 4.3%          
520299 -- Other:           
  --- Card strips made from cotton 
having a staple length under 30.1625 mm (1-3/16 inches) and lap waste, sliver waste and roving waste:           
52029905 ---- Described in general note 4 of 
the tariff schedule and entered 
pursuant to its provisions 0%   52029905  0% 0%  
52029910¹ ---- Described in U.S. Tariff-Rate 
Quota Notifications, TRQID USA039 0%   52029910  0% 0%  
52029930 ---- Othe r 7.8¢/kg    52029930  7.8¢/kg 7.8¢/kg  
52029950 --- Othe r 0%    52029950  0% 0%  
520300 Cotton, carded or combed:           
  - Fibers of cotton processed but not 
spun:           
52030005 -- Described in general note 4 of the 
tariff schedule and entered pursuant to its provisions 5%
   52030005  5% 0%  
52030010¹ -- Described in U.S. Tariff-Rate 
Quota Notifications, TRQID USA040 5%   52030010  5% 0%  
52030030 -- Othe r 31.4¢/kg    52030030  31.4¢/kg 31.4¢/kg  
52030050 - Othe r 4.3%    52030050  4.3% 0%  
1 Tariff rate quotas were reserved for these tariff lines. 
2 "¢/kg" stands for US$ cent per kilo. 
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 46 - 
 
  Viet Nam 
Bound Duties Applied Duties 
(Year 2014) 
Tariff Line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound 
Duty Other 
Duties and 
Charges Tariff Line 
(HS 2012) MFN LDC 
Preferential 
52010000 Cotton, not carded or combed 0%    52010000  0%   
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste 
and garnetted stock)         
52021000 - Yarn waste (including thread waste)  20%   52021000  10%  
52029 - Other:        
52029100 -- Garnetted stock 20%    52029100  10%  
52029900 -- Othe r 20%    52029900  10%  
52030000 Cotton, carded or combed 10%    52030000  0%   
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 47 - 
 
  3.2  SPECIAL SAFEGUARD PROVISIONS 
3.7.  This section provides information on scheduled special safeguard (SSG) provisions for cotton 
and on the use of those provisions by Member. 
3.8.  Of the 32 Members covered by this Market Acce ss Part, three have scheduled SSG provisions 
for cotton, namely, Colombia, South Africa, and the United States. 
3.9.  The following table lists the cotton tariff lines for which SSG provisions are specified in each 
of those three Members' schedules. The following column headings are used: 
Member The name of the Member who has reserved SSG provisions for cotton; and 
 Tariff Line  The tariff item number for which the SSG provision was reserved (through the 
inclusion of the symbol "SSG") as specified in the Member's schedule reproduced in 
the CTS file using the HS 2002 nomenclature. 
 3.2.1  Scheduled SSG provisions for cotton 
Member Tariff Line 
Colombia 5201000000 
South Africa 52010010 
  52010020 
  52010090 
  52021010 
  52021090 
  52029110 
  52029190 
  52029910 
  52029990 
  52030000 
United States 
of America  52010018 
  52010028 
  52010038 
  52010080 
  52029930 
  52030030 
 
3.10.  Based on Table MA:3 notifications circulated by the Secretariat up to 5 November 2015, 
none of those three Members has notified trigge r levels for the volume-based SSG concerning 
cotton. 
3.11.  Regarding the price-based SSG, based on Tabl e MA:4 notifications circulated by the 
Secretariat up to 5 November 2015, the United States have notified trigger prices for all the tariff 
lines for which SSG provisions were reserved. These trigger prices are presented by tariff item 
number in the table below. The following column headings are used: 
Tariff Line  The tariff item number for which the SSG provision was reserved (through the 
inclusion of the symbol "SSG") as specified in the Member's schedule reproduced 
in the CTS using the HS 2002 nomenclature; 
 
Trigger Price The trigger price for the tariff item number as notified in the Table MA:4 
notification. 
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 48 - 
 
  3.2.2  Notified trigger prices for cotton 
United States of America (G/AG/N/USA/1) 
Tariff Line Trigger price 
52010018 US$1.60/kg. 
52010028 US$1.12/kg. 
52010038 US$1.20/kg. 
52010080 US$2.75/kg. 
52029930 US$8.15/kg. 
52030030 US$0.64/kg. 
 
3.12.  The table below provides, based on MA:5 notifications circulated by the Secretariat up to 5 
November 2015, information regarding price-based SSG actions invoked on cotton by the United 
States. The following column headings are used: 
Product Product description as specified in the Table MA:5 notification; 
 
Tariff Line  The tariff item number for which the SSG provision was reserved 
(through the inclusion of the symbol "SSG") as specified in the Member's schedule reproduced in the CTS using the HS 2002 
nomenclature; 
 
Implementation year The implementation year during which SSG action was invoked;  
 
Affected quantity (kg.) The quantity in kilograms of the tariff item number affected by the SSG 
action as notified in the Table MA:5 notification; and 
 
Notification reference  The reference of the relevant notification. 
 3.2.3  Invoked price-based SSG for cotton 
United States of America (Table MA:5) 
Product Tariff Line Implementation 
year Affected 
quantity 
(kg.) Notification 
Reference 
Short staple cotton, over-quota 52010018 Calendar year, 1996 150 G/AG/N/USA/24 
Short staple cotton, over-quota 52010018 Calendar year, 2006 54 G/AG/N/USA/61 
Extra long staple cotton, over-quota 52010080 Calendar year, 2003 118,807 G/AG/N/USA/61 
Extra long staple cotton, over-quota 52010080 Calendar year, 2007 539 G/AG/N/USA/67 
Note: The following paragraph is quoted in all of the above-mentioned U.S. notifications: "United States price-based 
safeguards are invoked automatically on a shipment-by-shipment basis. Importers who enter goods in an over-quota tariff line are required to declare which pre-established price ra nge is applicable to their product. If there is a safeguard 
duty associated with that price range, the additional charge is assessed. Entries where the safeguard duties were assessed during the reporting period are summarized in this notification. Information on affected quantities, while not 
required by the format, is provided for illustrative purposes. Multiple transactions involving the same product have 
been aggregated for the purposes of this notification." TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 49 - 
 
  3.3  TARIFF RATE QUOTAS 
3.13.  Of the 32 Members covered by the Market Access Part of this background paper, only China, 
Colombia, South Africa and the United St ates have scheduled tariff rate quotas22 for cotton. 
3.14.  This section is organized as follows: Sub-section 3.3.1  provides information regarding the 
tariff rate quota commitments for cotton as specified in those four Members' schedules; Sub-
section 3.3.2 presents the most recent TRQ administration methods notified by those four Members in Table MA:1 notifications; and Sub-section 3.3.3 provides, for each of those four 
Members, the TRQ quantities and the notified in-q uota imports from Table MA:2 notifications and 
the corresponding fill rates further to the re quest made at the third dedicated discussion. 
3.3.1  Tariff rate quota commitments for cotton 
3.15.  This sub-section lists, by Member, the initial and final bound tariff rate quota quantities and 
in-quota tariff rates for cotton as specified in the Member's schedule. The following column 
headings are used: 
TQID The number identifying the bound tariff quota for each Member in the CTS, 
in the same sequential order as scheduled. The seven-character code is 
comprised of the three-letter WTO Member code, followed by "Q" for "TRQ", and by the three-di git sequential identifier. 
 
Product  The product or group of products as specified in the Member's schedule23; 
 
Tariff Line(s)  The tariff item number(s) as specified in the Member's schedule reproduced 
in the CTS using the HS 2002 nomenclature; 
 
Unit The unit for initial and final bound tariff rate quota quantities; 
 
Initial quota  The initial bound tariff rate quota quantity as specified in the Member's 
schedule; 
 
Final quota The final bound tariff rate quota quantity as specified in the Member's 
schedule; and 
 
In-quota tariff rate The in-quota tariff rate as specified in the Member's schedule. 
 China
1 
TQID Product Tariff line(s) Unit Initial 
quota Final 
quota In-quota 
tariff rate 
CHNQ010 Cotton2 52010000, 52030000 Metric tonnes 780,750 894,000 1% 
1 Annex 1 contains the notes from China's schedule concerning tariff rate quota commitments. 
2 The following information is taken from the column "other terms and conditions" in China's schedule for its cotton TRQ 
commitment (Refer to Annex 1, "Note 1") 
  1) STE share = 33% (See Note 1) 
2) Staging for cotton 
Year TRQ quantity 
2002 818,500 mt. 2003 856,250 mt. 
2004 894,000 mt. 
 
Colombia 
TQID Product Tariff 
line(s) Unit Initial 
quota Final 
quota In-quota 
tariff rate  
COLQ057 ALGODON SIN CARDAR NI PEINAR 5201 Metric tonnes 222 222 99% 
COLQ067 ALGODON 5201 Metric tonnes 1510 2664 80% 
 
                                               
22 Also referred to as TRQ or tariff quota. 
23 In original language only. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 50 - 
 
  South Africa1 
TQID Product Tariff line(s) Unit Initial quota Final quota 
ZAFQ053 Cotton 5201 Metric tonnes 17,101 17,101 
1 The following note is included in South Africa's schedule for its TRQ commitments: "South Africa commits itself to fill the 
quotas as indicated at tariff rates at a maximum of 20% of the bound rates for both the initial and final quantities." 
 
United States of America1 
TQID Product Tariff line(s) Unit Initial quota Final quota 
USAQ048  52010014, 52010024, 
52010034, 52010060, 52029910, 52030010 Metric tonnes 10,000 10,000 
USAQ049  52010014 Metric tonnes 8,495 20,207 
USAQ050  52010024 Metric tonnes 900 1,400 
USAQ051  52010034 Metric tonnes 5,200 11,500 
USAQ052  52010060 Metric tonnes 25,500 40,100 
USAQ053  52029910 Kilograms 1,835,427 3,335,427 
USAQ054  52030010 Kilograms 1,000 2,500 
1 Annex 2 contains the chapter notes from the U.S. schedule concerning TRQ commitments for cotton. 
 
3.16.  The following chart summarizes the total number of scheduled TRQs for cotton, by Member, 
based on the number of TQIDs identified in the CTS. 
Chart 3.3: Number of schedule d TRQs for cotton by Member 
12
17
China Colombia South Africa United States
 
3.3.2  Most recent Tariff Rate Quota administ ration method notified for cotton 
3.17.  This sub-section describes, for each Member and for each cotton TRQ, the most recent 
import arrangements notified in Table MA:1 notifications up to 5 November 2015. 
3.18.  The reference number of the relevant notification is indicated in the title for each Member, 
with the reporting period covered by the notification specified in brackets. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 51 - 
 
  China 
G/AG/N/CHN/2 (calendar year 2003) 
CHNQ010 
Description of import arrangement applicable 
(a) (i) Import tariff quota of agricultural pr oducts shall be applicable to global trade. 
 (ii) The tariff quota for the year 2003 is open from the date of issuance to 31 December. 
(b) (i) The former State Development Planning Commission was responsible for tariff quota 
allocation of agricultural products. National Development Reform Commission and Ministry of 
Commerce are responsible for reallocations. 
 (ii) Requirements and conditions for applicants  applying for import tariff quota are: having 
registered with Administration of Industry  and Commerce (presenting the duplicate of 
business licences) prior to 1 October 2002; being under sound financial conditions and 
having good tax payment records (presenting relevant data for 2001 and 2002); having no 
records of unlawful acts at the Customs, Administration of Industry and Commerce, 
Inspection and Quarantine authorities and Taxation Administration within the period of 
2000-2002; having passed the annual enterprise review of the year 2001 conducted by 
Administration of Industry and Commerce and Inspection and Quarantine authorities. 
 (iii) Import tariff quota for general trade shall be allocated with reference to the volumes for 
which applicants have applied, previous impo rt performance and production capacity or 
other applicable commercial standards, or under the principle of "first-come, first-served". 
 (iv) Licence shall remain valid from the date of issuance to 31 December of the same year. 
 
Colombia 
G/AG/N/COL/35 (calendar year 2005) 
COLQ067 
Description of import arrangement applicable 
(a) Allocation of quotas to supplying countries: none. 
(b) Allocation of licences or of access to quotas to importers: the import quota is allocated on a 
competitive basis amongst participants registered  with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural 
Development. Quota allocation is by means of public auctions in which importers take part 
through the bid registration system. 
(c) Details of other arrangements: not applicable. 
(d) Any other information: Decree No. 430 of 2004 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural 
Development 
 
South Africa 
G/AG/N/ZAF/35 (calendar year 2001) 
ZAFQ053 
Description of import arrangement applicable 
(a) Country Allocations: Global 
(b) Import Allocations: 
 (i) Department of Agriculture will allocate and issue permits annually; 
 (ii) historical and new importers who are processors of cotton will be eligible for permits; 
 (iii) permits will be issued pro rata; 
 (iv) permits will be valid for twelve months. 
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 52 - 
 
  United States of America24 
G/AG/N/USA/2/Add.3 and G/AG/N/USA/34/Add.1 (calendar year) 
USAQ049 
Description of import arrangement applicable 
(a) COUNTRY ALLOCATIONS: See Additional U.S. Note 5 to Chapter 52 of the HTSUS (Annex 1, 
36/). 
(b) IMPORTER ALLOCATIONS: Firs t-come, first-served, implemented by U.S. Customs Service 
 (http://www.customs.gov/impoexpo.htm). 
(c) OTHER ARRANGEMENTS: None. 
(d) OTHER INFORMATION: This provision is included in Additional U.S. Note 5 to chapter 52 of 
the HTSUS (Annex 1, note 36/) and in Additional U.S. Note 6 to Chapter 52 of Schedule XX. 
USAQ050 
Description of import arrangement applicable 
(a) COUNTRY ALLOCATIONS: None. 
(b) IMPORTER ALLOCATIONS: Firs t-come, first-served, implemented by U.S. Customs Service 
(http://www.customs.gov/im poexpo/impoexpo.htm). 
(c) OTHER ARRANGEMENTS: None. 
(d) OTHER INFORMATION: This provision is included in Additional U.S. Note 6 to chapter 52 of 
the HTSUS (Annex 1, note 37/) and in Additional U.S. Note 7 to Chapter 52 of Schedule XX. 
USAQ051 
Description of import arrangement applicable 
(a) COUNTRY ALLOCATIONS: None. 
(b) IMPORTER ALLOCATIONS: First-come, first-served, implemented by U.S. Customs Service 
(http://www.customs.gov/im poexpo/impoexpo.htm). 
(c) OTHER ARRANGEMENTS: None. 
(d) OTHER INFORMATION: This provision is included in Additional U.S. Note 7 to chapter 52 of 
the HTSUS (Annex 1, note 38/) and in Additional U.S. Note 8 to Chapter 52 of Schedule XX. 
USAQ052 
Description of import arrangement applicable 
(a) COUNTRY ALLOCATIONS: None. 
(b) IMPORTER ALLOCATIONS: First-come, first-served, implemented by U.S. Customs Service 
(http://www.customs.gov/im poexpo/impoexpo.htm). 
(c) OTHER ARRANGEMENTS: None. 
(d) OTHER INFORMATION: This provision is included in Additional U.S. Note 8 to chapter 52 of 
the HTSUS (Annex 1, note 39/) and in Additional U.S. Note 9 to Chapter 52 of Schedule XX. 
USAQ053 
Description of import arrangement applicable 
(a) COUNTRY ALLOCATIONS: See Additional U. S. Note 9 to Chapter 52 of the HTSUS 
(Annex 1, 40/). 
(b) IMPORTER ALLOCATIONS: Firs t-come, first-served, implemented by U.S. Customs Service 
(http://www.customs.gov/im poexpo/impoexpo.htm). 
(c) OTHER ARRANGEMENTS: None. 
(d) OTHER INFORMATION: This provision is included in Additional U.S. Note 9 to chapter 52 of 
the HTSUS (Annex 1, note 40/) and in Additional U.S. Note 10 to Chapter 52 of 
Schedule XX. 
                                               
24 Annex 3 contains the excerpt of notes from the ha rmonized tariff system of  the United States of 
America that concern cotton (from Annex 1 in G/AG/N/USA/2/Add.3 and G/AG/N/USA/34/Add.1). TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 53 - 
 
  USAQ054 
Description of import arrangement applicable 
(a) COUNTRY ALLOCATIONS: See Additional U. S. Note 10 to Chapter 52 of the HTSUS 
(Annex 1, 41/). 
(b) IMPORTER ALLOCATIONS: Firs t-come, first-served, implemented by U.S. Customs Service 
(http://www.customs.gov/im poexpo/impoexpo.htm). 
(c) OTHER ARRANGEMENTS: None. 
(d) OTHER INFORMATION: This provision is included in Additional U.S. Note 10 to chapter 52 of 
the HTSUS (Annex 1, note 41/) and in Additional U.S. Note 11 to Chapter 52 of 
Schedule XX. 
 
3.3.3  TRQ quantities and in-quota imports for cotton 
3.19.  This sub-section provides yearly TRQ quantities, notified in-quota imports for cotton, and 
the corresponding fill rates based on Members'  Table MA:2 notifications circulated by the 
Secretariat up to 5 November 2015. 
3.20.  Fill rates are calculated based on the data provided in Table MA:2 notifications as the ratio 
of in-quota imports to notified TRQ quantities. In  cases where notified in-quota imports are greater 
than TRQ quantities, the fill rates are adjusted by setting a maximum of 100% fill rate. The implementation years covered in the tables below are those indicated in the Member's Table MA:2 notifications. The title of the individual tables indicates the TQID of the TRQ, while the quantity 
unit used in the notification is indicated in brackets. 
 
  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3  
 
- 54 - China 
CHNQ010 (metric tonnes) 
 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
TRQ Quantity 818,500 856,250 894,000 894,000 894,000 894,000 894,000 894,000 894,000 894,000 894,000 
In-quota Imports 177,000 870,000 1,910,000 2,570,000 894,000 1,165,000 2,111,000 894,000 894,000 894,000 894,000 
Fill rates (%) 22 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 
 
Colombia 
COLQ067 (metric tonnes) 
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
TRQ Quantity 1,510  1,847 1,963  2,117  2,245  2,373  2,501  2,630  2,758 2,886  2,886  2,886  2,886  2,886  2,886  2,886 
In-quota Imports 37,747  25,676 47,284  42,661  37,846  58,636  53,583  64,345  64,556 33,490  39,525  61,904  53,307  50,563  60,328  50,315 
Fill rates (%) 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 
 
South Africa 
ZAFQ053 (metric tonnes) 
1995 1996  1997 1998 1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 2006  2007  2008  2009  2010  2011  2012  2013 
TRQ Quantity 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 17 ,101 17,101 17,101 
In-quota 
Imports 44,114 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 17,101 1 7,101 
Fill rates (%) 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 
 
United States of America1 
USAQ049 (metric tonnes) 
  1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013  
TRQ Quantity   8,495  10,837 13,180 15,522  17,865  20,207  20,207  20,207  20,207  20,207 20,207  20,207  20,207  20,207  20,207  20,207  20,207  20,207 
In-quota Imports   198 1 45 12,098  452 229 351 0 45 2 259  1,346  73 0 0 0 3,969  1,172 
Fill rates (%)  2 0.009 0.3 78  3 1 2 0 0.2 0.010 1  7 0.4 0 0 0 20 6  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3  
 
- 55 - USAQ050 (metric tonnes) 
 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 
TRQ Quantity   900 1,000 1,100 1,200  1,300  1,400  1,400  1,400  1,400  1,400 1,400  1,400  1,400  1,400  1,400  1,400  1,400  1,400 
In-quota Imports   0 0 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Fill rates (%)  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
USAQ051 (metric tonnes) 
 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 
TRQ Quantity   5,200  6,460 7,720 8,980  10,240  11,500  11,500  11,500  11,500  11,500 11,500  11,500  11,500  11,500  11,500  11,500  11,500  11,500 
In-quota Imports   0 0 23 1,471  190 116 855 195 1,525  2,608 1,294  235 123 0 0 545 117 0 
Fill rates (%)  0 0 0.3 16  2 1 7 2 13 23 11  2 1 0 0 5 1 0 
USAQ052 (metric tonnes) 
 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000  2001 2002  2003  2004  2005 2006  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 
TRQ Quantity   25,500  28,420 31,340 34,260  37,180  40,100  40,100  40,100  40,100  40,100 40,100  40,100  40,100  40,100  40,100  40,100  40,100  40,100 
In-quota Imports   0 13 62 3,483  9,611  2,657  5,089  13,813  9,270  4,244 3,934  2,423  2,418  0 0 1,518  1,214  1,548 
Fill rates (%)  0 0.05 0.2 10  26 7 13 34 23 11 10  6 6 0 0 4 3 4 
USAQ053 (kilograms) 
1995  1996 1997  1998 1999 2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 2007  2008  2009  2010  2011  2012  2013 
TRQ 
Quantity   1,835,4272,135,4272,435,4272,735,4273,035,4273,335,4273,335,4273,335,4273,335,4273,335,4273,335,4273,335,4273,335,427  3,335,427 3,335,427 3,335,4273,335,4273,335,427  
In-quota 
Imports   15,000  17,584  0 0 0 0 0 0 128,198 0 0 169,844 791,441  87,332 561,492 729,436 558,5901,224,637  
Fill rates 
(%)  1 1 0 0 00004005 2 4  31 72 21 73 7
USAQ054 (kilograms) 
 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 
TRQ Quantity   1,000 1,300 1,600 1,900 2,200 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 
In-quota 
Imports   800 120 0 1,796 1,307 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,300 157 0 0 0 2,500 0 20 0 70 
Fill rates (%)  80 9 0 95 59 100 100 100 92 6 0 0 0 100 0 1 0 3 
1 According to the U.S. notification for implementation year 1995, Uruguay Round commitments for cotton products in headings 520 1, 5202 and 5203 became effective only in the fall of 1995, and imports 
under these commitments were reported along with calendar year 1996 imports in early 1997. 
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 56 - 
 
  3.21.  Based on the information presented in section 3.3.3 above, the following charts show, by 
Member and by year, notified in-quota imports compared to the scheduled quantity, under each TRQ. 
Charts on notified in-quota imports compared to the scheduled quantity 
Chart 3.4: China (CHNQ010) 
0500,0001,000,0001,500,0002,000,0002,500,0003,000,000
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012In‐quota Imports TRQ Quantity
 
Chart 3.5: Colombia (COLQ067) 
010,00020,00030,00040,00050,00060,00070,000
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010In‐quota Imports TRQ Quantity
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 57 - 
 
  Chart 3.6: South Africa (ZAFQ053)  
05,00010,00015,00020,00025,00030,00035,00040,00045,000
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013In‐quota Imports TRQ Quantity
 
Chart 3.7: United States  of America (USAQ049)  
03,0006,0009,00012,00015,00018,00021,000
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013In‐quota Imports TRQ Quantity
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 58 - 
 
  Chart 3.8: United States  of America (USAQ050) 
02004006008001,0001,2001,400
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013In‐quota Imports TRQ Quantity
 
Chart 3.9: United States  of America (USAQ051) 
02,0004,0006,0008,00010,00012,000
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
In‐quota Imports TRQ Quantity
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 59 - 
 
  Chart 3.10: United States of America (USAQ052) 
06,00012,00018,00024,00030,00036,00042,000
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013In‐quota Imports TRQ Quantity
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 60 - 
 
  Chart 3.11: United States of America (USAQ053)25 
0500,0001,000,0001,500,0002,000,0002,500,0003,000,0003,500,000
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013In‐quota Imports TRQ Quantity
 
                                               
25 TRQ quantity and in-quota imports were notified in kilograms. All figures are converted to metric 
tonnes due to space constraint. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 61 - 
 
  Chart 3.12: United States of America (USAQ054) 
05001,0001,5002,0002,500
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013In‐quota Imports TRQ Quantity
 
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 62 - 
 
  3.4  OTHER NON TARIFF MEASURES 
3.22.  This section contains information on other non-tariff measures applicable to cotton. The 
information presented is sourced from the WTO I-TIP Goods database26, which compiles data 
about non-tariff measures notified by Members as well as information on "specific trade concerns" 
raised by Members during WTO Committee meetings.  
3.23.  The non-tariff measures listed below result from a query in the I-TIP Goods database, using 
the following criteria: 
a. Member imposing the measure: The 32 Members selected for this Market Access part; 
b. Type of measure covered: Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures (as notified under the 
Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures); measures notified under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade; Anti-Dumping measures (as notified under 
the Anti-Dumping agreement); Countervailing duties (as notified under the Agreement 
on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures); Safeguard measures (as notified under the Agreement on Safeguards); State Trading Ente rprises (as notified to the Working Party 
on State Trading Enterprises, pursuant to Article XVII:4(a) of the GATT 1994 and 
Paragraph 1 of the Understanding on the interpretation of Article XVII); Quantitative restrictions notified to the Committee on Market Access as per the CTG Decision 
contained in G/L/59/Rev.1; and import licensing procedures (as notified under the 
Agreement on Import Licensing procedures). 
c. Measures initiated or notified from 1 January 2012 to 5 November 2015 and which have 
not been withdrawn to date; and 
d. Measures with a reference to "cotton" and with a product description encompassing 
explicitly or potentially HS headings 52.01, 52.02 or 52.03.
27 
3.24.  It should be noted that, to date, no specific trade concern has been raised in the relevant 
WTO Committees with respect to the non-tariff measures identified in this Section and listed in the 
table below. 
3.25.  The following column headings are used for the tables below: 
Member Member notifying the measure. 
 
Partner affected   Member(s) affected by the measure if identified in the relevant 
notification, or otherwise "All Members". 
 
Notif. req.   Type of measure notified, using the following coding: "SPS" for Sanitary 
and Phytosanitary measures; "TBT" for measures notified under the 
Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade; "AD" for Anti-Dumping 
measures; "CV" for countervailing duties; "SG" for Safeguard measures; "STE" for State Trading Enterprises; "QR" for Quantitative Restrictions; 
and "LIC" for import licensing procedures. 
 
Initiation/notification   Date of initiation or notification of the measure. 
 
In force  Date of entry into force of the measure (if any) as it appears in the 
relevant notification. 
 
Measure description  Summarized description of the measure based on the information in the 
relevant notification. 
 
Product description  Summarized description of the product covered by the measure based on 
the information in the relevant notification; 
 
Source   Document number of the relevant notification(s). 
                                               
26 http://i-tip.wto.org/goods/default.aspx?language=en . 
27 It should be noted that, in the ab sence of specific or further indication by Members, listed measures 
making reference to "cotton", may in fact not apply to the trade of "cotton" as de fined in this paper, i.e. 
products covered by the Harmonized System nomenclature headings 52.01, 52.02 and 52.03. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 63 - 
 
  Chart 3.13: Number of other non-tariff meas ures applicable to cotton, per type of 
measure (1 January 2012 to 5 November 2015) 
36
44
11
0510152025303540
SPS LIC TBT CV AD
 
 
   
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3  
 
- 64 - Member Partner 
affected Notif. 
req. Initiation/ 
Notification In force Measure description  Product description  Source  
Russian 
Federation All 
Members LIC  21-Oct-15   The Russian Federation manages its obligations for hazardous 
waste controlled by the Basel Convention for the Control of 
Trans-boundary Movements of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal (Basel Convention) through the Common List of Goods that are subject of import/export prohibitions or 
restrictions in trade with third countries (Decision of the Board 
of the Eurasian Economic Commission No. 30 "About measures of non-tariff regulation" of 21.04.2015) (Annex 2.3). Hazardous waste (Ex 5202 10 000 0)
 G/LIC/N/3/RUS/2/Rev.1 
Brazil All 
Members SPS 23-Jun-15   Draft resolution regarding the active ingredient Q05.2 
QUIZALOFOP-P-TEFURYL of the monograph list of active 
ingredients for pesticides, household cleaning products and 
wood preservers, published by Resolution - RE n° 165 of 29 August 2003, Brazilian Official Gazette (DOU Diário Oficial da União) of 2 September 2003  Post-emergency application in cultures of cotton 
(0.1mg/kg safety security period of 30 days) (…) G/SPS/N/BRA/1048
 
Brazil All 
Members SPS 23-Jun-15   Draft resolution regarding the active ingredient I18 
ISOXAFLUTOLE of the monograph list of active ingredients for 
pesticides, household cleaning products and wood preservers, 
published by Resolution - RE n° 165 of 29 August 2003, Brazilian Official Gazette (DOU Diário Oficial da União) of 2 September 2003  Post-emergency application in cultures of cotton 
(0.01mg/kg safety security period of 97 days) (…)  G/SPS/N/BRA/1049
 
Peru United 
States of 
America SPS 22-Jun-15   The draft phytosanitary requirements governing the 
importation into Peru of cotton gin waste (linters) originating in and coming from the United States of America are being 
submitted for public consultation following the completion of 
the relevant technical report. HS tariff subheading 5202.99.00.00: Cotton 
(Gossypium spp.) gin waste (linters) G/SPS/N/PER/613
 
Brazil All 
Members SPS 22-May-15   Draft resolution regarding the active ingredient G05 
GLUFOSINATE of the monograph list of active ingredients for pesticides, household cleaning products and wood preservers, published by Resolution - RE n° 165 of 29 August 2003, 
Brazilian Official Gazette (DOU Diário Oficial da União) of 2 
September 2003  Post-emergency application in cultures
 of (…) cotton 
(0.5mg/kg safety security period of 28 days), cotton (0.5mg/kg safety security period to the culture of genetically modified cotton, which 
express resistance to glufosinate, is of 116 days, 
when the pesticide is applied in post-emergency of the culture and of the weeds), (…) Desiccant application in cultures of cotton (0.5mg/kg safety security period of 28 days), (…) G/SPS/N/BRA/1044
 
Brazil All 
Members SPS 12-May-15   Draft resolution regarding the active ingredient C32 
CLETHODIM of the monograph list of active ingredients for 
pesticides, household cleaning products and wood preservers, published by Resolution - RE n° 165 of 29 August 2003, Brazilian Official Gazette (DOU Diário Oficial da União) of 2 September 2003 
Inclusion of cultures of sunflower (0.05mg/kg safety security 
period of 53 days), apple and grape (0.05mg/kg safety security period of 23 days), inclusion of cultures of sweet potato, yacon potato, beet, yams, ginger, cocoyam, arracacha, turnip and radish (0.5mg/kg safety security period 
of 180 days); and inclusion of cultures of eggplant, scarlet 
eggplant, pepper, green pepper  and okra (0.5mg/kg safety 
security period of 20 days), all in post-emergency application.  Post-emergency application in cultures of cotton 
(0.5mg/kg safety security period of 50 days),  (…) G/SPS/N/BRA/1031
  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3  
 
- 65 - Member Partner 
affected Notif. 
req. Initiation/ 
Notification In force Measure description  Product description  Source  
United 
States of America All 
Members SPS
 13-March-15 20-Feb-15 This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of 
dimethenamid in or on cottonseed subgroup 20C and cotton, gin byproducts. Cotton, gin byproducts; Cottonseed subgroup 20C
 G/SPS/N/USA/2740  
Brazil All 
Members TBT 5-Feb-15   Draft technical regulation setting up official standard 
classification, quality, marking and labelling requirements, sampling procedures, method of presentation etc. related to 
the product (cotton) classification. It revises the Ordinance 
Nº 63, 5 December 2002 (Instrução Normativa SDA/MAPA/Nº 63 de 5 de Dezembro de 2002), notified under the document G/TBT/N/BRA/78, 21 January 2003. HS: Chapter 52 –
 Cotton  G/TBT/N/BRA/78/Rev.1 
China All 
Members LIC 22-Jan-15  Import tariff-rate quotas  (…) Cotton (…)  G/LIC/N/3/CHN/13  
 
Brazil Sudan SPS  07-Jan-15  18-Dec-14 The notified document approves the phytosanitary 
requirements for the importation of threshed cotton fibre 
(Gossypium hirsutum ) (Category 2, Class 10) produced in 
Sudan, in accordance with the results of a pest risk analysis. Threshed cotton fibre ( Gossypium hirsutum ) 
(Category 2, Class 10) G/SPS/N/BRA/1011  
Malaysia All 
Members LIC 6-Nov-14 1-Jan-15 The Plant Quarantine Regulations 1981 were made pursuant 
to Section 23 of the Plant Quarantine Act 1976. It stipulates the requirement which must be met for the entry of plants, growing media, organic fertilizers, soil, living or dead organisms including micro-organism and any hosts of plant 
pest and/or carrier of plant pests into Malaysia, and at the 
same time for the prevention of entry of pests of quarantine importance into the country. Under the Plant Quarantine Regulations 1981, an import 
permit is imposed for the importation of the following (…) 
- Importation of all commodities as listed below for processing or consumption from All Countries except from countries endemic to South American Leaf Blight, countries endemic to disease of plants of Palmae and countries endemic from 
Khapra Beetle (Trogoderma granarium) commencing 
1 January 2015, (…) Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) (…) (…) Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) (…)
 
 G/LIC/N/3/MYS/10  
Turkey United 
States of 
America AD 18-Oct-14   Original investigation   Cotton; 5201  G/ADP/N/265/TU R 
Brazil All 
Members SPS 13-Oct-14   Draft resolution regarding the active ingredient F23 
FLUAZIFOP-P of the monograph list of active ingredients for pesticides, household cleaning products and wood preservers, 
published by Resolution - RE N° 165 of 29 August 2003, 
Brazilian Official Gazette (DOU Diário Oficial da União) of 2 September 2003 (…) Post-emergency application in cultures of lettuce 
(0.05mg/kg, safety security period of 28 days), cotton (0.04mg/kg, safety security period of 60 
days) (…) G/SPS/N/BRA/989
 
Brazil All 
Members SPS 13-Oct-14   Draft resolution regarding the active ingredient G05 - 
GLUFOSINATE of the monograph list of active ingredients for pesticides, household cleaning products and wood preservers, 
published by Resolution - RE N° 165 of 29 August 2003, 
Brazilian Official Gazette (DOU Diário Oficial da União) of 2 September 2003 (…) Post-emergency application in cultures of (…)
 cotton 
(0.5mg/kg, safety security period of 28 days), cotton (0.5mg/kg, the safety security period to the 
culture of the genetically modified cotton, which 
manifests resistance to the glufosinate, is of 116 days, when the pesticide is applied in post-emergency of culture and weeds) (…) Desiccant application in cultures of cotton (0.5mg/kg, safety 
security period of 28 days) (…) G/SPS/N/BRA/986
  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3  
 
- 66 - Member Partner 
affected Notif. 
req. Initiation/ 
Notification In force Measure description  Product description  Source  
Brazil All 
Members SPS 13-Oct-14   Draft resolution regarding the active ingredient G01 - 
GLYPHOSATE of the monograph list of active ingredients for pesticides, household cleaning products and wood preservers, published by Resolution - RE N° 165 of 29 August 2003, Brazilian Official Gazette (DOU Diário Oficial da União) of 
2 September 2003 (…) Post-emergency application in cultures of cotton 
(3.0mg/kg, safety security period to the culture of cotton is not determined when the pesticide is applied in post-emergency of the weeds and pre-emergency of the culture. The safety security period 
to the cultures of genetically modified cotton, which 
express resistance to the glyphosate, is of 130 days, when the pesticide is applied in post-emergency of the weeds and of the culture) (…) G/SPS/N/BRA/981
 
Brazil All 
Members SPS 10-Oct-14   Draft resolution regarding the active ingredient P01 - 
PARAQUAT of the monograph list of active ingredients for 
pesticides, household cleaning products and wood preservers, 
published by Resolution - RE N° 165 of 29 August 2003, Brazilian Official Gazette (DOU Diário Oficial da União) of 2 September 2003 (…) Post-emergency application in cultures of (…) cotton 
(0.2mg/kg, safety security period of 7 days) (…) 
Desiccant application in cultures of cotton 
(0.2mg/kg, safety security period of 7 days) (…) G/SPS/N/BRA/980
 
Brazil All 
Members SPS 8-Oct-14  Draft resolution regarding the active ingredient F42 - 
FLUROXYPYR of the monograph list of active ingredients for 
pesticides, household cleaning products and wood preservers, 
published by Resolution - RE n° 165 of 29 August 2003, Brazilian Official Gazette (DOU Diário Oficial da União) of 2 September 2003 (…) Post-emergency application in cultures of cotton 
(0.01mg/kg safety security period not determined 
due to the mode of use) (…) G/SPS/N/BRA/973
 
United 
States of America All 
Members LIC
 3-Oct-14  Import permits are required for the importation of most plants 
and some plant products, to protect against the introduction of pests and diseases. Permits are also required for the 
import, export or re-export of terrestrial plants that are on 
the endangered species list.  Cotton and cotton covers
 G/LIC/N/3/USA/11  
 
United 
States of America All 
Members SPS
 07-Aug-14  Amitraz, Carfentrazon e-ethyl, Ethephon, Malathion, 
Mancozeb, et al.; Proposed Tolerance Actions EPA is proposing to revoke certain tolerances for the fungicides spiroxamine and triflumizole, the herbicides carfentrazone-ethyl and 
quizalofop ethyl; the insecticides amitraz, oxamyl, 
propetamphos, and spinosad; and the plant growth regulators ethephon and mepiquat. In addition, EPA is proposing to revoke the tolerance on rice straw for multiple active ingredients. Also, EPA is proposing to modify certain 
tolerances for the fungicides mancozeb, thiram, and 
triflumizole; and the insecticide malathion. In addition, EPA is proposing to establish new tolerances for the fungicide mancozeb. Also, in accordance with current Agency practice, EPA is proposing to make minor revisions to the tolerance 
expression for malathion, mepiquat, and thiram. (…); Cotton, gin by-products; Cotton, undelinted 
seed; (…) G/SPS/N/USA/2688
 
Brazil All 
Members SPS 04-Aug-14  Draft resolution regarding the active ingredient S-
METOLACHLOR of the monograph list of active ingredients for pesticides, household cleaning products and wood preservers, published by Resolution - RE n° 165 of 29 August 2003, Brazilian Official Gazette (DOU Diário Oficial da União) of 
2 September 2003 (…) Pre-emergency application in cultures of cotton 
(0.2mg/kg safety security period not determined due to the mode of use) (…) G/SPS/N/BRA/966
 
Brazil All 
Members SPS 04-Aug-14  Draft resolution regarding the active ingredient 
CARFENTRAZONE-ETHYL of the monograph list of active ingredients for pesticides, household cleaning products and Post-emergency application in cultures of cotton 
(0.1mg/kg safety security period of 8 days) (…) G/SPS/N/BRA/965
  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3  
 
- 67 - Member Partner 
affected Notif. 
req. Initiation/ 
Notification In force Measure description  Product description  Source  
wood preservers, published by Resolution -  RE n° 165 of 
29 August 2003, Brazilian Official Gazette (DOU Diário Oficial da União) of 2 September 2003 (…) 
Mexico All 
Members SPS 12-Jun-14  Proyecto de Modificación a la Norma Oficial Mexicana NOM-
026-FITO-1995, Por la que se esta blece el control de plagas 
del algodonero (Draft Amendment to Mexican Official 
Standard NOM-026-FITO-1995: Establishing cotton plant pest 
controls) The notified Standard establishes the mandatory regulations to control and prevent the spread of pest populations: pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella Saunders) and cotton boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis 
Boheman), which affect cotton, okra and kenaf crops; in 
addition to phytosanitary measures in order to prevent the spread of such pests to pest-free areas. (…) Pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella Saunders) 
and cotton boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis Boheman), which affect cotton, okra and kenaf 
crops. G/SPS/N/MEX/260
 
Malaysia All 
Members SPS 10-Ma r-14 01-Jul-14 New Import Requirements  for Importation of Plants, Plant 
Products and Regulated Articles  into Malaysia 2014 Malaysia 
proposes to revise and implement new import requirements of 
plants, plant products and regulated articles into Malaysia 
following the gazette of Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Act 2011. This Act requires that the importation of any plant into Malaysia shall require an import license. The commodities would also have to be accompanied by a 
phytosanitary certificate with additional declarations stating 
that appropriate treatment/measures have been applied prior to importation. Processed and dried for consumption soy bean 
(Glycine  max), corn/maize grain ( Zea mays ), dried 
for consumption cocoa bean ( Theobroma  cacao ), 
processed and dried for consumption coffee beans 
(Coffea  Arabica , Robusta  coffee , Coffea  liberica ), 
fresh/dried leaves tobacco ( Nicotiana  tabacum ), 
fresh/raw dried cotton ( Gossypium  hirsutum ) (…) G/SPS/N/MYS/27
 
Canada All 
Members SPS 21-Nov-13  Proposed Maximum Residue Limit: Chlorantraniliprole 
(PMRL2013-106). The objective of the notified document PMRL2013-106 is to consult on the listed domestic and import 
maximum residue limits (MRLs) for chlorantraniliprole that 
have been proposed by the Heal th Canada's Pest Management 
Regulatory Agency (PMRA). MRL (ppm) Raw Agricultural Commodity (RAC) and/or 
Processed Commodity 
(…) 0.3 Root and tuber vegetables (Crop Group 1)b, Cotton  (Crop 
Subgroup 20C)
c 
(…) 
c The currently established MRL of 0.3 ppm for undelinted 
cottonseed will be extended to Crop Subgroup 20C. 
ppm = parts per millionMRLs are proposed for each commodity included in the listed crop groupings in accordance with the Residue Chemistry Crop Groups webpage http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pest/part/protect-
proteger/food-nourriture/rccg-gcpcr-eng.php  in the Pesticides 
and Pest Management section of Health Canada's website. Pesticide chlorantraniliprole in or on various food 
commodities (ICS Codes: 65.020, 65.100, 67.040, 67.080, 67.100, 67.120, 67.200) G/SPS/N/CAN/769, 
G/SPS/N/CAN/769/Add.1 
Mexico Peru SPS  21-Oct-13  Pursuant to the Decision establishing the module 
of phytosanitary requirements for the importation of goods regulated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food, in relation to plant health 
(Acuerdo por el que se establece el módulo de requisitos Cotton fibre ( Gossypium barbadense ), not carded or 
combed, for processing. G/SPS/N/MEX/241, 
G/SPS/N/MEX/241/Add.1  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3  
 
- 68 - Member Partner 
affected Notif. 
req. Initiation/ 
Notification In force Measure description  Product description  Source  
fitosanitarios para la importación de mercancías reguladas por  
la Secretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería, Desarrollo Rural, 
Pesca y Alimentación, en materia de sanidad vegetal ), 
published in the Mexican Official Journal on 7 February 2012, the phytosanitary requirements for the importation into 
Mexico of uncarded or uncombed cotton fibre ( Gossypium 
barbadense ) for processing, originating in and coming from 
Peru, established following the pest risk analysis or risk assessment, have been submitted for public comment. 
Brazil All 
Members SPS 12-Jul-13  Draft Resolution no. 25 of 2 July 2013 Draft Resolution 
regarding the active ingredient Diflubenzuron to be included 
in the monograph list of active ingredients of pesticides, 
household cleaning products and wood preservers, including the use in the cultures of cotton (0.2mg/kg; safety period of 28 days), rice (0.1mg/kg; safety  period of 70 days), citrus 
(0.2mg/kg; safety period of 30 days), corn (0.2mg/kg; safety 
period of 60 days), soybean (0.2mg/kg; safety period of 
21 days), tomato (0.5mg/kg; safety period of 4 days) and wheat (0.5mg/kg; safety period of 30 days). Active ingredient Diflubenzuron on cotton, rice, 
citrus, corn, soybean, tomato and wheat G/SPS/N/BRA/883
 
United 
States of America All 
Members SPS
 11-Ap r-13 27-Ma r-13 Abamectin; Pesticide Tolerances This regulation raises 
tolerances for residues of abamectin (also known as avermectin B1 a mixture of avermectins containing greater 
than or equal to 80% avermectin B1a (5-O-demethyl 
avermectin A1) and less than or equal to 20% avermectin delta-8,9-isomer) in or on cotton and strawberries. Cotton and strawberries
 G/SPS/N/USA/2530  
United 
States of America All 
Members SPS
 05-Ma r-13 27-Feb-13 Pyraflufen-ethyl; Pesticide Tolerances This regulation 
establishes tolerances for residues of pyraflufen-ethyl in or on multiple commodities which are identified and discussed later 
in this document. Nichino America, Inc. requested these 
tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). Almond, hulls; Cattle, fat; Cattle, meat; Cattle, 
meat by-products; Corn, field, forage; Corn, field, grain; Corn, field, stover; Cotton, gin by-products; 
Cotton, undelinted seed; (…) G/SPS/N/USA/2523
 
Brazil All 
Members SPS 29-Oct-12  Draft Resolution n° 58 of  4 October 2012 Draft Resolution for 
the active ingredient Pymetrozine to be included in the monograph list of active ingredients of pesticides, household sanitizing products and wood preservers, including the use in 
the cultures of lettuce (MRL of 0.1 mg/kg and safety period of 
7 days), cotton (MRL of 0.1 mg/kg and safety period of 7 days) (…) Active ingredient P52 -
 Pymetrozine  G/SPS/N/BRA/837  
Brazil All 
Members SPS 29-Oct-12  Draft Resolution n° 59 of  4 October 2012 Draft Resolution for 
the active ingredient Zeta-Cypermethrin to be included in the monograph list of active ingredients of pesticides, household 
sanitizing products and wood preservers, including the use in 
the cultures of cotton (MRL of 0.05 mg/kg and safety period of 15 days) (…) Active ingredient Z60 -
 Zeta-Cypermethrin  G/SPS/N/BRA/841  
Brazil All 
Members SPS 29-Oct-12  Draft Resolution n° 60 of  4 October 2012 Draft Resolution for 
the active ingredient Flumioxazin to be included in the monograph list of active ingredients of pesticides, household 
sanitizing products and wood preservers, including the use in 
the cultures of cotton (MRL of 0.05 mg/kg and safety period of 100 days)(…) Active ingredient F46 -
 Flumioxazin  G/SPS/N/BRA/845   
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3  
 
- 69 - Member Partner 
affected Notif. 
req. Initiation/ 
Notification In force Measure description  Product description  Source  
United 
States of America All 
Members SPS
 08-Oct-12 28-Sep-12 Sulfoxaflor; Pesticide Tolerances for Emergency Exemptions 
This regulation establishes time-limited tolerances for residues of sulfoxaflor, N-methyloxido [1-[6-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pyridinyl]ethyl] [lambda]\4\-sulfanylidene] cyanamide, including its metabolites and degradates in or on cotton, 
undelinted seed; cotton, gin by-products; and cotton, hulls. Cotton
 G/SPS/N/USA/2476  
United 
States of America All 
Members SPS
 10-Sep-12 15-Aug-12 Flutriafol; Pesticide Tolerances for Emergency Exemptions 
This regulation establishes time-limited tolerances for residues of flutriafol in or on cotton, undelinted seed; cotton, meal; cotton, refined oil; and cotton gin by-products. This a c t i o n  i s  i n  r e s p o n s e  t o  E P A ' s  g r a n t i n g  o f  a n  e m e r g e n c y  
exemption under section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, 
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) authorizing use of the pesticide on cotton. This regulation establishes a maximum permissible level for residues of flutriafol in or on cotton commodities. The time-limited tolerances expire on 
31 December 2014. Cotton
 G/SPS/N/USA/2451  
China All 
Members TBT 23-Jul-12  Administrative Measures on Inspection and Supervision of 
Imported Cotton (9 pages, in Chinese) These Measures specify the administrative measures of inspection and supervision on the quality of imported cotton. Imported cotton
 HS F5201000010  A5201000090  G/TBT/N/CHN/925  
Peru India SPS  19-Jul-12 19-Oct-11 Resolución Directoral Nº 34-2011-AG-SENASA-DSV 
(Directorial Resolution No. 34-2011-AG-SENASA-DSV) The notified Directorial Resolution lifts the phytosanitary measures 
suspending the issue of phytosanitary import permits for 
cotton (Gossypium spp.) fibre, not carded or combed, originating in and coming from India. HS tariff subheadings 5201.00.90.00, 
5201.00.30.00, 5201.00.20.00 and 5201.00.10.00: Cotton fibre, not carded or combed. G/SPS/N/PER/422
 
Peru India SPS  19-Jul-12 17-May-12 Resolución Directoral Nº 0012-2012-AG-SENASA-DSV 
(Directorial Resolution No. 0012-2012-AG-SENASA-DSV) The notified Directorial Resolution establishes the mandatory 
phytosanitary requirements governing the importation into 
Peru of cotton comber waste from India. HS tariff subheading 5202.99.00.00: Cotton comber 
waste. G/SPS/N/PER/428
 
China All 
Members TBT 18-Jul-12  National Standard of the P.R.C., Cotton Part1: Saw Ginned 
Upland Cotton  i23 pages  Cin Chinese  j This standard 
specifies the quality requirements, classification criterions, test methods, inspection rules, inspection certificates, packages and marks, storage and transportation requirements etc. for saw ginned upland cotton. 
This standard applies to saw ginned upland cotton produced, 
purchased, processed, traded, stored and used in China. Cotton-upland cotton ICS: 59.060.10
 G/TBT/N/CHN/921  
China All 
Members TBT 18-Jul-12  National Standard of the P.R.C., Cotton Part 2: Roller Ginned 
Upland Cotton  i18 pages  Cin Chinese  j This standard 
specifies the quality requirements, classification criterions, test methods, inspection rules, inspection certificates, packages and marks, storage and transportation requirements 
etc. for roller ginned upland cotton.This standard applies to 
roller ginned upland cotton produced, purchased, processed, traded, stored and used in China. Cotton-upland cotton ICS: 59.060.10
 G/TBT/N/CHN/922  
Brazil All 
Members SPS 15-Jun-12 06-Aug-12 Draft Resolution on Azadirachtin This draft sanitary regulation 
modifies Resolution RE nº 165, 29 August 2003, by including Azadirachtin  G/SPS/N/BRA/814   
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3  
 
- 70 - Member Partner 
affected Notif. 
req. Initiation/ 
Notification In force Measure description  Product description  Source  
in it the use of azadirachtin in the cultures of cotton, corn, soy 
and grape (Leaf application, LMR and safety period without restrictions). 
United States of America All 
Members SPS
 11-Jun-12  Aldicarb; Cancellation Order for Amendments To Terminate 
Uses This notice announces EPA's order for the amendment to terminate uses, voluntarily requested by the registrant and 
accepted by the Agency, of products containing aldicarb, 
pursuant to section 6(f)(1) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), as amended. This cancellation order follows an 7 October 2010 Federal Register Notice of Receipt of Request from the registrant, Bayer 
CropScience to voluntarily amend to terminate uses of the 
product, TEMIK[supreg] Brand 15G, containing aldicarb on citrus and potatoes effective i mmediately. The registrant also 
requested that EPA amend to terminate the remaining pesticide uses of this product on cotton, dry beans, peanuts, 
soybeans, sugar beets, and sweet potatoes, effective as of 
31 December 2014. These are not the last products containing aldicarb registered for use in the United States of America. (…) Multiple products
 G/SPS/N/USA/2386  
United 
States of 
America All 
Members SPS 08-Jun-12 14-May-12 Penflufen; Pesticide Tolerances  Tolerances are established for 
residues of the fungicide penflufen, including its metabolites 
and degradates, in or on the following commodities listed in 
the table. Compliance with the tolerance levels specified in the table is to be determined by measuring only penflufen N-[2-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)phenyl]-5-fluoro-1,3-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, in or on the following commodities. 
Commodity Parts per
 
 million  
Alfalfa, forage 0.01  
Alfalfa, hay 0.01  
Cotton, gin by-products 0.01  
(…) Multiple commodities  G/SPS/N/USA/2382  
United 
States of America All 
Members SPS
 08-Jun-12 14-May-12 Fluxapyroxad; Pesticide Tolerances  Tolerances are established 
for residues of the fungicide fluxapyroxad, including its metabolites and degradates, in or on the commodities listed in the table below. Compliance with the tolerance levels specified below is to be determined by measuring only 
fluxapyroxad, 3-(difluoromethyl)-1-methyl-N-(3',4',5'-
trifluoro[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl)-1H- pyrazole-4-carboxamide in or 
on the commodity. Commodity Parts per million
 
Apple, wet pomace 2.0  
Beet, sugar 0.1  
Beet, sugar, dried pulp 0.1  
Beet, sugar, tops 7.0  
Cattle, fat 0.05  
Cattle, meat 0.01  
Cattle, meat by-products 0.03  
Corn, field, grain 0.01  Multiple commodities  G/SPS/N/USA/2383   
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3  
 
- 71 - Member Partner 
affected Notif. 
req. Initiation/ 
Notification In force Measure description  Product description  Source  
Corn, oil  0.03 
Corn, pop, grain 0.01  
Corn, sweet, kernels plus cobs with husks removed 0.15  
Cotton, gin by-products 0.01  
Cotton, undelinted seed 0.01  
(…) 
Peru United 
States of 
America CV 02-Jun-12  Countervailing  Cotton  G/SCM/N/242/PER, 
G/SCM/N/250/PER 
United States of America All 
Members SPS
 10-May-12 02-Ma r-12 Thiamethoxam; Pesticide Tolerances This regulation 
establishes tolerances for residues of thiamethoxam in or on multiple commodities. (a) General. Tolerances are established for residues of the insecticide thiamethoxam, including its 
metabolites and degradates, in or on the following 
commodities. Compliance with the tolerance levels specified below is to be determined by measuring only thiamethoxam 3-[(2-chloro-5-thiazolyl)methyl]tetrahydro-5-methyl-N-nitro-
4H-1,3,5-oxadiazin-4-imine and its metabolite CGA-322704 
N-[(2-chloro-thiazol-5-yl)methyl]-N'-methyl-N''-nitro-guanidine, calculated as the stoichiometric equivalent of thiamethoxam, in or on the following commodities:  
Commodity Parts per
 
 million  
(…)  
Cotton, gin by-products 1.5 Cotton, undelinted seed 0.10 
(…) Multiple
 G/SPS/N/USA/2362  
United 
States of America All 
Members SPS
 02-May-12 06-Aug-12 Notice of Receipt of Re quests for Amendments To Delete Uses 
in Certain Pesticide Registrations EPA is issuing a notice of receipt of request for amendments by registrants to delete uses in certain pesticide registrations for Buctril Herbicide (active ingredient Bromoxynil) on BTX cotton. Cotton
 G/SPS/N/USA/2359, 
G/SPS/N/USA/2359/Corr.1 
United States of 
America All 
Members SPS
 18-April-12 9-March-12 This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of 
penthiopyrad in or on multiple commodities. (a) General. (1) 
Tolerances are established for residues of penthiopyrad, 
including its etabolites and degradates, in or on the commodities in the table below. Compliance with the tolerance levels specified below is to be determined by measuring only penthiopyrad (N-[2-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-3-
thienyl]-1-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-
carboxamide).  Commodity Parts per
 
 million  
(…)  Cotton, seed   1.5 Cotton, gin by-products   15 (…) Multiple
 G/SPS/N/USA/2347  
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 72 - 
 
  ANNEX 1 
NOTES ON TARIFF RATE QUOTA COMMITMENTS FROM CHINA'S SCHEDULE 
1. Tariff quotas indicated in the third column are volumes for calendar year 2001. Tariff quota 
concessions will be implemented according to the date specified in the "implementation" column. 
The implementation column indicates the date (referring to 1 January of the year indicated) when 
the final quota quantity will be achieved. The tariff quota concessions are subject to equal annual adjustments (occurring on 1 January of each year),  unless otherwise specified in the last column 
("Other terms and conditions"). 
2. The People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as "China")shall maintain its in-quota 
applied and bound rates (and, upon removal of th e tariff-quota, its applied and bound rates) for 
HS 1514 (rape or colza (canola) oil and its fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically 
modified) at a level equal to that for HS 1507 (soya-bean oil and its fractions, whether or not 
refined, but not chemically modified) and for HS 1205 (rape or colza (canola) seeds, whether or not broken). 
3. The growth rate for the TRQ volume for cano la (rapeseed) oil shall be no less than the 
growth rate for the TRQ volume for soybean oil. 
4. An entity granted a tariff quota allocation (quota-holder) may engage in importation through 
state-trading enterprises and/or through entiti es possessing the right to trade other than 
state-trading enterprises, including direct importation by the quota holder, as indicated on documentation issued with the allocation or reallocation of the tariff quota quantities. 
5. Application: All applications for an allocation of the tariff-quota will be submitted to the State 
Development and Planning Commission (SDPC). Specif ic conditions for appl ying for a tariff-quota 
allocation will be published in the official journal one month in advance of the application period, which will be from 15 October to 30 October. 
6. Allocation: 
a. The entire tariff-quota quantity established in Section I-B shall be allocated to end users by 
1 January each year. Inquiries regarding tariff- quota allocations can be made to the SDPC, 
with responses provided within 10 work ing days. Any additional requirement for 
importation will be automatic under the te rms of the Agreement on Import Licensing 
Procedures. China shall equitably distribute allocations within each portion of the tariff-quota to ensure complete tariff-quota utilization and to establish a tariff-quota system that 
is open, transparent, fair, responsive to market conditions, timely, minimally burdensome 
to trade and reflects end user preferences. 
b. In the first year, allocations to end users by the SDPC of the tariff-quota reserved for 
importation through state-trading enterprises shall be based on a first-come, first-served 
system or the requests of the applicants and their historical import performance, 
production capacity, or other relevant commercial criteria, subject to specific conditions to 
be published one month in advance of the openin g of the application period so as to ensure 
an equitable distribution and complete tariff-quota utilization. In the first year, no less than 10 % of the tariff-quota reserved for importation through state-trading enterprises will be allocated to new quota-holders. 
c. In the first year, allocations to end users by the SDPC of the tariff-quota reserved for 
importation through entities other than state-trading enterprises shall be based on a first-come, first-served system or the requests of the applicants and their historical import 
performance, production capacity, or other relevant commercial criteria. No less than 10% 
of the tariff-quota reserved for importatio n through entities other than state-trading 
enterprises will be allocated to new quota-holders. This tariff-quota will be limited to 
entities that do not receive any special or exclusive rights or privileges, and will include 
allocations to joint ventures, wholly foreign- funded enterprises, and private enterprises. 
d. Except in cases where tariff-quota is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and in 
accordance with China's Schedule of Concessions and Commitments on Goods, a quota-TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 73 - 
 
  holder that has imported under a tariff-quota sh all, upon application, receive an allocation 
of the tariff-quota in the following year for a quantity no less than the quantity imported 
the previous year. For all methods of allocation, a quota-holder that does not import its full allocation under a tariff-quota will receive a proportional reduction in the tariff-quota 
allocation in the subsequent year unless the quantity is returned to the SDPC prior to 
15 September. A quota holder that has failed to import its full allocation in two consecutive years and has returned that unused portion by 15 September shall have its quota allocated 
in the following year on the basis of its fill rate in the most recent year, and will not benefit 
from any additional reallocations until and unless there are no other applications. The means of calculating the penalty will be included in the TRQ regulation in force and publicly available, and will be applied in a consistent and equitable manner. 
e. Allocations will be established for commerciall y viable shipping quantities and provisions 
will be made for partial shipments against a single tariff-quota allocation. All commercial terms of trade, including product specification, pricing, packaging, etc., will be at the sole 
determination of the importer and the exporter taking into full account the demands of the 
end user. Tariff-quota allocations will be valid for any item or mixture of items subject to the same tariff-quota. 
f. Inquiries on the entities which received the allocation can be made to the SDPC which shall 
provide the information within 10 days. 
7. Term: The tariff-quota for each product will be opened on 1 January each year, unless 
otherwise specified in the Schedule. Tariff-quota allocations will be valid for the calendar year. 
8. Reallocation: 
a. In any year, if a quota-holder has not contracted for the total quantity by 15 September, it 
shall return the unused portion of the tariff-quota quantity to the SDPC for reallocation. 
b. Applications for reallocation of the tariff- quota will be accepted by the SDPC from 
1 September to 15 September and new allocations shall be assigned by 1 October. Specific conditions for applying for reallocation of tariff quotas will be published in the official 
journal one month in advance of the application period. Such allocations, which shall be to 
new applicants and to entities other than those returning quotas under sub-paragraph 8.A. above, will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Quota-holders allocated a share of the tariff-quota reserved for importatio n through entities other than state-trading 
enterprises may import through any entity that has a right to trade in any product as 
specified in Section 5 of China's Protocol of Accession. 
c. Inquiries on the entities which received the reallocations can be made to the SDPC which 
will provide the information within 10 days. 
d. In situations where goods have been shipped from their port of origin before 31 December 
of any year, but are entered after 31 Decemb er of that year, China shall extend the 
validity of the tariff quota documents and shall count such shipments against the tariff 
quota allocation for the year in which the tariff quota was initially allocated. 
Consultations: 
 
9. With a view to maintaining a transparent and open tariff quota system, upon request from 
any WTO Member, China shall consult with the Member on the administration of the tariff quota to ensure that the tariff quota will be allocated in  a transparent, equitable and non-discriminatory 
manner and that the tariff quota will be fully utilized. 
Notes: 
 
1. The share of the tariff-quota reserved for importation through state-trading enterprises is 
specified in column 7 of Section I-B. The remainder of the tariff-quota quantity is reserved for importation through any non-state trading enterprise possessing the right to trade in any product as set forth in Section 5 of China's Protocol of Accession. 
 
In any year, if the quantity of the tariff-quota reserved for importation through state-trading enterprises has not been contracted for by 15 August, quota-holders will have the right to TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 74 - 
 
  trade or to import through any entity with the right to trade any product under Section 5 of 
China's Protocol of Accession.  
2. China shall ensure that the applied duty for soybean oil, rapeseed oil, palm oil, peanut oil, 
cottonseed oil, sunflower seed oil, and corn oil is no greater than the applied duty for any 
one of these oils or for any other vegetable oil. Of the vegetable oils subject to tariff quota (i.e., soybean oil, rapeseed oil, and palm oil), if the tariff-quota for any one oil is 
autonomously increased, the tariff-quotas for the other two will be increased 
commensurately. Beginning 1 January 2006, China will remove soybean oil, rapeseed oil and palm oil from Annex 2A of the Protocol of  Accession and will grant the right to trade 
such oils to all individuals and enterprises. 
 
3. All quota holders, that have already fully used or contracted their tariff-quota allocations in 
any year by 15 September shall also be eligible for reallocation of tariff-quota from other 
quota holders that have returned their allocations. 
 
_______________  
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 75 - 
 
   
ANNEX 2 
CHAPTER NOTES CONCERNING TRQ COMMITMENTS FOR COTTON FROM THE U.S. SCHEDULE 
"CHAPTER 52 
 
COTTON  
Additional U.S. Notes 1/ 
 1. Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, the staple length of cotton 
shall be determined for all customs purposes by application of the Official Cotton Standards of the 
United States of America for length of staple, as established by the Secretary of Agriculture and in 
effect when the determination is to be made.  
5. There shall be permitted entry an aggregate qu antity of cotton, entered under the provisions 
of additional U.S. notes 6 through 11, inclusive, to  this chapter, of not less than the total quantity 
specified below. 
 
 Quantity (metric tons) 
1995 41,926.8 
1996 48,850.4 
1997 55,773.9 
1998 62,697.5 
1999 69,621.0 
2000 and thereafter 76,544.6 
 
An additional aggregate quantity of 10,000 metric tons is reserved for Mexico under this note. 
 The quantitative limitations established by this note may be administered through regulations (including licenses) issued by the Secretary of Agriculture. 
 
1/ Note 1 and additional U.S. notes 2, 3 and 4 to  this chapter are omitted from this section and 
are in section II of this schedule. Additional U.S. notes 5 through 11, inclusive, to this chapter are 
not in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States. 
 6. There shall be permitted entry an aggregat e quantity of cotton, not carded or combed, 
having a staple length under 28.575 mm (1-1/8 in ches) (except harsh or rough cotton, having a 
staple length under 19.05 mm (3/4 inch)), entered under subheading 5201.00.14 during the 12-month period beginning September 20 in any year, of not less than the total quantity specified 
below. 
 
 Quantity (metric tons) 
1995 8,495.05* 
1996 10,837.45* 
1997 13,179.85* 
1998 15,522.25* 
1999 17,864.65* 
2000 and thereafter 20,207.05* 
* Of the quantitative limitation provided for in this no te, access levels are reserved as follows for entry under 
the provisions of this note: 
 
 Quantity 
(kg)  Quantity 
(kg) 
Egypt & Sudan (aggregate) 355,532 Honduras 341 
Peru 112,469 Paraguay 395 
India & Pakistan (aggregate) 908,764 Colombia 56 
China 621,780 Iraq 88 
Brazil 280,648 British East Africa 1,016 
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 215,512 Indonesia & Netherlands New Guinea 
(aggregate) 32,381 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 76 - 
 
   Quantity 
(kg)  Quantity 
(kg) 
Argentina 2,360 British West Indies (except Barbados, 
Bermuda, Jamaica, or Trinidad and 
Tobago) 9,671 
Haiti 107 Nigeria 2,438 
Ecuador 4,233 British West Africa (except Nigeria and 
Ghana) 7,259 
 
The quantitative limitations established by this note may be administered through regulations (including licenses and reallocation of unfilled quotas) issued by the Secretary of Agriculture. 
 
7. There shall be permitted entry an aggregate qu antity of harsh or rough cotton, not carded or 
combed, having a staple length of 29.36875 mm (1-5/32 inches) or more but under 34.925 mm 
(1-3/8 inches) and white in colour (except cotton of perished staple, grabbots and cotton 
pickings), entered under subheading 5201.00.24 du ring the 12-month period beginning 1 August 
in any year, of not less than the total quantity specified below.  
 
 Quantity (metric tons) 
1995 900.0 
1996 1,000.0 
1997 1,100.0 
1998 1,200.0 
1999 1,300.0 
2000 and thereafter 1,400.0 
The quantitative limitations established by this note may be administered through regulations 
(including licenses) issued by the Secretary of Agriculture. 
 
8. There shall be permitted entry an aggregat e quantity of cotton, not carded or combed, 
having a staple length of 28.575 mm (1-1/8 inches) or more but under 34.925 mm (1-3/8 inches) 
(except harsh or rough cotton, not carded or co mbed, having a staple length of 29.36875 mm (1-
5/32 inches) or more and white in color) but including cotton of perished staple, grabbots and cotton pickings, entered under subheading 5201.00.34 during the 12-month period beginning 
1 August in any year, of not less than the total quantity specified below. 
 
 Quantity (metric tons) 
1995 5,200.0 
1996 6,460.0 
1997 7,720.0 
1998 8,980.0 
1999 10,240.0 
2000 and thereafter 11,500.0 
The quantitative limitations established by this note may be administered through regulations 
(including licenses) issued by the Secretary of Agriculture. 
 9. There shall be permitted entry an aggregat e quantity of cotton, not carded or combed, 
having a staple length of 34.925 mm (1-3/8 inches) or more, entered under subheading 
5201.00.60 during the 12-month period beginning August 1 in any year, of not less than the total quantity specified below. 
 
 Quantity (metric tons) 
1995 25,500.0 
1996 28,420.0 
1997 31,340.0 
1998 34,260.0 
1999 37,180.0 
2000 and thereafter 40,100.0 
The quantitative limitations established by this note may be administered through regulations 
(including licenses) issued by the Secretary of Agriculture. 
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 77 - 
 
  10. There shall be permitted entry an aggregate qu antity of card strips made from cotton having 
a staple length under 30.1625 mm (1-3/16 inches), and lap waste, sliver waste and roving waste of cotton, all the foregoing the product of any country or are including the United States of America, entered under subheading 5202.99.10 during the 12-month period beginning 
20 September in any year, of not less than the total quantity specified below. 
 
 Quantity (kg) 
1995 1,835,427* 
1996 2,135,427* 
1997 2,435,427* 
1998 2,735,427* 
1999 3,035,427* 
2000 and thereafter 3,335,427* 
* Of the quantitative limitation provided for in this note , access levels are reserved  as follows for entry under 
the provisions of this note: 
 
 Quantity 
(kg)  Quantity 
(kg) 
United Kingdom 653,695 Japan 154,917 
Canada 108,721 China 7,857 
France 34,385 Egypt 3,689 
India & Pakistan (aggregate) 31,582 Cuba 2,968 
Netherlands 10,317 Germany 11,540 
Switzerland 6,711 Italy 3,215 
Belgium 5,830   
The quantitative limitations established by this note may be administered through regulations 
(including licenses and reallocation of unfilled quotas) issued by the Secretary of Agriculture. 
 
11. There shall be permitted entry an aggregate quantity of fibers of cotton processed but not 
spun, entered under subheading 5203.00.10 during the 12-month period beginning 11 September in any year, of not less than the total quantity specified below. 
 
 Quantity (kg) 
1995 1,000 
1996 1,300 
1997 1,600 
1998 1,900 
1999 2,200 
2000 and thereafter 2,500 
The quantitative limitations established by this note may be administered through regulations 
(including licenses) issued by the Secretary of Agriculture." 
 
_______________ TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 78 - 
 
  ANNEX 3 
EXCERPT FROM ANNEX 1 TO G/AG/N/USA/2/ADD.3 AND G/AG/N/USA/34/ADD.1 
NOTES FROM THE HARMONIZED TARIFF SYSTEM OF THE UNITED STATES 
"36/ Short staple cotton 
 from Additional U.S. Note 5 to Chapter 52 of the HTSUS: 
 5. The aggregate quantity of cotton, not carded or combed, the product of any country or area 
including the United States of America, having a staple length under 28.575 mm (1-1/8 inches) 
(except harsh or rough cotton, having a staple length under 19.05 mm (3/4 inch)), entered under 
subheading 5201.00.14 during the 12-month periods from 20 September 1999, through 19 September 2000, inclusive, shall not exceed 17,864.65 metric tons or from 
20 September 2000, through 19 September 2001, inclusive, shall not exceed 20,207.05 metric 
tons (articles the product of Mexico shall not be  permitted or included in the aforementioned 
quantitative limitation and no such articles shall be classifiable therein). 
 
 Of the quantitative limitations provided for in this note, the countries listed below shall have access to not less than the quantities specified below: 
 
 Quantity (kg) 
Argentina 2,360 
Brazil 280,648 
British East Africa 1,016 
British West Africa (except Nigeria and Ghana) 7,259 
British West Indies (except Barbados, Bermuda, Jamaica, Trinidad, Tobago) 9,671 
Chine 621,780 
Colombia 56 
Ecuador 4,233 
Egypt & Sudan (aggregate) 355,532 
Haiti 107 
Honduras 341 
India & Pakistan (aggregate) 908,764 
Indonesia & Netherlands New Guinea (aggregate) 32,381 
Iraq 88 
Nigeria 2,438 
Paraguay 395 
Peru 112,469 
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, 
Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan , Turkmenistan, Ukraine an d Uzbekistan (aggregate) 215,512 
 Other than as provided for in the country allocations above, articles the product of countries 
or areas who are not members of the World Trade Organization shall not be permitted or included in the quantitative limitations set forth in this note. 
37/ Harsh or rough cotton 
 from Additional U.S. Note 6 to Chapter 52 of the HTSUS:  
6. The aggregate quantity of harsh or rough cotton, not carded or combed, the product of any 
country or area including the United States of America, having a staple length of 29.36875 mm (1-5/32 inches) or more but under 34.925 mm (1-3/8 inches) and white in color (except cotton of perished staple, grabbots and cotton pickings),  entered under subheading 5201.00.24 during the 
12-month periods from 1 August 1999, through 31 July 2000, inclusive, shall not exceed 1,300.0 
metric tons or from 1 August 2000, through 31 July 2001, inclusive, shall not exceed 1,400.0 
metric tons (articles the product of Mexico shall not be permitted or included in the 
aforementioned quantitative limitation and no such articles shall be classifiable therein). 
  Articles the product of countries or areas who are not members of the World Trade 
Organization shall not be permitted or included in the quantitative limitations set forth in this note. 
 38/ Medium staple cotton  from Additional U.S. Note 7 to Chapter 52 of the HTSUS: 
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 79 - 
 
  7. The aggregate quantity of cotton, not carded or combed, the product of any country or area 
including the United States of America, having a staple length of 28.575 mm (1-1/8 inches) or more but under 34.925 mm (1-3/8 inches) (except harsh or rough cotton, not carded or combed, 
having a staple length of 29.36875 mm (1-5/32 inches) or more and white in colour) but including 
cotton of perished staple, grabbots and cotton pickings, entered under subheading 5201.00.34 
during the 12-month periods from 1 August 1999, through 31 July 2000, inclusive, shall not exceed 10,240.0 metric tons or from 1 August 2000, through 31 July 2001, inclusive, shall not 
exceed 11,500.0 metric tons (articles the product of  Mexico shall not be permitted or included in 
the aforementioned quantitative limitation and no such articles shall be classifiable therein). 
  Articles the product of countries or areas who are not members of the World Trade 
Organization shall not be permitted or included in the quantitative limitations set forth in this note. 
 39/ Long staple cotton 
 from Additional U.S. Note 8 to Chapter 52: 
 8. The aggregate quantity of cotton, not carded or combed, the product of any country or area 
including the United States of America, having a staple length of 34.925 mm (1-3/8 inches) or 
more, entered under subheading 5201.00.60 during the 12-month periods from 1 August 1999, through 31 July 2000, inclusive, shall not exceed 37,180.0 metric tons or from 1 August 2000, through 31 July 2001, inclusive, shall not exceed 40,100.0 metric tons (articles the product of 
Mexico shall not be permitted or included in th e aforementioned quantitative limitation and no 
such articles shall be classifiable therein).  
 Articles the product of countries or areas who are not members of the World Trade 
Organization shall not be permitted or included in the quantitative limitations set forth in this note.  
40/ Cotton waste 
 from Additional U.S. Note 9 to Chapter 52 of the HTSUS:  9. The aggregate quantity of card strips made from cotton having a staple length under 
30.1625 mm (1-3/16 inches), and lap waste, sliver waste and roving waste of cotton, all the 
foregoing the product of any country or area including the United States of America, entered under subheading 5202.99.10 during the 12-month periods from 20 September 1999, through 
19 September 2000, inclusive, shall not exceed 3,035,427 kilograms or from 20 September 2000, 
through 19 September 2001, inclusive, shall not ex ceed 3,335,427 kilograms (articles the product 
of Mexico shall not be permitted or included in the aforementioned quantitative limitation and no 
such articles shall be classifiable therein). 
  Of the quantitative limitations provided for in this note, the countries listed below shall have access to not less than the quantities specified below: 
 
 Quantity (kg) 
Belgium 5,830 
Canada 108,721 
China 7,857 
Cuba 2,968 
Egypt 3,689 
France 34,385 
Germany 11,540 
Italy 3,215 
India & Pakistan (aggregate) 31,582 
Japan 154,917 
Netherlands 10,317 
Switzerland 6,711 
United Kingdom 653,695 
 Other than as provided for in the country allocations above, articles the product of countries 
or areas who are not members of the World Trade Organization shall not be permitted or included 
in the quantitative limitations set forth in this note. 
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 80 - 
 
  41/ Cotton processed but not spun 
 from Additional U.S. Note 10 to Chapter 52 of the HTSUS: 
  
10. The aggregate quantity of fibers of cotton processed but not spun, entered under 
subheading 5203.00.10 during the 12-month periods from 11 September 1999, through 
10 September 2000, inclusive, shall not exceed  2,200 kilograms or from 11 September 2000, 
through 10 September 2001, inclusive, shall not exceed 2,500 kilograms (articles the product of 
Mexico shall not be permitted or included in th e aforementioned quantitative limitation and no 
such articles shall be classifiable therein).   Articles the product of countries or areas who are not members of the World Trade 
Organization shall not be permitted or included in the quantitative limitations set forth in this 
note."  
_______________ 
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 81 - 
 
  ANNEX 4 
MEMBERS' REPLIES TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE ON NEW OR UPDATED 
COTTON-RELATED POLICY DEVELOPMENTS 
1. Since the second dedicated discussion of the relevant trade-related developments for cotton 
of 28 November 2014, Members agreed that, in order to complement the revised background 
paper to be prepared by the WTO Secretariat an d in advance of each dedicated discussion , a 
questionnaire would be sent to Members to seek updates, on a voluntary basis, on their recent 
cotton-related policy developments across the three pillars of Market Access, Domestic Support 
and Export Competition.28 Members were also invited to provide an assessment of the impact (or 
anticipated impact), if available, of those new or updated policy developments.   
2. This Annex compiles Members' replies to the questionnaires circulated on 4 February 2015 
and 17 September 2015. The following table lists Members who have replied to the questionnaires. The replying Members who are among the 32 Members identified in paragraph 8 to 10 of this 
paper as markets of interest to LDCs are identified in bold: 
 
Members who replied to the questionnaire 
circulated on 4 February 2015 Members who replied to the questionnaire circulated 
on 17 September 2015 
Australia; Benin ; Brazil; Chad; China29; 
Colombia; Egypt; European Union; Hong Kong, 
China; Israel30; Macao, China; Mali;  Mauritius; 
Pakistan; Peru; Russian Federation; Chinese Taipei; United States of America and Uruguay.  Australia ; European Union ; and Peru. 
 
3. Some Members provided a "nil" reply, i.e. they did not report any new or updated policy 
development across the three pillars of Market A ccess, Domestic Support and Export Competition . 
These Members are listed in the  table below.   
Members with a nil reply to the questionnaire 
circulated on 4 February 2015 Members with a nil reply to the questionnaire 
circulated on 17 September 2015 
Australia; Hong Kong, China; Macao, China; Mauritius; Pakistan; Chinese Taipei and Uruguay. European Union
31 
 
 4. The replies from  other Members are reproduced below. 
 
_______________ 
                                               
28 Paragraph 12 of the Chairperson report on the se cond dedicated discussion of the relevant trade-
related developments for cotton  (TN/AG/29 and TN/AG/SCC/3). 
29 China's reply was provided after the circulation of  the second revised background paper. This reply 
was included in document TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.2/Add.1 - TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.2/Add.1. 
 
30 Israel's reply was received after the circulatio n of the second revised background paper and was 
included in document TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.2/Add.1 - TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.2/Add.1. 
31 The European Union informed that no new policy de velopments can be reported  since its reply to the 
questionnaire circulated on 4 February 2015.  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 82 - 
 
  Reply from Australia to the questio nnaire circulated on 17 September 2015 
 
The 2013 WTO Bali Package contained a number of meas ures relating to agriculture, including on 
cotton. While Australia welcomed the 2013 Bali Package as a credible step forward in the Doha 
Round negotiations, including on cotton, there remains much work to be done to achieve 
substantial reductions in agricultural support and protection provided to cotton. Australia understands the importance of cotton to the co tton producing economies of the Least Developed 
Countries (LDCs). To assist LDCs improve their trade, Australia has provided LDCs fully duty-free 
and quota-free access to our market, including on  cotton, since 2003. This has contributed to 
notable increases in LDC exports to Australia-averaging about 13% per year between 2003 and 2013. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 83 - 
 
  Reply from Peru to the questionnaire circulat ed on 17 September 2015 (original reply in 
Spanish)  1. Market access 
 
During the analysis period, Peru did not apply or maintain any cotton-related policy concerning 
market access. 
2. Domestic support 
 Cotton Financing Programme (2015-2016 season)  
Description of the programme: 
Funding programme consisting of the provision of repayable loans to eligible cotton producers 
in the coastal region for support activities (seasonal), including the purchase of inputs, machinery, 
labour, administrative costs and technical assistance. 
Objective: Provision of loans to finance cotton farming. The financing is intended for the purchase 
of inputs (seed, fertilizers and agrochemicals), machinery, labour, administrative costs and 
technical assistance. 
Beneficiaries: Cotton producers, through producer organizations (formally established cooperatives and/or 
committees) which, in addition, are involved in business management and technical assistance 
work. 
Duration: 
The 2015-2016 season began in July 2015, and the payments will end in March 2016. 
Form of benefit: For the 2015-2016 cotton season, AGROBANCO will continue its funding programme at a 
preferential rate for cotton producers (Annual Effective Rate: 15%), covering 3,500 ha 
and 1,200 producers. The areas concerned are loca ted between the Santa valley in the north and 
the Ica valley in the south, i.e. the areas producing mainly Tanguis cotton, and to a lesser extent the IPA-59 and Hazera varieties. 
Funding is expected to amount to S/4,900 per ha
32, with a maximum of 4 ha per 
producer, distributed as shown in the table below – i.e. farmers will have a credit line totalling S/17,150,000: 
Category Amount (in soles) 
Inputs and services: seed, fertilizers, agrochemicals 2,300.00 
Machinery and labour 2,330.00 
Technical assistance 160.00 
Administrative costs 50.00 
Technical management 60.00 
Total 4,900.00 
Source: Cotton Programme–AGROBANCO. 
Preparation: MINCETUR. 
It should be pointed out that the financing programme goes hand in hand with a marketing 
programme which aims to bring the producer and buyer together in order to improve the price 
of the quintal of raw cotton in the different production areas. 
Based on past experience with El Niño (1997-1998), all indications are that cotton should not be 
cultivated in Lambayeque and Piura, at least until the impact that has been predicted for the 2015-2016 season can be ruled out. 
3. Export competition 
 Peru does not provide export subsidies fo r agricultural products, including cotton. 
                                               
32 This amount is lower when the producer can do wi thout a certain category either because it can fund 
the resources itself or because it already has them. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 84 - 
 
  The latest notification, submitted pursuant to Article 18.2 of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture 
and document G/AG/2 (Notification Requirements and Formats), concerns export subsidy commitments (Table ES:1) for the year 2014 and was circulated as WTO document G/AG/N/PER/14 of 6 July 2015. It notifies that Peru provided no export subsidies in respect of 
agricultural products in 2014.  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3  
 
- 85 - Reply from Benin to the questionnaire circulated  on 4 February 2015 (original reply in French) 
TABLE ON DOMESTIC COTTON SECTOR REFORMS FOR ENHANCED DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE 
Cotton 
proponents Measurea Description Implementation 
status/period Focal point Reform prioritiesb 
Benin     Rural development policy 
declaration 
 Decisions of the Council of Ministers  
at its special sessions of 20 and 
21 January 2014 Authorization to export cotton seed 
produced during the 2013/2014 
season. 21 January 2014 Ministère de l'Agriculture, 
de l'Élevage et de la Pêche 
03 BP 2900 
Cotonou, Benin 
 
Ministère de l’Économie et 
des Finances 
BP 302 
Cotonou, Benin 
 
Interministerial Committee Seed cotton marketing 
 Decisions of the Council of Ministers  
at its special session of 28 January 2014 Review of tender documents for the 
supply of agricultural inputs for the 2014/2015 season. 28 January 2014 Ministère de l'Agriculture, 
de l'Élevage et de la Pêche 03 BP 2900 Cotonou, Benin 
 
Ministère de l’Économie et des Finances BP 302 Cotonou, Benin  Ministers on the Interministerial Committee Provision of agricultural inputs for 
the 2013/2014 season 
 Decisions taken by the Council of 
Ministers at its session of 
14 February 2014, in the presence 
of the Head of State and 
Government Implementation of urgent measures 
for the successful marketing, 
transport, storage and ginning of seed 
cotton during the 2013/2014 cotton 
season. 14 February 2014 Ministère de l'Agriculture, 
de l'Élevage et de la Pêche 
03 BP 2900 
Cotonou, Benin 
 
Ministère de la Défense 
Nationale 
 
Ministère de l’Économie et 
des Finances 
BP 302 
Cotonou, Benin Security arrangements for a 
successful 2013/2014 cotton 
season  
  TN/AG/GEN/34 /Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3  
 
- 86 - TABLE ON DOMESTIC COTTON SECTOR REFORMS FOR ENHANCED DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE 
Cotton 
proponents Measurea Description Implementation 
status/period Focal point Reform prioritiesb 
 Decisions taken by the Council of 
Ministers at its session of 
23 April 2014, in the presence of the Head of State and Government Additional urgent measures for 
removing seed cotton from 
warehouses and storage premises and moving it closer to the ginning plants during the 2013/2014 season. 23 April 2014 Ministère de l'Agriculture, de 
l'Élevage et de la Pêche 
03 BP 2900 Cotonou, Benin  Ministère de la Défense Nationale Ministère de l’Économie et des Finances BP 302 Cotonou, Benin Cotton ginning during the 
2013/2014 season 
 Decisions taken by the Council of 
Ministers at its session of 
23 April 2014, in the presence of 
the Head of State and Government Procurement of additional packaging 
for cotton fibre and seed for oil 
extraction during the 2013/2014 
season. 23 April 2014 Ministère de l'Agriculture, de 
l'Élevage et de la Pêche 
03 BP 2900 
Cotonou, Benin 
 
Ministère de l’Économie et des 
Finances 
BP 302 
Cotonou, Benin Packaging of downstream 
products (cotton fibre and seed 
for oil extraction) during the 
2013/2014 season 
 Decisions taken by the Council of 
Ministers at its session of 15 May 2014, in the presence of the Head of State and Government Downward adjustment of the transfer 
price of cotton seed for oil extraction during the 2013/2014 season. 15 May 2014 Société Nationale pour la 
Promotion Agricole (SONAPRA) BP 933 Tel.: (+229) 2133-0820 Fax: (+229) 2133-1948 Cotonou, Benin Reduction in the transfer price of 
cotton seed for oil extraction during the 2013/2014 season  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3  
 
- 87 - TABLE ON DOMESTIC COTTON SECTOR REFORMS FOR ENHANCED DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE 
Cotton 
proponents Measurea Description Implementation 
status/period Focal point Reform prioritiesb 
 Decisions taken by the Council of 
Ministers at its session of 
15 May 2014, in the presence of 
the Head of State and Government Fixing the purchase price of organic 
seed cotton for the 2013/2014 season.  15 May 2014 Ministère de l'Agriculture, 
de l'Élevage et de la Pêche 
03 BP 2900 
Cotonou, Benin 
 
Ministère de l’Économie et 
des Finances 
BP 302 
Cotonou, Benin 
 
Ministère du Développement, 
de l'Analyse Économique et de la  
Prospective 
Tel.: (+229) 2130-0030 
Cotonou, Benin 
 
Ministère de l'Industrie, 
du Commerce et des Petites 
et Moyennes Entreprises 
Tel.: (+229) 2130-8208 
04 BP 249 
Cotonou, Benin Increase in the organic cotton 
purchase price during the 
2013/2014 season 
 Decisions taken by the Council of 
Ministers at its special session of 
26 July 2014 Creation of the Agricultural Inputs 
Purchasing Pool (CAIA). 26 July 2014 Société Nationale pour la 
Promotion Agricole (SONAPRA) 
BP 933 
Tel.: (+229) 2133-0820 Fax: (+229) 2133-1948 Cotonou, Benin Low-cost supplies for producers 
 Decree No. 2014-533 of 
25 August 2014 on the 
requisitioning of SODECO's plants Requisitioning of the plants of the 
Cotton Development Company 
(SODECO). 25 August 2014 Société Nationale pour la 
Promotion Agricole (SONAPRA) 
BP 933 
Tel.: (+229) 2133-0820 
Fax: (+229) 2133-1948 
Cotonou, Benin  
 Decree No. 2014-534 of 
25 August 2014 on appointment of the National Coordinator to manage the plants taken over from SODECO
 Appointment of the National Coordinator of SODECO's plants. 25 August 2014 Société Nationale pour la 
Promotion Agricole (SONAPRA) BP 933 Tel.: (+229) 2133-0820 Fax: (+229) 2133-1948 
Cotonou, Benin  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 88 - 
 
  Reply from Brazil to the questionnair e circulated on 4 February 2015 
 With regard to the request sent on February 4
th regarding any development on cotton, the update 
for Brazil is the following: 
 
1) Export competition : no export subsidy granted since January 2014; 
2) Market Access : no changes in import tariffs since January 2014; and 
3) Domestic support : no change in the Brazilian agricultural policy for cotton in 2014. For the 
marketing-year of 2013/2014 (June 2013 to June 2014), there were no official disbursement regarding cotton. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 89 - 
 
  Reply from Chad to the questionnaire circulat ed on 4 February 2015 (original reply in 
French)   The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Chad to the World Trade Organization (WTO) presents 
its compliments to the WTO Secretariat and, further to the Secretariat's correspondence of 
4 February 2015 on relevant trade-related developments for cotton, has the honour to transmit herewith details of new cotton-related policy developments that have occurred in Chad since 
January 2014 in relation to the following three pillars: 
 
1. Market access : Chad has adopted an action plan with  a view to substantially increasing 
production in its cotton sector. This will enable the country to boost exports to the main 
consumer countries, most notably Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Portugal and Germany. 
2. Domestic support : Despite a difficult budgetary situation, due to the fall in oil prices 
which has spread to other raw materials and which has played a significant role in 
slowing down the country's economic growth, the Chadian State has fought to maintain 
its cotton sector, which is of considerable economic and social importance for millions of Chadians. This support, which has a significant impact on priority sectors such as 
education and health, clearly demonstrates the Government's determination to do 
everything possible to ensure that this important sector does not disappear - something that would have disastrous consequences for Chad and its population. This support is consistent with Article 6.2 of the Agreement on Agriculture. 
3. Export competition : Chad continues to suffer the severe financial consequences of 
falling cotton prices due to the unfair competition that we are continuously denouncing a t  t h e  W T O .  I f  a l l  c o t t o n - p r o d u c i n g  c o u n t r i e s  w e r e  o n  a n  e q u a l  f o o t i n g  i n  t h e  
international market, Chadian cotton would be more competitive and the cotton sector 
would be making a profit instead of the su ccessive losses recorded in recent years. 
This is a moral issue within the WTO, and as WTO Members we are all responsible for finding a 
solution to this situation, which is unacceptable to countries like ours. 
 The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Chad  to the World Trade Organization takes this 
opportunity to renew the assurances of its highest consideration to the WTO Secretariat. 
 
1. ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL MARKETS  
The Société Cotonnière du Tchad (COTONTCHAD) exported 31,700 tonnes of fibre in 2014 and 
envisages export production of 52,000 tonnes of fibre in 2015, i.e. an increase of almost 50%. This significant increase is linked to the crea tion of a business plan that envisages a gradual 
increase in production to 120,000 tonnes of fibre by 2018. 
 This business plan was adopted by  the Board of Directors, which includes representatives of the 
various Ministers responsible for agricultural poli cy in general and the development of the cotton 
sector in particular.  
 The increase in production has been possible th anks to the support the State has provided by 
selling inputs (fertilizer, insecticides and various other materials) to farmers to increase crop 
yields, and the increase in the purchase price paid to cotton farmers, which is set at 240 CFAF/kg for high-grade cotton. 
 
Cotton is of considerable economic and social importance to Chad. The Chadian government has spared no effort to provide financial support to increase cotton production, since this sector provides a livelihood, both directly and indirectly, for almost 3 million people. The cotton sector is 
the only sector that brings large quantities of fresh capital into producing regions. It helps to settle 
the population, and COTONTCHAD SN, which is in charge of purchasing, ginning and marketing, 
funds village associations with a view to the construction of classrooms and family health clinics. 
 
CFAF 20 billion in cash was distributed to farmers in 2014 for the purchase of seed cotton, and the company plans to provide CFAF 31 billion in 2015. In anticipation of the increase 
in production in the next two to three years, the Chadian State has committed itself, 
via the Development Bank of Central African States (BDEAC), to a long-term loan of approximately TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 90 - 
 
  CFAF 30 billion for COTONTCHAD SN, so as to ensure the renewal and strengthening of logistics 
and industrial infrastructure.  Due to the lack of cotton processing infrastructure at national and regional level, COTONTCHAD SN 
exports 98% of its production abroad. The main consumer markets are Asian and European 
countries. Although there are no particular restrictions affecting Chad directly, certain domestic policies implemented by wealthier countries distort competitiveness. This means that certain mills, 
while appreciating the intrinsic qualities of Chadian cotton, refrain from buying our cotton when 
they compare its price with the local prices of  their own production, which are driven down 
artificially. However, given the much appreciated quality of Chadian cotton, our sales remain steady, despite the fall in prices.  
 
Listed below are the main consumers of Chadian cotton in 2014 and 2015: 
EXPORTS OF CHADIAN COTTON BY COUNTRY 
COUNTRY QUANTITY (TONNES) 
2014 Projection for 2015 
Germany 1,500 3,500 
Portugal 2,550 5,200 
Spain 700 1,300 
Italy 200 900 
India 8,300 9,500 
Indonesia 3,380 5,800 
Bangladesh 11,415 18,220 
China 1,850 3,800 
Malaysia 180 680 
Thailand 500 600 
Viet Nam 1,125 2,500 
Total 31,700 52,000 
 
2. STATE DOMESTIC SUPPORT  
In 2014, the Chadian State budgeted 6.9 billion to support farmers by subsidizing fertilizer. 
For 2015, it budgeted 6.69 billion. Of the amount for 2014, COTONTCHAD SN received 3.5 billion, although nothing has yet been paid out under the 2015 budget due to the country's current economic and financial situation, which is particularly difficult. 
 
This support is consistent with the provisions of Article 6.2 on special and differential treatment for the promotion of agriculture and rural areas in lo w-income countries and the fight against poverty. 
 
Despite a difficult budgetary situation, due to the drop in oil prices which has spread to other raw materials and which has played a significant role in slowing down the country's economic growth, 
the Chadian State has fought to maintain its cotton sector, which is of considerable economic and 
social importance for millions of Chadians. The State's actions, which have had an important impact on priority sectors such as education and health, clearly demonstrate the Government's determination to do everything possible to ensure that this important sector does not disappear - 
something that would have disastrous consequences for Chad and its population. 
 Cotton plays a pivotal role in our country's development. It is competitive. And yet it suffers from 
the effects of the massive cotton subsidies provided by certain countries, which have the effect of 
driving down prices on the international market.  
For Chad, the time has come to move on from general statements and engage constructively in 
substantive discussions on the cotton issue. This belief forms the basis of its commitment and determination to continue negotiating with other C4 members at the WTO. Chad remains open to any initiatives that might help to find an acceptable solution to the cotton issue. 
 
3. EXPORT COMPETITION  
The massive support provided to farmers in the form of both production and operating subsidies 
by countries such as the United States and China and by the European Union constitute unfair competition and have been denounced for several years now by the C4 countries within the WTO TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 91 - 
 
  framework. The least developed countries (LDCs) continue to suffer the severe financial 
consequences of falling cotton prices. If all cotton-producing countries were on an equal footing in the international market, African cotton would be more competitive and the cotton sector would be making a profit instead of the successive losses recorded in recent years. 
 
Countries such as the United States and Ch ina have introduced mechanisms to help 
the C4 countries with a view to repairing the ha rm they have suffered, but these interventions 
amount to very little when compared with the hundreds of millions of dollars paid to their 
respective producers.  What is being demanded by the C4 countries in general, and by Chad in particular, is compliance 
with the WTO rules that condemn unfair competition and the artificial driving down of prices, 
rather than the rules on subsidies, which are already well defined and should be limited in terms of volume. 
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 92 - 
 
  Reply from China to the questionna ire circulated on 4 February 201533 
 First, China supports C-4's position and their request to solve their problem according to the Ministerial Decision on Cotton of December 2013 adopted at MC9. We also support the approach to 
solve the problem of cotton on the basis of the Agriculture Modalities of 2008 (TN/AG/W/4/Rev.4). 
We would continue to work together with all Members to find the solution to this issue.  
 
Second, China's cotton sector is subsistence farming.  
 China is among the largest cotton producers in the world. However, China's production is based on small-scale and subsistence farming, and the average acreage of cotton is 0.3 hectare per 
household. Moreover, China's cotton production is located remotely in the resource-poor and 
underdeveloped ethnic minority areas, serving as the only instrument for local livelihood security and poverty reduction.  
 
After joining the WTO, China's cotton production has shown a declining trend; the cotton acreage 
has diminished from 4.8 million hectares in 2001 to  4.3 million hectares in 2013. The main reason 
for such a decline is the high production cost compared to the lower price of cotton caused by 
subsidies of the developed Members.  Third, China's cotton subsidies are at minimal low level. 
 
China's agriculture support toolbox is short supplied compared to other WTO Members. It has no AMS including on cotton, no development box. China is only entitled to de minimis , for which the 
level is also lower than for other developing Members (8.5% versus 10%). 
 China's cotton support remains lower both in absolute terms and per capita terms. In absolute 
terms, China's cotton support is US$480 million. In per capita terms per cotton farmer, China's 
cotton support is only just US$16.  Fourth, China's cotton subsidy policy is a passive response. 
 
China has been the victim to the cotton subsidie s by the developed Members. Since its accession 
into the WTO, China's cotton imports surged fr om 113,000 tonnes to 4.2 million tonnes, while the 
cotton acreage actually diminished.  
 China's poor subsistence cotton farmers are over 30 million in household, and they will be forced 
out of jobs if the Government does not take the necessary actions. Therefore, the Chinese 
Government has no choice but to subsidize its poor cotton famers to offset the subsidies and safeguard the livelihood of those poor famers.  
Fifth, China's cotton subsidy policy does not distort international trade. 
 China's temporary cotton reserve policy is design ed to offset the turbulence of the volatile 
international market caused by the subsidies of developed Members. This policy does not create 
production distortion or trade distortion. On the production side, China's cotton production does not increase in a significant manner. On the import side, China's cotton import continues to 
increase from 2.8 million tonnes in 2010 to 4.2 million tonnes in 2013. If the import on cotton yarn 
is included, the cotton import will be increased fr om 4.1 million tonnes to 6.5 million tonnes, which 
provides strong incentives for all cotton producers and the developing ones in particular in the context of depressed global cotton prices. In addition, the cotton in stock is intended for domestic 
textile industry rather than for export, thus producing no distortion on international cotton market. 
 In the meantime, exports of Chinese textiles are still  subject to tariff peaks, tariff escalations and 
other protectionist measures of developed Members, which the developed Members intend to 
ignore through the so-called recalibration exercise.  
                                               
33 This reply was provided after the circulation of th e second revision of this background paper and is 
included in document TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.2/Add.1 - TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.2/Add.1. 
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 93 - 
 
  Sixth, China has made significant contribution to resolving the cotton issue. 
 China has been the largest cotton importer, and its share in the global cotton import has been consistently more than 50%, which creates a lot of market access for the export developing 
Members. 
 China has been extensively importing a large amount of cotton from African cotton-producing 
Members, including the C-4. During the period 2001 to 2013, China's cotton imports from Africa 
increased from 3,700 tonnes to 442,000 tonnes.  On the development assistance side, China has been committed to providing technical and 
financial assistance to the C-4 to enhance their production and export capacity. China signed 
cooperation Communiqués with the C-4 members in 2011 and 2013, respectively, which cover the 
supplies of agriculture inputs, training courses, technology transfer, etc. In addition, China has 
also been providing various cotton-related assistance to the C-4 through bilateral channels. 
 On the allocation of the cotton TRQ  
 
Regarding the allocation of TRQ of cotton, it is consistent with China's WTO commitment. Another related question is about the import exceeding the import quota. In addition to the 894,000 
tonnes, we import more than the TRQ subject to the sliding duties. 
 
On China's domestic support notification  
Regarding the notification, China has just updated its domestic support notification up to 2010, 
and preparation for new notifications is underway.  
On China's cotton stock 
 Regarding China's cotton stock, the stock is real, as we have imported more cotton than our obligation. We import cotton for textile processing, but we are facing a lot of difficulties in the 
textile sector as just mentioned. The other reason for the huge stock is that the price for cotton is 
distorted by the subsidies from developed Members. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 94 - 
 
  Reply from Colombia to the questionnaire ci rculated on 4 February 2015 (original reply 
in Spanish)  The WTO questionnaire requests updated information (2014) on cotton-related policy 
developments. 
 1) Market access:  Although in the FTA with the United States Colombia granted immediate 
tariff-free access for cotton from the US, by Resolution 44 of 2015 the 
Colombian Government opened a 20,400 tonne import quota at a zero tariff rate for uncarded and uncombed cotton under tariff subheading 5201.00.30.00 originating in the countries with which Colombia does not currently have any trade agreements. This quota 
was opened to help supply the industry foll owing the decline in production. In 2014, the 
area under cotton had fallen by 59% compared to 2004, from 81,000 to 33,000 hectares. During the same period production fell by 43%, from 147,000 tonnes in 2004 to 
83,000 tonnes in 2014. 
2) Domestic support:  Although the measure is not new, in 2014 farmers were paid 48 billion 
Colombian pesos through the Minimum Guaranteed Price (PMG). On average, cotton fibre 
producers received 1,580,495 Colombian pesos pe r tonne in compensation during that year. 
The Minimum Guaranteed Price is maintained as an instrument to protect the income of domestic cotton producers. Colombia does not have any new or updated instruments for cotton; in other words, the sector does not have any other types of direct or sector-specific 
support measures. 
3) Export competition:  Colombia did not apply any export competition measures. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 95 - 
 
  Reply from Egypt to the questionnaire circulated on 4 February 2015 
 1. Applied tariffs on cotton versus bound tariffs (2015) 
HS Description Applied tariff 2015 
% Bound 
Tariff % 
5201.00 Cotton, not carded or combed Free 5 
5202.00 Cotton waste (including yarn waste and garnetted stock)   
5202.10 - Yarn waste (including thread waste) 5 5 
 - Other:   
5202.91 -- Garnetted stock 5 5 
5202.99 -- Other 5 5 
5203.00 Cotton, carded or combed 5 5 
 
2. Egyptian cotton trade 
 2012 2013 2014 
Quantity 
(tonnes) Value 
(USD 
million) Quantity 
(tonnes) Value 
(USD 
million) Quantity 
(tonnes) Value 
(USD 
million) 
Exports 86,775.62 197.07 67,097.50 136.69 37,313.53 89.90 
Imports 16,412.16 44.47 4,833,833.36 170.41 76,436.45 175.94 
 
3. Egyptian cotton production (in metric cantars, 1 metric cantar = 50 kg) 
 
Year 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 
production 3,685,927 2,164,949 1,880,564 2,482,198 
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 96 - 
 
  Reply from the European Union to the ques tionnaire circulated on 4 February 2015 
 Direct payments for cotton in accordance with Article 6.5 
 
The EU provided direct payments for cotton in ac cordance with Article 6.5 of the Agreement on 
Agriculture in following am ounts (in million EUR).  
 
Description of Measure 2011 2012 2013 
Payments based on fixed area and yi elds: Cotton (Title IV, Chapter 1, 
Section 6 of Regulation (EC) No 73/2009; from 2015, Title IV, Chapter 2 of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013) 245.8 242.3 231.8 
Support for cotton complying with Annex 2 criteria 
 
Cotton in the EU is mainly grown in Greece and in the Spanish regions of Andalucía and Murcia (Bulgaria produces cotton on less than 1 000 ha). There are no Green Box measures for cotton 
applied in Murcia, whereas in Greece and Andalucía cotton growers could apply, among other 
producers, for support under certain agri-environmental measures, upon finalisation of the 2014-2020 rural development programs of Andalucía and Greece. These measures aim at encouraging cotton farmers (as cotton is an irrigated crop) to diversify and grow non-irrigated 
crops. The objective of the measure is to preser ve the environment by reducing the consumption 
of irrigated water, reduce the use of chemical  inputs and limit the release of greenhouse gas 
emissions. 
Other support measures for cotton 
 
Cotton production in the EU is not subject to any product specific AMS payments and no export 
subsidies, tariffs, SSG, TRQs or other non-tariff measures (SPS, TBT, general safeguard or anti-
dumping measures, countervailing duties, state trading enterprises and quantitative restrictions) apply on cotton in the EU.  
Market overview 
 
The EU cotton sector was heavily affected by th e 2006 reform. The decoupling of the support led 
to a relative drop in the profitability of cotton compared to competing crops, such as certain 
cereals, oilseed and pulses. This had an effect of a decrease in planted areas of cotton. Since the 2006 reform, developments in the EU cotton sector have followed trends on the world market, and 
production and the area planted have never reached levels prior to the 2006 reform. 
Production of ginned cotton in the EU from 2001 to 2014 (in '000 tonnes) 
 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005  2006  2007  2008  2009  2010  2011 2012 2013 2014e  
Bulgaria 10,1 10 4,2 2,6 1,3  1,1 0,8 0,7 0,5 0,9 0,4 0,3   
Spain 104 101,8 96,5 115,1 113,4  47,8 42,4 18,6 26,4 38 60,3 62,9 48,0 61,4 
Greece 400 362 311 331 352  284,8  236,2  217,8  215,2  183,8  233,2 260 298  330 
EU 514,1 473,8 411,7 448,7 466,7  333,7  279,4  237,1  242,1  222,7  293,9 323,2 346,0  391,4  
Production of unginned cotton in the EU from 2001 to 2014 (in '000 tonnes) 
 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005  2006  2007  2008  2009  2010  2011 2012 2013 2014e  
Bulgaria  30,6 30,3 12,7 7,9 3,9 3,3 2,4 2,1 1,5 1,2 0,9
Spain 315,2 308,5 292,4 348,8 343,6 144,8 128,5 56,4 80,0 115,1 182,8 190,7 145,6 186
Greece 1 212,1 1 097,0 942,4 1 003,0 1  066,7 863,0 715,8 660,0 652,1 557,0 706,7 787,9 903,0 1  000
EU 1 557,9 1 435,8 1 247,6 1 359,7 1 414,2 1 011,2 846,7 718,5 733,6 674,8 890,7 979,5 1 048,6 1 186
Source: Eurostat, USDA and Agrosynergie. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 97 - 
 
  Reply from Israel to the questionna ire circulated on 4 February 201534 
 Israel's budgetary outlay for cotton in both thousand US$ and thousand tonnes (marketing year, 1 October-30 September) for 2013 and 2014 were zero. 
 
In addition, market price support, non-exempt di rect payments, other product-specific support, 
product-specific EMS during 2013 and 2014 were also zero. 
 
Product-specific AMS (non-exempt direct payments) for cotton during 2014 was 
US$47,000 (de minimis). 
                                               
34 This reply was provided after the circulation of th e second revision of this background paper and is 
included in document TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.2/Add.1 - TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.2/Add.1. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 98 - 
 
  Reply from Mali to the questionnaire circulat ed on 4 February 2015 (original reply in 
French)  The questionnaire concerns updated information on new or recent cotton-related policy 
developments since January 2014, targeting all three policy pillars, i.e.: 
 
 Market Access; 
 Domestic Support; and 
 Export Competition. 
The questionnaire also requests information on the impact of these developments and future 
prospects. 
 
At this stage, and based on a reading of the WTO Secretariat document, we can provide the following responses: 
 
A. DEVELOPMENTS  
New or updated developments since January 2014 include the following: 
 1.1.  As regards market access:  
 enhanced quality through compliance with standards and control of contaminants; 
 production cost control (negotiation of best-selling prices); 
 management of shipment deadlines (observance of contractual deadlines); 
 improved production and productivity (market supply); 
 marking of bales with cotton types; 
 promotional missions in cooperation with the African Cotton Association (ACA) and the ITC; 
 round tables with spinners and traders (Dakar and Geneva, February and April 2014). 
1.2.  As regards domestic support:  
 support for local lint processing industries through performance contracts; 
 facilitating access for agricultural inputs in terms of quality, quantity and timely delivery; 
 strengthening of the fertilizer quality control mechanism; 
 programme for the restructuring and upgrading of industrial enterprises. 
1.3.  As regards export competition:  increased value-added of cotton byproducts; 
 lowering of basic purchase price (market/producer income balance); 
 strengthening of local processing of lint; 
 afore-mentioned measures aimed at ensuring better market access. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 99 - 
 
  B. IMPACT OF REFORMS 
 The financial impact of the reforms amounts to around […] (Ministry of the Economy and Finance). We also highlight the following:  
 
 the quality of Mali's lint has gained greater regional and international recognition; 
 major investments have been made for the establishment of oil mills; 
 all cotton seeds are crushed locally, creating value-added and jobs. 
C. PROSPECTS 
 There are numerous prospects encompassing the whole range of cotton subsector areas of activity, 
governance and institutional aspects. These include, inter alia : 
  boosting cotton industry development; 
 representation of producers on the Governing Board of the CMDT; 
 adoption of a new privatization scheme; 
 development of a national cotton processing policy; 
 reinforcement of the national cotton and cotton product quality enhancement strategy; 
 emergence of modern farming operations; 
 soil protection and rehabilitation; 
 adaptation of production plant and equipment; and 
 development of the value chain approach. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 100 - 
 
  Reply from Peru to the questionna ire circulated on 4 February 2015  (original reply in 
Spanish)  1. Market access 
a. Modification of the ad valorem c.i.f. tariff rates for a group of national subheadings, 
including cotton and its byproducts. 
1. Legal basis 
 DS No. 312-2014-EF:  Modifies ad valorem  c.i.f. tariff rates for a group of national 
subheadings and modifies the descrip tion of a national subheading. 
 DS No. 314-2014-EF:  Modifies Annex 1 of DS No. 312-2014-EF. 
Table 1: Modifications concerning cotton products  
Bound duty Applied duty 
Tariff line 
(HS 2002) Designation Bound duty Tariff line 
(HS 2012) MFN 
Before the  
change Current 
MFN 
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste and 
garnetted stock)     
5202100000 - Yarn waste (including thread waste)  30% 5202100000  6% 0%  
52029 - Other:      
5202910000 -- Garnetted stock 30%  5202910000  6% 0%  
5202990000 -- Othe r 30% 5202990000  6% 0%  
Source: Ministry of the Economy and Finance Preparation: Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism 
2. Domestic support 
a. Cotton Financing Programme (2014-2015 season) 
1. Description of the programme: 
 
Funding programme consisting of the provision of repayable loans to eligible cotton producers in 
the coastal region for support activities (seasonal), including the purchase of inputs, machinery, labour, administrative costs and technical assistance. 
 
2. Objective:  Provision of loans to finance cotton farming. The financing is intended for the purchase of inputs 
(seed, fertilizers and agrochemicals), machinery, labour, administrative costs and 
technical assistance.  
3. Beneficiaries: 
 Cotton producers, through formally established cooperative organizations and/or committees 
which, in addition, are involved in business management and technical assistance work and 
participated in the 2013-2014 season.  The programme concerns only cotton producers located in the coastal region. 
 
4. Duration:  
The 2014-2015 season began in July 2014, and the payments ended in March 2015. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 101 - 
 
  5. Form of benefit: 
For the 2014-2015 season, AGROBANCO developed a funding programme at a preferential rate for 
cotton producers (Annual Effective Rate: 12%). Financing reached a maximum amount of S/4,900 per hectare
35, with a maximum of four hectares per producer, distributed as follows: 
Category Amount (in soles) 
Inputs and services: seed, fertilizers, agrochemicals 2,300.00 
Machinery and labour 2,330.00 
Technical assistance 160.00 
Administrative costs 50.00 
Technical management 60.00 
Total 4,900.00 
Source: Cotton Programme – AGROBANCO 
Preparation: MINCETUR  
It should be pointed out that the financing programme goes hand in hand with a marketing 
programme which aims to bring the producer and buyer together in order to improve the price 
of the quintal of raw cotton in the different production areas. 
3. Export competition  
Peru does not provide export subsidies fo r agricultural products, including cotton. 
 
The latest notification, submitted pursuant to Article 18.2 of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture 
and document G/AG/2 (Notification Requirements and Formats), concerns export subsidy 
commitments (Table ES:1) for the year 2013 and was circulated as WTO document 
G/AG/N/PER/13 of 19 June 2014. It notifies that Peru provided no export subsidies in respect of agricultural products in 2013.  
                                               
35 This amount is lower when the producer can do wi thout a certain category either because it can fund 
the resources itself or because it already has them. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 102 - 
 
  Reply from Russian Federation to the ques tionnaire circulated on 4 February 2015 
 1. Market Access  
The Russian Federation does not produce cotton at industrial scale. Cotton processing industry 
fully depends on imported cotton fiber, which comes mainly from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Import and export du ties on cotton fiber are fixed at zero level. 
 
Cotton exports and imports of Russian Federation (thousand US dollars) 
  2011 2012 2013 2014 
Export     
Kazakhstan 1,780.8 - 15.3 -  
Moldova, Republic of 945.1 - - -  
Republic of Belarus - 604.1 670.6 1,946.4  
Ukraine  3,077.6 - 398.2 -  
Total 5,803.5 604.1 1,084.1 1,946.4  
Import     
Afghanistan 377.4 - - -  
Azerbaijan 2,681.8 - - -  
Burkina Faso 915.3 - - -  
Cameroon  361.3 - - -  
Egypt  597.7 22.7 - 43.1  
Japan  - 15.3 7.6 -  
Kazakhstan 29,673.9 34,318.0 33,670.9 24,908.9  
Kyrgyz Republic  29,534.5 29,052.6 14,285.6 6,806.2  
Latvia  937.6 - - -  
Republic of Uzbekistan 99,637.8 20,062.8 20,327.4 31,320.7  
Tajikistan 39,963.0 26,383.8 16,551.1 13,195.3  
Turkey 2,417.6 1,524.2 1,082.5 3,218.2  
Turkmenistan 6,373.9 3,099.6 7,199.0 7,508.7  
United States of America  856.9 - - -  
Total 214,307.7  115,036.1  93,124.1 87,001.1  
 
2. Domestic Support  
In 2014 the Russian Federation budget had not prov ided funds for the development of the cotton 
industry. At the same time, regional authorities have been invited to submit proposals on the issue of domestic support for the industrial production of cotton. At present the main obstacle for production of cotton at industrial scale is the lack of cultivation practice in the Russian Federation, 
as well as domestic plant protection products for the cultivation of cotton and the lack of industrial 
capacity for primary processing of raw cotton.  
3. Export Competition 
 According to the obligations foreseen in paragraph 1189 of the Report of the Working Party on the 
accession of the Russian Federation to the WTO (WT/ACC/RUS/70), the Russian Federation did not 
provide export subsidies to agricultural products during the calendar year 2014.    TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 103 - 
 
  Reply from the United States of Americ a to the questionnaire circulated on 
4 February 2015  The 2014 Farm Bill substantially changes support fo r upland cotton. The 2014 Farm Bill eliminated 
a number of programs that benefited current and historical producers of upland cotton and 
covered commodities. The eliminated programs include direct and countercyclical payments, Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE), and Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) 
programs. Under the 2014 Farm Bill, upland cotton producers continue to be eligible to participate 
in the marketing assistance loan and loan defici ency payment program, although at a potentially 
lower loan rate. In addition, the 2014 Farm Bill reduced the loan rate for upland cotton from $0.52 per pound to an adjusted rate based on prevailing world prices, but no less than $0.47 per 
pound or more than $0.52 per pound. Traditional crop yield and revenue insurance policies also 
continue to be available for upland cotton under the new farm bill.  
The Stacked Income Protection Plan (STAX) program was introduced in the 2014 Farm Bill. STAX 
is an additional insurance option for upland cotton producers only. Beginning with crop year 2015, upland cotton producers are eligible to purchase policies under STAX that cover a portion of the 
expected revenue in a producer’s area, usually a single county. STAX polices can supplement other 
insurance coverage available through the Federal crop insurance program or be purchased as a 
stand-alone policy. STAX offers coverage for up to 20% of the expected area revenue and can be purchased in increments of 5, 10, 15, or 20%. Lo ss payments begin when area revenue falls below 
90
% of its expected level, unless a producer chooses a lower loss trigger, and reach their 
maximum when area revenue falls to 70 % o f  e x p e c t e d  l e v e l ,  o r  t o  t h e  l e v e l  c o v e r e d  b y  a  
producer's underlying policy. 
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 104 - 
 
  Reply from the United States of Americ a to the questionnaire circulated on 
4 February 2015 (Addendum)36 
 Update on  US Initiative to Provide Duty-Free A ccess for Cotton Products for LDCs under 
the US GSP Program 
 At the December 2011 WTO Ministerial, the US  committed to providing duty-free/quota-free 
access to upland cotton products for least-developed countries. Part of this commitment was 
fulfilled in June 2012 when President Obama made seven cotton products eligible for duty-free treatment for least-developed beneficiary developi ng countries (LDBDCs) of the US Generalized 
System of Preferences (GSP) program effective 1 July 2012. At that time, the five remaining 
HTS lines for upland cotton products were statutorily prohibited from being added to eligibility for 
GSP because they were for out-of-quota quantities of the subject products.  
The Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, enac ted on 29 June 2015, gave the President the 
legal authority to fully implement the US commitment. Specifically, the law (1) reauthorized the GSP program and (2) gave the President the authorit y to add the five out-of-quota cotton products 
to GSP for LDBDCs. 
 In a 6 July 2015 Federal Register notice, USTR announced the launch of a limited GSP review that 
includes consideration of adding to GSP, for LDBD Cs only, the five tariff lines for out-of-quota 
quantities of upland cotton products. Pursuant to US regulations, the Federal Register  notice 
invited public comments and testimony at a public hearing on these possible additions to the list of 
GSP-eligible products.
37 Public comments on the proposed addition of the five cotton products 
were due on 31 July 2015; and the USTR-chaired GSP Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff 
Committee held the public hearing on 11 August 2015.  
The Trade Policy Staff Committee is expected to conclude its review in September and provide its 
recommendation to the US Trade Representative on whether the five cotton products should be added to GSP for LDBDCs. The President, drawing on  the advice of the US Trade Representative, is 
expected to make a final decision on proposed product additions prior to 1 October 2015. 
Any changes to GSP product eligibility would be announced in a Presidential Proclamation. 
 The following products were added to the list of  products eligible for duty-free treatment for 
LDBDC under the US GSP program effective 1 July 2012.  
 
HTS Subheading Brief Description 
5201.00.22 Cotton, not carded or combed, staple length of 28.575 mm or more but under 
34.925 mm, described in gen. note 15 
5201.00.24 Cotton, n/carded or combed, harsh or rough, staple length 29.36875 mm or more but 
n/o 34.925 mm, white in color, quota described Ch 52 add US note 6 
5201.00.34 Cotton, not carded or combed, staple length of 28.575 mm or more but under 
34.925 mm, other, quota described in chapter 52 add'l US note 7 
5202.91.00 Cotton garneted stock 
5203.00.05 Cotton fibers, carded or combed, of cotton fiber processed but not spun, described in 
gen. note 15 
5203.00.10 Cotton fibers, carded or combed, of cotton fiber processed but not spun, quota 
described in chapter 52 add'l US note 10 
5203.00.50 Cotton carded or combed, excluding fibers of cotton processed but not spun 
 
                                               
36 The United States of America provided an additional  reply after the circulation of the second revision 
of this background paper. This reply is in cluded in document TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.2/Add.1 - 
TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.2/Add.1. 
37 Further information on this review can be found on USTR's GSP website at https://ustr.gov/issue-
areas/preference-programs/generalized-syste m-preferences-gsp/current-reviews/gsp-20142015 . TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 105 - 
 
  The following products are now being considered for addition to the list of products eligible for 
duty-free treatment for LDBDCs  under the US GSP program. 
 
HTS 
Subheading Brief Description 
5201.00.18 Cotton, not carded or combed, having a staple length under 28.575 mm (1-1/8 inches), 
n/harsh or rough, nesoi 
5201.00.28 Cotton, not carded or combed, harsh or rough, staple length of 29.36875 mm or more but 
under 34.925 mm & white in color, nesoi 
5201.00.38 Cotton, not carded or combed, staple length of 28.575 mm or more but under 34.925 mm, 
nesoi 
5202.99.30 Cotton card strips made from cotton waste having staple length under 30.1625 mm & lap, 
sliver & roving waste, nesoi 
5203.00.30 Cotton fibers, carded or combed, of cotton fiber processed, but not spun, nesoi TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 106 - 
 
  ANNEX 5 
INFORMATION ON COTTON MARKETS AND POLICIES FROM 
THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM38 
1.1.  At the second dedicated discussion of the relevant trade-related developments for cotton, 
Members agreed that, in order to complement the revised background paper to be prepared by the 
WTO Secretariat, the Secretariat would compile information related to cotton markets and policies contained in the most recent Trade Policy Review (TPR) reports.
39 
1.2.  The Secretariat searched the most recent TPR reports available by Governments and by the 
WTO Secretariat for the 32 Members identified in paragraphs 8 to 10 of this paper. Information that met the following two criteria has been included in this Annex: (1) information relevant to cotton markets and policies; and (2) information not presented elsewhere in this background 
paper. 
1.3.  No relevant information was found for the following thirteen Members:
40 Bahrain, Kingdom of 
(April 2014); Canada (June 2015); Hong Kong, China (November 2014); Iceland 
(November 2012); Japan (March 2015); Kenya (November 2012)41; Korea, Republic of 
(September 2012); Malaysia (March 2014); New Zealand (July 2015); Russian Federation42; 
Norway (October 2012); Switzerland (September 2013) and Chinese Taipei (September 2014).43 
1.4.  For the remaining 19 Members, the relevant information found is presented below by 
Member. The date of the most recent TPR report available, as well as the type of report and the document symbol for the report, are indicated ne xt to each Member. Except for Bangladesh, no 
relevant information was found in the most recent Government reports available for these 
19 Members.  
1.5.  Information is listed along with the headings of the chapters from which it is extracted, and 
"…" represents information left out from  a table, a paragraph or a chapter. 
1.6.  Information not directly linked to cotton markets and policies but which provides context for 
understanding the above-mentioned information may have also been included based on the 
Secretariat's own judgement and is without prejudice to information excluded from this Annex.  
                                               
38 The purpose of the Trade Policy Review Mechanism ("TPRM") is to contribute to improved adherence 
by all Members to rules, disciplines and commitments made under the Multilateral Trade Agreements and, where applicable, the Plurilateral Trade Agreements, and hence to the smoother functioning of the multilateral trading system, by achieving greater tr ansparency in, and understanding of, the trade policies and practices of 
Members. Accordingly, the review mechanism enables the regular collective appreciation and evaluation of the full range of individual Members' trade policies and practices and their impact on the functioning of the 
multilateral trading system. It is not, however, intended  to serve as a basis for th e enforcement of specific 
obligations under the Agreements or for dispute settlement procedures, or  to impose new policy commitments 
on Members ( Annex 3 (A)(i) of the Marrakesh Agreement). 
39 Paragraph 13 of the qperson report of the second dedicated discussion of th e relevant trade-related 
developments for cotton (TN/AG/29 and TN/AG/SCC/3). 
40 The date in brackets is that of th e most recent TPR report available. 
41 Joint Trade Policy Review of th e East African Co mmunity (EAC). 
42 The first TPR of the Russian Federation is scheduled for 2016. 
43 The Secretariat report for the 2014 TPR (WT/TPR/S/302) is being revised therefore the report from 
the previous TPR (July 2010) was used and no relevant information was found.  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 107 - 
 
  AUSTRALIA (MARCH 2015) - SECRETARIAT REPORT (WT/TPR/S/312) 
"4. TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
4.2 Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries 4.2.2 Main policy developments 
4.2.2.2 Domestic support measures 
 Under its Carbon Farming Futures Program (2011-2017), Australia has implemented a Filling the 
Research Gap, Action on the Ground, Extension and Outreach Program, and related offset 
incentives.
44 
 APPENDIX TABLES 
Table A1. 1 Merchandise exports, by product groups, 2010-13 
  2010 2011 2012 2013 
Total exports (US$ billion) 212.5 270.1 256.6 253.7 
Total exports ($A billion) 231.1 261.7 247.8 262.0 
 (% of total) 
Total primary products 77.3 79.8 79.0 80.4 
Agriculture 13.9 14.3 15.5 15.8 
… … … … … 
Agricultural raw material 2.5 3.0 3.0 3.0 
2631  Cotton (other than linters), not carded or combed 0.5 1.0 1.1 1.0 
… … … …  … 
Source: WTO Secretariat calculations, based on data provided by the Australian authorities in SITC four-digit 
classification. 
                                               
44 … Under the Action on the Ground funding prog ramme, farmers and land managers undertake 
on-farm trials of abatement technolo gies, practices and management stra tegies to measure and demonstrate 
how they can reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emis sions of methane and nitrous oxide or increase the 
sequestration of carbon in soil while maintaining or improving farm productivity. By March 2014, 89 multi-year grants worth up to $A 44.29 million had received funding; these projects  were trialling a diverse range of 
on-farm practices and management strategies, on more than 530 properties across the country. By April 2013, 
24 projects valued at $A 21.3 million were funded  under the Extension and Outreach program supporting 
sector-specific projects, including the livestock, dairy, ho rticulture, cotton and grains  industries (Department of 
Agriculture online information. Viewed at: http://www.daff.gov.au/about/current-grants ; and Productivity 
Commission, 2013d). TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 108 - 
 
  BANGLADESH (OCTOBER 2012) - GOVERNMENT REPORT (WT/TPR/G/270) 
"II. RECENT ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE 
Table 6. - Composition of Bangladesh's import 
Commodity 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
Total import (c.i.f.) 14,746 17, 157 21,629 22,507 23,738 33,657 
Of which:        
… … … … … … … 
16. Raw cotton 5.0% 5.0% 5.6% 5.7% 6.1% 8.0% 
… … … … … … … 
Source: Bangladesh Economic Review, 2012 
 
III. TRADE POLICY DEVELOPMENT 
 
Since 2011 the Government has imposed export tax on bricks, tobacco and cotton waste in order to discourage production of tobacco and bric ks on health and environmental reasons and 
discourage export of cotton waste to safeguard interests of growing local industry."  
 
Secretariat Report (WT/TPR/S/270/Rev.1) 
"III. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE 
 (1)
 Measures Directly Affecting Imports 
 
(iv) Tariffs and other charges 
Table III.2 - Tariff struct ure, 2005/06 and 2011/12 
  MFN applied SAFTA 
2005/06 2011/12 2011/12 
… … … … 
Memo:    
WTO agriculture 18.0 17.8 13.1 
… … … … 
Cotton 4.0 3.3 1.9 
… … … … 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on data  received by the Bangladeshi authorities.  
 
(2) Measures Directly Affecting Exports 
 
(ii) Export taxes, charges, and levies  
In 2010/11, export duties were applied to tobacco and tobacco products (10%), cotton waste 
(25%), and ceramic building bricks (25%) in order to discourage production of these products. According to the authorities, brick production is not environmentally friendly and tobacco production occupies land needed for essential crops. Duty on the export of cotton waste is 
intended to encourage the use of cotton waste in Bangladesh.  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 109 - 
 
  IV. TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
 (2)
 Agriculture 
 
(b) Food security 
Table IV.4 - Developments in domest ic support to agriculture, 2002-07 
(US$ million) 
 2002/03 2004/05 2006/07 
Total domestic support (I+II+III)    
… … … … 
II. Measures exempt from the reduction commitment - "Green Box" 
General services 52.4 95.5 75.1 
(i) Research and development of non-rice crops, (fruit, 
vegetables, spices) except sugar cane, jute, cotton, and tea 9.32 10.9 23.6 
… … … … 
(iv) Research and development of cotton 0.35 0.36 0.2 
… … … … 
Source: Notification from Bangladesh, G/AG/N/BGD/3, 4 May 2011 covering FY2002/03, 2004/05 
and 2006/07. 
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 110 - 
 
  BRAZIL (JUNE 2013) - SECRETARIAT REPORT (WT/TPR/S/283/REV.1) 
"3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE 
3.2 Measures Directly Affecting Imports 
3.2.3 Tariffs 
3.2.3.3 Preferences 
 
Table 3.4 Summary analysis of tariffs a ccording to preferential agreements, 2012 
 
No. of 
lines MFN GUY CHI BOL Mexico PER COL ECU VEN CUB IND ISR 
Total 10,031 11.7 11.6 7.1  6.9 11.4 11.5 6.8 7.6 6.9 7.3 9.6 11.6  8.1 
HS 01-24 1,252 10.3 10.0 6.3 6.1 9.8 10.3 6.2 6.4 6.4 6.3 8.6 10.3 7.0 
HS 25-97 8,779 11.9 11.9 7.2  7.0 11.6 11.7 6.9 7.8 7.0 7.4 9.7 11.8  8.3 
By WTO category               
WTO 
Agriculture 1,030 10.2 9.8 5.3  5.2 9.6 10.2 5.2 5.4 5.4 5.3 8.4 10.1  6.0 
… … … … …  … … … … … … … … …  … 
- Cotton 7 7.4 7.4 4.3 3.7 7.4 7.4 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.7 7.4 7.4 2.4 
… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 
Source: WTO Secretariat estimates, based on data provided by the Brazilian authorities. 
4 TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR 
4.2 Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries 
4.2.3 Domestic support measures 4.2.3.3 Minimum price guarantees 
Brazil operates several programmes based on minimum price guarantees, which support the 
production of a wide range of commodities, includ ing corn, rice, cotton, and wheat. According to 
OECD estimates, price support schemes accounted for more than half of transfers granted to 
farmers during 2008-10. Their overall effect, howe ver, appears to be modest, as annual budgets 
are limited and partly targeted at less developed regions and low-income farmers.
45 
Table 4.5 Price support programmes, 2012  
Price Support Programme/Description Use/Cost 
… 
Premium for Product Outflow (PEP)  
The CONAB grants an equalization premium to wholesalers who agree to 
pay farmers a reference price. The premium is determined in public 
auctions and generally reflects th e difference between the reference 
price and the market price. In additi on to guaranteeing minimum prices 
for producers, the PEP is used to shif t the supply of agricultural products 
across regions, so as to avoid shortages and prevent the accumulation of 
stocks. In theory, all products included in the PGPM can participate in 
the PEP; however, the programme has been used for only a few 
products so far, mainly  cotton, corn, wheat, sisal, beans, rice, and wine.   Premiums paid under PEP totalled 
was R$279.5 million in 2011, of 
which R$190.6 million for rice, 
R$58.3 million for wheat, and 
R$30.6 million for sisal. 
… … 
Source: Law No. 11,775 of 17 September 2008; CONAB online information. Viewed at: 
http://www.conab.gov.br/conteudos.php?a=1255&t= ; and CONAB (2012), Relátorio De Gestão 
2011. Viewed at: http://www.conab.gov.br/conteudos.php?a=23&t=1.  
                                               
45 OECD (2011). TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 111 - 
 
  4.2.3.4 Measures to promote family farming 
Table 4.6 Budget allocated to family fa rming programmes and measures, harvest 
year 2012/13 
Programme Description Budget  
… … … 
Price Guarantee 
Programme for Family 
Farming (PGPAF) An indexation of the credit take n out by family farmers under the 
PRONAF, through which the price is fixed when the credit is 
granted. Upon repayment of the PRONAF's credit, if the price of 
the product financed has decreased, the farmer benefits from a 
discount from the amou nt due, equivalent  to the difference 
between the product's market price and the price set in the 
programme's index. The limit for the PGPAF bonus per farmer is 
R$7,000 each year. The programme covers 49 products, including 
corn, cotton, rice, milk, and oranges. R$90 million 
… … … 
Source: MDS online information. Viewed at: ht tp://www.mds.gov.br/segur ancaalimentar/fomento-a-
producao-e-a-estruturacao-produtiva-1/fomento-as -atividades-produtivas-r urais; CAIXA online 
information. Viewed at: http://www.caixa.gov.br/ voce/Social/Transferenci a/fomento/ index.asp; 
MDA online information. Viewed at: http://comu nidades.mda.gov.br/portal/saf/programas/, and 
MDA (2010), Plano Safra da Agricultura Familiar 2010-2011 . Viewed at: 
http://www.agricultura.pr.gov.br/arquivos/File/deral/psafra_ag_familiar_2010_11.pdf .  
APPENDIX TABLES 
Table A1.2 Merchandise exports by groups of products, 2007-12 
(US$ million and %) 
Description 2007  2008  2009  2010 2011 2012  
Total 160,649  197,942  152,995  197,356 256,039 242,580  
 (% of total exports) 
Total primary products 50.1 53.3 59.0 63.2 64.2 62.7  
  Agriculture 30.1 31.0 37.7 34.8 33.8 35.6 
   Food 26.2  27.4 33.9 30.8 30.2 31.8  
     … … … … … … … 
   Agricultural raw material 3.8  3.6 3.8 4.0 3.5 3.8  
     … … … … … … … 
     2631 Cotton (other than linters), not carded or 
combed 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.6 0.9  
     … …  … … … … …  
Source: UNSD, Comtrade database (SITC Rev.3). 
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 112 - 
 
  CHINA (JULY 2014) - SECRETARIAT REPORT (WT/TPR/S/300/REV.1) 
3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE 
3.2 Measures Directly Affecting Exports 3.2.3 Export prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing 
Table 3.10 Products subject to ex port quotas and licensing, 2013 
Products Type of licence Comment 
Goods subject to quota and licensing   
Rice, maize, wheat, cotton, coal. Export quota licensing The quota is allocated by NDRC.  
… … … 
Source: Information provided by the Chinese authorities. 
3.3 Measures Affecting Production and Trade 
3.3.2 Competition policy and price controls 3.3.2.6 Price controls 
 
Government prices are applied to items subject to  state monopoly, such as tobacco and salt, and 
to public-interest items, such as educational material.
46 Government-guided prices are applied to 
refined oil, fertilizers, and natural gas. Products classified as the State's key reserve materials 
(grain, cotton, sugar, silkworm cocoons, crude oi l, processed oil, and chemical fertilizers), are 
included in the Government Pricing Catalogue released in 2001 and, according to the Catalogue, 
could be subject to government prices (Table 3.14). … 
 3.3.3 State trading, state-owned enterprises, and privatization 
 
Under the Foreign Trade Law (2004), the State may subject certain goods to state trading. The 
reasons for maintaining state trading for certain products in China seem to have remained unchanged since the last Review; these include: ensuring stable supply and prices of the products 
concerned; safeguarding China's food security; and protecting exhaustible and non-recyclable 
natural resources and the environment. Imports su bject to state trading continue to comprise: 
grain (including wheat, maize, and rice), sugar, co tton, chemical fertilizers, tobacco, crude oil, and 
processed oil (Table 3.16).
47 
It appears that the functioning of the state-trading system has not changed substantially since the 
last Review in 2012. In principle, goods subject to state trading can be imported (and exported) 
only by authorized enterprises.48 However, products subject to tariff-rate quotas (grain, cotton, 
sugar, and certain chemical fertilizers) may also be imported by non-state-trading enterprises, as 
may imports of crude oil. Tobacco is the only state-traded product which can be traded solely by authorized enterprises. The non-state-trading portion of these goods is allocated either by the 
NDRC, in the case of grains and cotton, or by  MOFCOM for the other products. The NDRC and 
MOFCOM issue on a yearly basis the criteria for an enterprise to acquire trading rights for these products, the volumes they can import and the allocation method. The quantities imported under 
state trading are not available.
49 
                                               
46 NDRC online information. Viewed at: http://www.sdpc.gov.cn/zfdj/djfw/t20050707_130525.htm 
(in Chinese only), 20 August 2013. 
47 Imports subject to state trading do not seem to have changed since 2003 when China provided its 
last notification regarding state trading (WTO document G/STR/N/9/CHN/Add.1, 14 July 2003). 
48 Article 11 of the Foreign Trade Law. 
49 Information provided by the authorities of China. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 113 - 
 
  Table 3.16 Imports under state trading, 2011-13  
Product HS code Percentage of TRQ allocated 
to state-trading enterprises in 
  2011 2012 2013 
… … … … … 
Cotton 52010000; 52030000 33 33 33 
… … … …   … 
Source: National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Announc ement No. 35 of 2012 [Grains and 
cotton]. Viewed at: http://www.ndrc.gov.cn/zcfb/zcfbgg/2012gg/t20121008_508641.htm  
(in Chinese only); MOFCOM Announcement No. 59 of 2012 on Detailed Rules for Applying and 
Distributing Import Tariff Quota of Sugar for 2013. Viewed at: http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/aarticle/policyrelease/buwei/201209/20120908366253.html ; 
MOFCOM Announcement No. 61, 2012 on Total Impo rt Amount, Distribution  Rules and Relevant 
Procedures for Tariff Quotas of Chemical Fertilizer for 2013. Viewed at: http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/article/policyrelease/buwei/201210/20121008384037.shtml ; and 
MOFCOM online information [Fertilizer]. Viewed at: 
http://www.mofcom.gov.cn/aarticle/b/e/201210/2012100837 6628.html (in Chinese only). 
The export products subject to state trading and the enterprises in charge of trading these 
products have not changed substantially since the last Review. In 2013, exports subject to 
state trading were rice, maize, cotton, coal, crude oil, tungsten ore and products, antimony ore 
and products, silver and tobacco (Table 3.17). The volume of export subject to state trading is 
determined taking into account international and domestic supply and demand. The state-trading enterprises themselves determine the pr ice of the goods that they export.
50 According to the 
authorities, exports are allocated amongst state- trading enterprises based on market principles. 
Table 3.17 Export products subject to  state-trading arrangements, 2011-13  
Product (HS code) Enterprises 
… … 
Cotton 
52010000; 52030000 Chinatex Cotton Import & Export Corporation; Xinjiang 
Uygur Autonomous Region Cotton and Jute Import & Export Co.; Xinjiang NongKe n (Group) Import & Export 
Co. Ltd.; China National Cotton Reserve Corporation. 
Source: Information provided by the Chinese authorities and WTO document WT/ACC/CHN/49, 
1 October 2001. 
4 TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR 
 
4.1 Agriculture  
4.1.3 Policy instruments 
4.1.3.1 Border measures 
 … 
Tariff rate quotas (TRQs) apply to 47 tariff lines included in HS Chapters 10 (wheat and meslin, 
maize, rice), 11 (cereal flours other than of wh eat or meslin, cereal groats), 17 (cane or beet 
sugar), 31 (mineral or chemical fertilizers), 51 (wool, carded or combed), and 52 (cotton). In-quota rates have not changed since 2011 and the out-of-quota rates are in most cases equal to 
the bound rates. All in-quota rates are ad valorem , with the exception of the out-of-quota rate that 
applies to a "certain portion" of imports of cotto n. Out-of-quota imports of cotton may be subject 
to a sliding duty based on a formula, which depe nds upon the price of cotton, but cannot exceed 
40% (i.e. the bound rate for cotton). Under this system, China fixes a threshold price (RMB 14/kg 
in 2012 and 2013). If the price of imports is equal to  or higher than the threshold price a specific 
                                               
50 WTO document G/STR/N/9/CHN/Add.1, 14 July 2003. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 114 - 
 
  duty of RMB 0.57/kg is levied on imports; if the actual import price is lower than the threshold 
price an ad valorem  rate based on the formula will be applied.51 
According to the authorities, the tariff quota allocation process has not changed since 2012. 
The NDRC allocates TRQs for grains and cotton, and MOFCOM allocates the rest. Some products 
subject to TRQs (i.e. grain, cotton, sugar, and chemical fertilizers) are also subject to state 
trading. In these cases, part of the quota is allo cated to state-trading enterprises and another part 
to private enterprises. The most recent information available for tariff quota utilization dates from 
2011 when with the exception of sugar, wool and cotton, the utilization of the other TRQs was low. 
Historically, the fill rate of TRQs has been low (Table 4.3). 
… 4.1.3.1.2 Measures affecting exports 
… 
 Agricultural exports subject to state trading are cotton, rice, maize, wheat and tobacco.
52 These 
products are still subject to export quotas and cannot be traded by private companies. Export 
quotas on these products are determined acco rding to domestic supply and demand, they are 
managed by the NDRC and are allocated to state- trading enterprises according to performance. 
…  
… The agricultural products subject to export qu ota licences are wheat, corn, rice, wheat flour, 
corn flour and cotton.53 
Table 4.4 Agricultural products subject to export quotas and licensing in 2013 
Products Type of licence Comment 
Goods subject to quota and licensing 
Rice, maize, wheat and cotton Export quota 
licensing The quota is allocated 
by NDRC 
… … … 
 
4.1.3.2 Internal measures  4.1.3.2.1 Support measures 
 
… 
The New Variety Extension Payment scheme, which was introduced in 2002 to improve the quality 
of seeds and livestock, has been extended from its original coverage of wheat, rice, maize, and 
soya beans, to include: rapeseed and cotton in 2007; potatoes in 2009; and highland barley in 
2010 and, on a trial basis, peanuts. Livestock covered by the scheme include pigs, dairy cows, beef cattle, sheep and yak. In addition to increasing the product coverage, the scheme has been 
extended to cover larger areas, with all land sown with rice covered from 2008, and all land sown 
with wheat, maize, and cotton covered from 2009, and substantial expansion of the eligible area for soya beans in 2008 and 2009. As a result, the cost of this programme tripled 
from RMB 6.7 billion in 2007 to RMB 20.4 billion in 2010 and then stabilized at RMB 22.0 billion 
in both 2011 and 2012. Initially, funds were distributed to designated seed companies which sold seeds at discounted prices. This system proved inefficient, and so the mechanism to implement 
the programme was changed in 2009; at present it  varies according to commodity. For improved 
hybrid seeds of rice, maize and rapeseed, the Government gives cash directly to farmers 
on the basis of the cultivated area, and for improved seeds of wheat, soya beans and cotton, the provinces decide if the subsidy is grante d as a direct payment or through a reduction 
in the price of seeds. In 2011 and 2012, the unit seed subsidy remained unchanged 
at RMB 10 per mu (i.e. 0.06 ha) for wheat, soya beans, maize, early indica rice, rapeseed, 
                                               
51 The variable rate is calculated according to a fo rmula, which remains unclea r to the Secretariat. The 
formula may be viewed at: Ministry of Finance (2013), Customs Tariff of Import and Export of the People's Republic of China 2013 (The Legal Texts), Beijing, p. 518. 
52 Exports of tea were subject to state trading until 2005. 
53 Ministry of Commerce, Announcement No. 96 of 2013. Viewed at: 
http://www.mofcom.gov.cn/article/b/c/201312/20131200446709.shtml . TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 115 - 
 
  potatoes and highland barley; and at RMB 15 per mu (i.e. 0.06 ha) for cotton, middle indica rice, 
late indica rice and Japonica rice.54 
… 4.1.3.2.2 Price controls and marketing 
The price of some commodities remains controlled and others are still considered 
"important reserve materials" and originally subject to price controls. The agricultural products considered key reserve materials are grain, cotton, edible vegetable oil (materials), sugar, 
silkworm cocoons, and chemical fertilizers. Howe ver, according to the authorities, their price 
has been liberalized and the Catalogue of Reserve Materials is being revised. 
… 4.1.3.2.2.1 Other measures 
… 
The Agricultural Development Bank of China (ADBC), established as a policy bank to support the 
agricultural sector and related industries, has played a key role in this effort to expand financial 
services to the rural areas. As a result, instru ments used by the ADBC to provide funds and the 
range of projects financed by the ADBC have ex panded. For instance, at present the ADBC grants 
credit to finance the whole agro-industrial chai n including harvesting, storage, processing and 
distribution of grain, cotton and oil, as well as for the construction of agricultural and rural 
infrastructure focusing on irrigation projects and new rural areas.  … 
… 
APPENDIX TABLES 
Table A2. 1 Special Administrative Measures  (Negative List) on Foreign Investment 
Access to the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (2013)  
Category/ 
Sub-category  Specific regulations  
Agriculture, forestry, husbandry and fisheries 
Agriculture 1. Planting/breeding for traditional Chinese medicine 
(equity or cooperative joint ventures only)  
2. Breeding of new crops, seeds production 
(restricted, equity controlled by Chinese partya)  
3. Crops seeds enterprises (equity or cooperative joint ventures only; minimum 
registered capital of US$2 million for inve sting in seeds of grain, cotton and oil 
crops, with Chinese participation over  50%; minimum registered capital of 
US$0.5 million for invest ing in other seeds)  
4. Cotton (seed cotton) processing (restricted)  
… … 
Construction 
Wholesale of agricultural, 
forestry and husbandry products Purchase of grain, wholesale and distri bution of grain and cotton (restricted) 
Wholesale and retail 
… … 
General retail Retail and distribution of cotton,  crude oil, pesticide, agricultural film and 
chemical fertilizer (restricted); chain stores with more th an 30 branches and 
selling goods of different kinds and brands from multiple vendors (equity 
controlled by Chinese party) 
… … 
Source: China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Zone online information. Viewed at: 
http://www.en.shftz.gov.cn/Special.html . 
                                               
54 OECD (2013), Agricultural Policy Monitoring and Evaluation 2013, Paris. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 116 - 
 
  COLOMBIA (JUNE 2012) - SECRETARIAT REPORT (WT/TPR/S/265/REV.2) 
"III. TRADE POLICIES BY MEASURE  
(2) Measures Affecting Imports  
(v) Other charges on imports 
(a) Value added tax (VAT) 
 
Table III.8 - Other VAT rates 
HS Code Description Rate 
Imports National production 
.. … … … 
5201 Cotton fibre 10% 10% 
… … … … 
Source: Tax Statute, Articles 468-1, 471, 473 and 475. 
(4) Measures Affecting Production and Trade (iv) Incentives (d) Other support schemes 
 
Given the importance of the agricultural sector in Colombia, in addition to the credit programmes 
implemented by FINAGRO and the backing provided  by the FAG, there are other programmes for 
supporting the sector in general, as well as specific programmes. Under the Agricultural Debt 
Relief Programme, small and medium-sized producers are offered assistance, for up to two years, 
with their interest payments, and the debt can also be restructured.
55 The aid is granted by MADR 
and provided by FINAGRO for each debt to be rest ructured, through the financial intermediary with 
which the producer contracted the debt. Likewise, to  protect the income of producers in the export 
sector from exchange rate fluctuations, the Government offers assistance with foreign exchange hedging that covers between 60 and 80% of the cost of the premium. To protect crops against adverse weather conditions, the Government provides support for agricultural insurance that 
covers between 30 and 60% of the value of the policy . At present, only one insurer offers this type 
of product. 
Among the specific programmes two stand out, namely, those for cotton and rice. The aim of the 
cotton price compensation programme or Guaranteed Minimum Price for Cotton (PMG) is to protect 
the incomes of domestic farmers from international price fluctuations by making up the difference between the market price (New York Stock Exch ange) and a guaranteed minimum price per tonne 
of fibre. The PMG of the Interinstitutional Committee for Cotton Crop Competitiveness (CICA) is 
established by taking into account the production costs per hectare for the previous five years and updating them using the producer price index. The MADR announces the PMG before planting begins, and this support is paid during the ma rketing period. The support granted through the 
PMG increased from US$18,091,000 in 2006 toUS$25,592,000 in 2010.
56 To prevent the fall in 
producer prices due to the surpluses that normally occur in the second half of each year, the Government offers an incentive to store rice. 
… 
 IV. TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
(2) Agriculture  
(ii) Domestic support and subsidies  
…. 
                                               
55 At present, for small producers in the first year the support corresponds to 100% of the interest 
payment and in the second year to 60%. For medium-siz ed producers the support corresponds to 100% of the 
interest payment in the first year and 40% in the second (information provided by the authorities). 
56 Information provided by the authorities. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 117 - 
 
  Colombia makes use of price stabilization mechanisms in order to deal with fluctuations in world 
prices for certain agricultural products. The Price Stabilization Funds (FEPs), created by Law No. 101 of 1993, are intended to guarantee producers' incomes, regulate domestic production, and prevent price speculation, in additi on to promoting agricultural exports. Currently, 
there are FEPs for five products: cotton; sugar; cocoa; meat, milk and their by-products; and palm 
kernel oil.
57 The Funds operate by estimating a price for each product based, inter alia, on 
international prices in the relevant markets. Depending on the estimated price, producers or 
exporters make "transfers" to the Fund or are compensated by the Fund, according to the price 
difference. The Funds act as a savings and insurance scheme. 
… 
 
In addition to the foregoing, there are three sp ecific price stabilization programmes: support for 
cotton, rice and milk. The equalization programme for cotton prices, or the minimum guaranteed price for cotton, is a policy introduced in 2001 and implemented during the period 2003/2004 to 
protect Colombian farmers' incomes from fluctuations in international prices by offering 
compensation for the price differential between  market prices (New York Exchange) and a 
minimum guaranteed price per tonne of lint. … 
 
…  The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Develo pment (MADR) also implements other support 
programmes to enable the agricultural and fisheries sector to contend with climate problems or to 
renew plantations, inter alia, so as to encourage investment in higher value crops and exports, as 
well as other programmes specifically for small and medium-sized producers (Table IV.3). 
The Agriculture, Secure Income (AIS) Programme was implemented by MADR until 2010, when it 
was replaced by the Rural Development with Equi ty Programme (DRE). Its objective was to make 
the national agricultural sector more competitive, protect the incomes of producers affected by the 
distortions caused by foreign markets, and lessen rural inequalities. The Programme made use of a 
number of tools such as the Special Line of Credit (LEC)
58, the Rural Capitalization Incentive (ICR), 
the Technical Assistance Incentive (IAT) and the Public Irrigation and Drainage Assembly. 
… 
The LEC can be used to finance the sowing of crops with a short life cycle, for example: rice, white 
and yellow maize, sorghum, barley, oats, beans, ve tch, vegetables, fruit (except those benefiting 
from the ICR), soya beans, plantains, yucca, potatoes, sesame, cotton, tobacco, groundnuts and 
achira. These lines of credit are at subsidized rates of interest: the subsidy given by the Fund for 
Financing the Agricultural Sector (FINAGRO) varies depending on the producer's volume and ranges from 5 to 7.5%.
59 FINAGRO states that at present there are no resources for this line. 
… 
 
                                               
57 The FEP for cotton, which is managed by the Colombian Cotton Confeder ation (CONALGODON); the 
FEP for centrifugal sugars, molasses obtained by extrac ting or refining sugar, an d sugar syrups, managed by 
the Colombian Sugar Cane Growers' Association (ASOCAÑA); the FEP for cocoa, managed by the National 
Federation of Cocoa Growers (FEDECACAO); the FEP for promoting the export of meat, milk and their 
by-products, managed by the Colombia n Cattle Breeders' Federation (FEDEGAN); and the FEP for palm kernel 
oil, palm oil and fractions thereof,  managed by the National Federation of Palm Oil Producers (FEDEPALMA). 
58 The terms for the LEC in the AIS  include a subsidiz ed interest rate (Fixed Term Deposit (DTF) rate –
 2 percentage points), and a term of up to 15 years, including grace periods of up to three years. The DTF rate 
represents the average interest rate on 90-day deposit certificates owned by Colo mbian banks. The term and 
the grace period are determined by the income and expenditure flows in the production activity that is the subject of the inve stment financed. 
59 Small-scale individual producers: DTF rate + 1% ; small associate producer: DTF rate; medium-sized 
individual producer: DTF rate + 2%; medium-sized asso ciate producer: DTF rate + 1%; medium-sized or large 
producer incorporating small producers: DTF rate + 1%. The DTF rate represents the average interest rate on 
90-day deposit certificates owned by Colombian banks. See FINAGRO (2012), Chapter V: Líneas especiales de 
crédito . TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 118 - 
 
  APPENDIX TABLES 
I. ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT AI.2 Merchandise imports (c.i.f.) by product, 2005-2011 
 
Table AI.2 Merchandise imports (c.i.f.) by product, 2005-2011 
(US$ million and %) 
Description 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 
Total (US$ million) 21,204 26,162 32,897 39,669 32,898 40,683 54,675 
 (% of imports) 
Total primary products 15.6 16.3 16.5 18.6 17.0 18.2 19.3 
Agriculture 10.4 10.3 10.5 11.5 11.5 11.0 10.5 
… … … … … … … …  
Agricultural raw materials 1.6 1.6 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.4 1.2 
2631  Cotton (other than 
linters), not carded or combed 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 
… … … … … … … …  
Source:  WTO Secretariat estimates based on data from the Comtrade database (SITC Rev.3) and the 
authorities. 
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 119 - 
 
  EGYPT (JULY 2005) - SECRETARIAT REPORT (WT/TPR/S/150/REV.1) 
III. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE 
 (3) MEASURES DIRECTLY AFFECTING EXPORTS 
 
(vii) Export promotion and marketing assistance  
… 
In October 2002, Egypt mandated a LE 200 million subsidy programme to encourage the use of local cotton by textiles mills and to compensate farmers for low world market prices. The programme ended in 2003 and has not been reinstituted. 
… 
 (4) MEASURES AFFECTING PRODUCTION AND TRADE  
(i) Incentives  
(ii) Competition policy and price controls  (iii) Government procurement  
(iv) State-owned enterprises and privatization  
 State-owned enterprises play an important role in the import of petroleum products and some 
agricultural commodities, and cotton exports. … Cotton and cotton products, such as yarn, fabrics, 
and garments, are largely exported by public companies.  
…  
IV. TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR 
(2) AGRICULTURE  (i) Main features  
 
… …  I n  t e r m s  o f  e m p l o y m e n t  a n d  e x p o rt  v a l u e ,  c o t t o n  i s  t h e  m o s t  i m p o r t a n t  c r o p  i n  E g y p t .  I t  i s  estimated that cotton production employs up to one million farm workers.  
Table IV.3 - Agricultural output, 1997-03 
(Thousand tonnes) 
 1997 1998 1999  2000  2001  2002 2003  
… … … … … … … … 
Cotton lint 342 230 233 225 330 285 280  
… … … … … … … … 
Source: FAO statistical database.  
 
APPENDIX TABLES 
Table AI.1 - Structur e of exports, 1995-03 
(US$ million and %) 
  1995 2000 2001 2002 2003 
Total (US$ million) 3,444.1 4,713.0 4,164.9 4,691.6 6,159.2 
 (%) 
Total primary products 59.7 58.8 60.3 55.1 61.5 
  Agriculture 16.0 13.0 15.2 17.0 15.3 
… … … … … …  
     2631 Cotton (other than linters), not 
carded or  combed 4.4 4.1 4.5 7.1 5.9 
… … … … … …  
Source : WTO Secretariat estimates, based on UN SD, Comtrade database SITC Rev.3 data. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 120 - 
 
  EUROPEAN UNION (JULY 2015) - SECRETARIAT REPORT (WT/TPR/S/317/REV.1) 
4 TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
4.2 Agriculture  4.2.3 Agricultural policies  
4.2.3.1 Domestic support  
4.2.3.1.1 Direct payments  
… Direct payments linked to production applied only to suckler cows, sheep and goats, and (for 
four member States) cotton. Member States had some flexibility to direct some of the money available under direct payments to specific objectives and, for those member States that applied the SAPS, to provide complementary national direct payments (Table). 
Table 4.4 Direct payments to agricult ural producers in the EU, 2007/08-2011/12  
(EUR million) 
 2007/08  2008/09  2009/10  2010/11 2011/12  
Decoupled payments      
… … … … … … 
Other direct aids      
… … … … … … 
Cotton 248 217 222 247 246 
… … … … … … 
Source: WTO notifications. 
 
… 
 
Coupled payments  
Under CAP Reform 2014-2020, crop-specific payments  for cotton remain as set out in Table. 
 
Table 4.6 Crop-specific payments for cotton 
 Area 
ha Fixed yield 
tonne/ha Payment 
EUR/ha 
Bulgaria 3,342 1.2 2015: 584.88 
2016 and onward: 649.45 
Greece 250,000 3.2 234.18 
Spain 48,000 3.5 362.15 
Portugal 360 2.2 228.00 
Source: Regulation (EU) No. 1307/2013, Article 58. 
… TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 121 - 
 
  INDIA (JUNE 2015) - SECRETARIAT REPORT (WT/TPR/S/313) 
2 TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIME  
2.2 Trade Policy Formulation and Objectives 2.2.2 Trade policy goals 
 
…  
… During the period 3 July 2009 and 31 March 2013 ex port restrictions were placed on wheat flour 
and exports of cotton were subject to prior registration of contracts with DGFT. … …  
3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.1 Measures Directly Affecting Imports 3.1.5 Other charges affecting imports  
 
Table 3.5 Summary analysis of India's import charges, 2014-15 
   Effective applied rates 
(MFN) Total duty rate, incl. 
extra chargesa 
No. of lines Average 
(%) Range  
(%) Average 
(%) Range  
(%) 
Total 11,481 13.0 0-150 28.3 0-537.5 
HS 01-24 1,609 37.7 0-150 46.2 0-537.5 
HS 25-97 9,872 9.0 0-100 25.3 0-186.1 
By WTO definition      
Agricultural products 1,496 36.4 0-150 46.1 0-537.5 
… … … … … … 
Cotton 11 2.7 0-30 3.3 0-36.1 
… … … … … … 
Note: Calculations exclude specific rates and include the ad valorem  part of alternate rates.  
Source: WTO calculations, based on data provided by  the Indian authorities; and Big's Easy Reference 
Customs Tariff, 2014 (35th edition). 
3.1.9 Import prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing  
3.1.9.3 Import surveillance  
India does not maintain any mechanism to monitor imports of items that are considered to be 
sensitive; such a mechanism was discontinued by April 2012.
60  
 3.2 Measures Directly Affecting Exports  
3.2.4 Export prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing  
3.2.4.2 Export licensing and quotas 
… 
 
On 8 December 2014, the previous requirement that  exports of cotton and cotton yarn required an 
export authorization registration certificate (EARCs) issued by the DGFT was abolished.61  
… 
 
                                               
60 At the end of March 2012, there were 415 sensitive items (based on HS eight-digit classifications). 
These included milk and milk produc ts, fruits and vegetables, pulses, poultry, tea and coffee, spices, food 
grains, edible oils, cotton and silk, marble and granite,  automobiles, parts and acce ssories of motor vehicles, 
products produced by small-scale industries, and other pr oducts (bamboos, cocoa, copra, and sugar). 
61 DGFT Notifications Nos. 102 and 103, 8 December 2014. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 122 - 
 
  4 TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR 
4.1 Agriculture  4.1.1 General policy framework  4.1.1.3 Internal measures 
 
Table 4.3 Minimum support prices, 2010-15  
(Rs per quintal) 
Minimum support prices (MSPs) 2010-11 2014-15 
… … … 
Cotton (medium staple) 2,500 3,750 
… … … 
Source: Directorate of Economics and Statistics online information. Viewed at: 
http://eands.dacnet.nic.in/msp/MSPStatement(2014.29.10).pdf ; and information provided by the 
Indian authorities. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 123 - 
 
  INDONESIA (APRIL 2013) - SECRETARIAT REPORT (WT/TPR/S/278/REV.1) 
3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.1 Measures directly affecting imports  3.1.6 Contingency measures  
3.1.6.2 Safeguard measures  
 
Table 3.10 Safeguard activity, 2007-12  
Product Investigation 
initiation Investigation outcome 
… … … 
Cotton yarn (other than sewing 
thread) 25.06.2010 Imposition on 06.06.2011 of safeguard measures for 
three years: Rp 40,687 per kg (06.06.2011 to 
05.06.2012); Rp 38,144 per kg (06.06.2012 to 
05.06.2013); and Rp 35,601 per kg (06.06.2013 to 
05.06.2014). Certain tariff lines as well as 105 
developing countries are excluded from the safeguard 
measure 
Woven fabrics of cotton 25.06.2010 Imposition on 23.03.2011 of safeguard measures for 
three years: Rp 116,800 per kg (23.03.2011 to 22.03.2012); Rp 109,500 per kg (23.03.2012 to 22.03.2013); and Rp 102,200 per kg (23.03.2013 to 22.03.2014) 
… … … 
Source: Notifications to the WTO Committee on Safegu ards; and additional information provided by the 
authorities. 
APPENDIX TABLES 
Table A1. 3 Merchandise imports by product group, 2007-11 
(US$ million and %) 
  2007  2008  2009  2010 2011  
Total imports (US$ million) 74,473.4 129,244.1 96,829.2 135,663.3 177,435.6 
 (% of total) 
Total primary products 47.4 38.1 34.6 35.3 39.2 
  Agriculture 14.1 10.3 11.7 11.5 12.6 
   … … … … … … 
   Agricultural raw material 3.5 3.0 2.8 3.1 3.2 
     2631 Cotton (other than 
         linters), not carded or 
         combed 1.1 0.9 0.8 0.8 1.0 
   … … … … … … 
Source: UNSD Comtrade database, SITC Rev.3. 
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 124 - 
 
  MAURITIUS (OCTOBER 2014) - SECRETARIAT REPORT (WT/TPR/S/304/REV.1) 
APPENDIX TABLES 
Table A1. 3 Merchandise imports by product group, 2007-13 
(US$ million and %) 
 2007  2008  2009  2010  2011 2012 2013  
Total (US$ million) 3,901 4,670 3,725 4,402 5,159 5,772 5,398 
(%) 
Total primary products 40.7 45.9 40.7 43.4 46.9 45.5 47.0 
Agriculture 21.3 23.5 23.9 23.1 24.2 23.5 24.2 
… … … … …  … … … 
Agricultural raw material 2.5 2.6 2.4 2.2 3.0 2.0 2.2 
2631 Cotton (other than linters), not carded 
or combed 0.9 1.2 0.9 0.8 1.5 0.8 0.8 
… … … … … … … … 
Source: UNSD Comtrade database, SITC Rev.3.  
Table A3. 1 VAT-exempt supplies, 2013 
Item 
… 
Cotton of headings 52.01, 52.02 and 52.03 
… 
Source: Value Added Tax Act 1998 (Consolidated Version with amendments to 1 September 2013), First 
Schedule. Viewed at: http://mra.gov.mu/download/VATAct_Proclamation_38_2013.pdfhttp://mra.gov.mu/download/VATAct_Proclamation_38_2013.pdf.  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 125 - 
 
  MEXICO (APRIL 2013) - SECRETARIAT REPORT (WT/TPR/S/279/REV.1) 
4 TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
4.2 Agriculture  4.2.4 Policy instruments  
4.2.4.2 Domestic support measures  
4.2.4.2.4 Risk prevention and management   
… 
 The Supplementary Support for Target Income and Marketing subprogramme guarantees the 
producers of certain crops a minimum income by means of a transfer per tonne marketed. Its 
specific objectives are to incentivize cereal and oilseed production and strengthen the agrifood 
production and marketing chain by giving the producer income certainty and/or the buyer cost certainty. The "supplementary support" granted is equal to the difference between the market 
price and the target income, provided that the former is below a minimum target income 
threshold. This programme is of national scope, and the eligible crops are currently maize, wheat, sorghum, rice, soya, safflower, canola, sunflower and cotton.
62 Agriculture, Livestock, Rural 
Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA) determines a "maximum marketable production 
volume" for the eligible products. Supplementary income support is granted per tonne produced and marketed and is the same for all of the pr oducers of the corresponding state or region, 
regardless of the producer's individual selling price. The produce cannot be for the grower's own 
consumption. Marketing support is up to 85% of the costs inherent in the marketing process for 
the eligible product. Between 2007 and 2011, ASERCA's (Agricultural Marketing Support and 
Services, which is part of SAGARPA) total annual expenditure under its Supplementary Support for 
Target Income and Marketing  subprogramme averaged Mex$9,851 million, reaching a maximum of 
Mex$11,748 million (some US$840 million) in 2011.
63 
Price Hedging Support  is also available. This mechanism is intended to protect the anticipated 
income of the producers and/or the cost of purchasing agricultural products. The products eligible 
for agricultural price hedging support are: maize, wheat, rice, sorghum, cotton, oats, coffee, orange juice, sugar cane, cocoa, barley, oilseed s and their derivatives, beef, pork and milk. 
Depending on the product, the hedge may be base d on another product representative of price 
movements. ASERCA determines the hedge, which may be basic, i.e. authorized to deal with a 
specific marketing problem or to protect the income of the producers, or special, i.e. designed by 
ASERCA to deal with recurring marketing problems. The support is for up to 85% of the total cost 
of the premium for the futures options contract (put and/or call) for the producer and up to 50% 
for the consumer and marketer (or if an equivalent direct support hedge is not purchased, up to 50% of the cost of the call/put hedge purcha sed by the producer). Support worth up to the 
equivalent of US$8.00 is also offered to pay the commission for the hedge purchasing and 
administration service, together with up to 80% of the related costs of participating as a market maker, including the operating costs for joining an electronic market. Out of any profits generated by liquidation, ASERCA recovers up to 50% of its co ntribution. Any additional hedging profits go to 
the participant. 
…  
                                               
62 In 2012, the target income (per tonne) was: maize (Mex$2,200); bread wheat (Mex$3,040); durum 
wheat (Mex$2,860); sorghum (Mex$2,000); safflower (Mex$4,690); canola (Mex$4,690); 
raw cotton (Mex$19,800), rice (Mex$3,300), soya (Mex$4,690), and sunflower (Mex$4,690). 
63 The 2011 data are estimates at 31 July of the same year. Viewed at: Office of the President of the 
Republic (2011), Anexo Estadístico . TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 126 - 
 
  APPENDIX TABLES 
 Table A1.1 Merchandise imports by product category (SITC Rev.3), 2006-2011 
(US$ million and %) 
Description 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 
Total (US$ million) 256,086 281,927 308,583 234,385 301,482 350,842 
 (% of imports) 
Total primary products 16.0 17.7 20.8 17.6 18.5 21.3 
Agriculture 7.2 7.8 8.4 8.6 7.8 8.3 
… … … … … … … 
2631 Cotton (other than 
linters), not carded or combed 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 
… … … … … … … 
Source: WTO Secretariat estimates, based on da ta from the Comtrade database (SITC Rev.3). 
 
Table A1.2 Exports by product, 2007-2012 
(US$ million)  
Heading 2007  2008  2009  2010  2011 2012  
(Jan-Sept)  
Total exports 271,875  291,343  229,704  298,473  349,375 275,380  
… … … … … … … 
Exports of agricultural 
productsc 7,415  7,895  7,726  8,610  10,309 8,385  
… … … … … … … 
Cotton 65 79 47 53 119 96 
… … … … … … … 
c Includes fishery products. 
Source: Foreign Trade Statistics Working Group, co mposed of the Bank of Mexico, INEGI, the Tax 
Administration Service and th e Ministry of the Economy. 
Table A1.3 Imports by product, 2007-2012  
(US$ million)  
Heading 2007  2008  2009  2010  2011 2012  
(Jan-Sept)  
Total 281,949  308,603  234,385  301,482  350,843 273,263  
… … … … … … … 
Imports of agricultural 
products 8,994  11,838  8,610  9,845  13,141 9,897  
… … … … … … … 
Cotton 462 539 412 631 835 354 
… … … … … … … 
Source: Foreign Trade Statistics Working Group, co mposed of the Bank of Mexico, INEGI, the Tax 
Administration Service and th e Ministry of the Economy. 
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 127 - 
 
  MOROCCO (JUNE 2009) - SECRETARIAT REPORT (WT/TPR/S/217/REV.1) 
III. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
(3) MEASURES DIRECTLY AFFECTING EXPORTS  (i) Procedures  
 
…  
T h e  e x p o r t  o f  s o m e  p r o d u c t s  o f  a n i m a l  o r  p l a n t  o r i g i n
64 or products of the crafts industry are 
subject to technical controls carried out by the EACCE (Independent Export Control and Coordination Agency, a government body attached to  the Ministry of Agriculture) and the Ministry 
responsible for handicrafts, respectively. The EACCE is accredited by the EC; it verifies that the 
products comply with the various standards in the country of destination. Handicrafts are not 
deemed to be handcrafted products without the quality control technical endorsement of the Handicrafts Department. 
… 
 
                                               
64 These are: fish, eggs, vegetables , fruit, certain spices, honey, vege table waxes, fruit juices, cider, 
wine, vinegar, some oils, cereals (except rice), some flour, and cotton, not carded or combed, and cotton 
linters. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 128 - 
 
  PAKISTAN (MARCH 2015) - SECRETARIAT REPORT (WT/TPR/S/311) 
3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE 
3.3 Measures Directly Affecting Exports  3.3.1 Registration, documentation, cleara nce, inspection, and minimum prices  
 
The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) under the Ministry of Commerce succeeded the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) in 2006 and has pursued a more holistic strategy with respect 
to global trade development compared to its predecessor. … 
…  Export contract registration with TDAP remains a requirement for export of cotton. … 
 
3.3.3 Export prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing  3.3.3.2 Export licensing and restrictions  
 
Table 3.8 Exports subject to certain conditions 
 HS Code Item/goods Condition/procedure/formalities  
… … … …  
10 5201.0000 Cotton  
 (i) Export contract registration with TDAP and classification 
certificate issued by the Pakistan Cotton Standards Institute  
… … … …  
Source: Export Policy Order 2013, Ministry of Commerce. 
4 TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR 
4.2 Agriculture 
4.2.3 Key sub-sectors  
4.2.3.1 Crops  
Table 4.2 Area and production of important crops, 2009-14  
(Area "000" hectares and production "000" tonnes) 
Crops 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14  
Area 
 
Production 
 
 
Area 
 
Production 
 
 
Area 
 
Production 
 
 
Area 
 
Production 
 
Area 
 
Production 
… … … … … …  … … … … …  
Cottona 3,106 12,913 2,689 11,460 2,834.5 13,595.0 2,878.8 13,030.7 2,805.7 12,769.0 
… … … … … …  … … … … …  
a Cotton production is in thousand bales (375 lbs per bale). 
Source: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.  
4.2.3.1.4 Cotton 
Pakistan is the fourth largest cotton producer in the world. Cotton is cultivated by around 
1.6 million farmers, mostly with smallholdings of less than five hectares. Yields have been largely 
stagnant for the last several years. Cotton is exported as a raw material, but also provides an 
essential input to the domestic textiles industry.  
The Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC), a semi -autonomous body in the Ministry of Textile 
Industry has as an objective to improve the sect or's productivity. Its annual budget of PRs 500 to 
600 million is funded by a cess payable by the mills. Support prices for cotton were abandoned in 
2008. Export contracts on cotton must be registered, with exports being subject to mandatory quality inspection and certification.  
Exports of raw cotton amounted to US$217 million in 2013, whereas exports of cotton yarn 
amounted to US$2.2 billion. Pakistan also import s high-quality cotton, to blend with domestic 
cotton and to produce quality fabrics; imports amounted to US$757 million of raw cotton and TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 129 - 
 
  US$151 million of cotton yarn in 2013. The average MFN tariff on cotton imports is 3.8%, with 
tariffs ranging from 1% to 10%.  
APPENDIX TABLES 
Table A1. 4 Pakistan's merchandise imports by group of products, 2007-13  
(US$ billion and %) 
  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 
Total imports (US$ billion) 32.59 42.33 31.58 37. 54 43.58 43.81 43.78 
 (% of total) 
Total primary products 43.2 53.1 47.2 51.2 53.7 53.9 52.2 
Agriculture 13.9 16.8 15.6 17.9 16.9 14.9 14.5 
… … … … … … … … 
2631 Cotton (other than linters), not carded or 
 combed 2.7 2.8 1.5 2.0 1.9 1.3 1.7 
… … … … … … … … 
Source: UNSD, Comtrade database (SITC Rev.3). TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 130 - 
 
  PERU (NOVEMBER 2013) - SECRETARIAT REPORT (WT/TPR/S/289/REV.1) 
3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.1 Measures affecting imports  3.1.7 Anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard measures  
3.1.7.2 Safeguards  
 … 
During the review period, Peru initiated only one investigation, in 2009, with a view to the 
application of a general safeguard measure to imports of cotton yarn (HS 5205 and 5206)
65, 
although this ended without any measure being applied.66 
… 
APPENDIX TABLES 
Table A1. 5 Merchandise imports by product, 2007-2012 
(US$ million and %) 
Description 2007  2008  2009  2010 2011 2012  
 (US$ million) 
Total 20,368  29,953  21,814  30,030 37,747 42,157  
 (% of imports) 
Total primary products 31.7 30.8 27.6 27.4 28.7 26.8 
Agriculture 12.0 11.4 12.4 12.0 11.9 11.4 
… …  … … … … … 
Agricultural raw materials 1.6 1.4 1.4 1.7 1.7 1.4 
2631 Cotton (other than linters), not carded 
or combed 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.6 0.3 
… … … … … … … 
Source: WTO Secretariat estimates based on data obtained from the Comtrade database (SITC Rev.3) 
and the Peruvian authorities for 2012. 
 
                                               
65 WTO document G/SG/N/6/PER/2 of 25 March 2009. 
66 WTO document G/SG/N/9/PER/2 of 2 November 2009. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 131 - 
 
  SOUTH AFRICA (NOVEMBER 2015) - SECRETARIAT REPORT (WT/TPR/S/324)67 
3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.3 Measures affecting production and trade 3.3.2 Competition policy and price controls 
3.3.2.2 Price control 
 In general, prices in South Africa are market -determined. Guideline prices, for agricultural 
products subject to levies, continue to be determined under the Marketing of Agricultural Products 
Act (Act No. 47 of 1996), to ensure that the levy does not exceed 5% of the actual price. Guideline prices are determined for the wine industries, milk and dairy products, as well as cotton lint. 
… 
 
4 TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  4.1 Agriculture  
4.1.2 Policy 
 
… 
 
Levies continue to apply to the export and/or pr oduction of the following products: …, cotton, … 
 
                                               
67 Trade Policy Review of the Sout hern African Customs Union (SACU). TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 132 - 
 
  THAILAND (NOVEMBER 2015) - SECRETARIAT REPORT (WT/TPR/S/326) 
3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE 
3.4 Other Measures Affecting Production and Trade 3.4.4 Competition policy and consumer protection  
3.4.4.2 Price controls  
 … Its Central Commission on Prices of Goods and Services (CCP) in the DIT has the authority to 
set out: the goods and services subject to price cont rols; controls for their sale or purchase prices; 
and, procedures and conditions relating to the display of prices. … 
… The CCP Monitoring List remains divided into th ree categories (Table 3.7): the Sensitive goods 
and services whose prices are monitored daily beca use they are expected to increase in the near 
future; the Priority Watch goods and services that are monitored twice a week; and the Watch 
goods and services that are monitored twice a month. … 
Table 3.7 Products and services subject to monitoring, April 2015 
List Products 
 Goods  
Sensitive …  
Priority Watch … 
Watch … 82. Absorbent cotton …161. Cotton wool … 
 Services  
… … 
Source:  Department of Internal Trade online information. Viewed at: 
http://www.dit.go.th/en/backoffice/uploadfile/255610011351485115749.pdf  and 
http://www.dit.go.th/en/backoffice/uploadfile/255610011147057425749.pdf .  
4 TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
4.2 Agriculture and Food Processing  4.2.2 Trade 
 
…  
In value terms, major imports are soya bean oil cakes, soya beans, food preparations and cotton 
(Table 4.4). The main sources of soya bean oil cakes and soya beans are Brazil, Argentina and the United States; of food preparations, the United States, Singapore and China; and of cotton, the 
United States, Australia, Brazil, and Mali. … 
Table 4.4 Imports of selected agricultural products, 2008-14 
HS code   2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 
… … … … … … … … … 
5201 - Cotton, not 
carded/combed US$ million 715.3 484.6 729.6 1,120.0 748.9 734.2 676.3 
'000 tonnes 435.9 349.7 383.7 319.2 305.8 344.9 322.3 
… … … … … … … … … 
Note: WTO definition of agriculture used. 
Source: UNSD Comtrade database. 
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
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  TURKEY (FEBRUARY 2012) - SECRETARIAT REPORT (WT/TPR/S/259/REV.1) 
"II. TRADE AND IN VESTMENT REGIMES 
(3) TRADE AGREEMENTS AND ARRANGEMENTS  (i) WTO  
Table II.2 - Selected notifications to th e WTO, January 2011 to 8 November 2011 
Requirement Subject Most recent notification Date 
… … … … 
Safeguards    
… … … … 
Articles 12.1(a), 12.4, and 9 
footnote 2 Cotton yarn (extension) G/SG/N/11/TUR/17 and Corr.1, 
G/SG/N/7/TUR/10, G/SG/N/6/TUR/14/Suppl.1 24.06.11 
… … … … 
Source: WTO documents. 
III. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
(1) MEASURES DIRECTLY AFFECTING IMPORTS  
(vi) Application of internal taxes  … 
… Turkey applies VAT on the supply and import of  goods and many types of services. The general 
rate of VAT has been set at 18% since 15 May 2001. Special VAT rates apply to List I and List II items, notably to basic foodstuffs, books and similar publications (8%), and to raw cotton and 
dried hazelnuts (1%). … 
… (x) Anti-dumping, countervailing duty, and safeguard regimes 
(b) Safeguard measures 
… 
 
… In new cases, Turkey imposed definitive safeguard measures on all imports of certain electrical 
appliances and cotton yarn in 2008, and on matc hes in 2009 (Table III.13). … Turkey has also 
initiated investigations to extend its safeguard measures on imports of spectacle frames; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; and cotton yarn. Provisional safeguard measures are in force while the investigations continue.
68 
Table III.13 - Definitive safeguard measures in force, 2011 
Product Date of imposition of definitive measure 
… … 
Cotton yarn 11/8/2008 
… … 
Source: Information provided by the Turkish authorities. 
IV. TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR 
(1) AGRICULTURE 
(iv) Domestic programmes 
                                               
68 Concerning cotton yarn, a request has been made, pursuant to Article 13.1(b) of the Agreement on 
Safeguards, that the Committee on Safeguards should  determine whether Turkey has complied with the 
procedural requirements of the Agreement in connection with the safeguard measure (see WTO document G/SG/W/221, 8 November 2011).  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 134 - 
 
  (b) Deficiency payments 
The effect of a deficiency payments scheme on production is similar to that of an administered 
price system as it guarantees producers a minimum price. During the review period, deficiency payments were granted mainly for wheat, cotton, sunflowers, maize, tea, barley, and milk 
(Table AIV.1). 
APPENDIX TABLES  
 
Table AI.3 - Structure of imports, 2006-10 
(US$ million and %) 
 2006  2007  2008  2009 2010  
Total (US$ million) 139,576.2 170,062.7 201,963.6 140,928.4 185,544.3  
 (%) 
Total primary products 32.9  33.4 38.7 34.7 35.7  
  Agriculture 5.2  5.8 6.5 6.8 6.9  
… …  … … … … 
     2631 Cotton (other than linters), not carded or 
combed 0.7 0.8 0.5 0.7 0.9  
… …  … … … … 
Source : UNSD, Comtrade database (SITC Rev.3); and da ta provided by the Turkish authorities. 
 
Table AIV.1 - Main measures of suppo rt of Turkish agri culture, 2006-10 
(TRY million) 
    2006  2007  2008  2009  2010  
… … … … … … 
Deficiency payments, of which: 1,723 1,834 1,649 1,540 2,110 
 … … … … … … 
 Cotton premium 566 828 683 509 519 
 … … … … … … 
Source: OECD, PSE/CSE database. Viewed at: 
http://www.oecd.org/document/59/0,3746,en_2649_37401_39551355_1_1_1_37401,00.html#cou
ntry.  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
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  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (DECEMBER 2014) - SECRETARIAT REPORT 
(WT/TPR/S/307/REV.1) 
3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE 
3.1 Measures Directly Affecting Imports 
3.1.5 Other charges affecting imports  
3.1.5.1.4 Agriculture fees  
Pursuant to a number of laws or regulations, CBP collects a number of agricultural fees on behalf 
of the Department of Agriculture (Table 3.4). … 
… 
Table 3.4 Agricultural fees 
Fee Legal reference Reason Amount of fee 
… … … … 
Cotton Imports 
Assessment Cotton Research and Promotion 
Act of 1989 7 CFR 1205 Cotton research, 
promotion, consumer information Varies according to the 
HTS number 
… … … … 
 Source: CPB online information. Viewed at: 
http://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/userfee0407_3.pdf . 
4 TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
4.1 Agriculture  4.1.1 Agricultural Act of 2014  4.1.1.1 Overview 
 
Crop sector  
One of the most significant changes affecting the structure of the U.S. farm safety net is the 
elimination of the Direct Payments (DP) programme. The DP programme has been a cornerstone of U.S. agricultural policy reforms since the en d of the Uruguay Round negotiations, and provided 
about US$5 billion annually in decoupled income support to farmers and landlords. The 
Counter-Cyclical Payments (CCP) programme and the Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) 
programme have also been eliminated. These three measures (DP, CCP, and ACRE) have been replaced by two new measures, the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Agriculture Risk Coverage 
(ARC).  
In the PLC programme, deficiency payments are provided when commodity prices fall below the 
statutory "reference prices". The PLC payments are coupled to current prices, but decoupled from 
actual production, to the extent that payments are based on historical yields and a percentage of 
historical planted acres (base acres). Farmers have a one-time opportunity under the new Farm Bill to update their historical payment yields an d re-allocate base acreage, which may more closely 
align base acres with recent planting, thereby lin king payments to a more recent base period. 
As an alternative to the PLC, farmers may participate in the new ARC programme, 
a revenue-based deficiency payments scheme, which is coupled to current prices and also tied to a percentage of base acres, amongst other parameters. The PLC and ARC have the same commodity 
coverage as the repealed programmes (grains, ri ce, oilseeds, pulses, peanuts), excluding upland 
cotton.  
The marketing loan programme, which provides income support via loan deficiency 
payments/marketing loan gains in a low-price environment, remains unchanged (with the 
exception of a potentially lower loan rate for upland cotton). Thus, the key commodity 
programmes may be considered as variants of deficiency payment schemes in the trade-distorting 
category. 
Federal crop insurance with subsidized insuranc e premiums is available for over 100 commodities 
and livestock. Crop insurance traditionally pr ovides coverage for about 70-75% of expected 
revenues or yields. The 2014 Farm Bill introduces a new subsidized insurance programme TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 136 - 
 
  (Supplemental Coverage Option) that allows eligib le farmers to top up their crop insurance, in 
order to cover a portion of the deductible of the insurance.69 For producers of upland cotton, a new 
subsidized insurance plan, Stacked Income Protection (STAX), will be available starting in the 2015 marketing year. The Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) is not available for ARC and STAX 
participants. These are examples of how the new Farm Bill attempts to address the issue of 
overlap of the price- and revenue-based income supports and crop insurances, and the potential 
for overcompensation of farmers' actual losses.
70 The sugar regime with its key instruments (price 
support; a domestic marketing allotment fixed at 85% of domestic consumption; feedstock 
flexibility programme and other measures to divert surplus sugar to ethanol production and other uses; tariff rate quotas) remains unchanged.  … 
Table 4.1 Overview of main programme changes in the 2014 Farm Bill 
 2008 Farm Bill 2014 Farm Bill Commodity 
programmes Marketing loan programme  Maintained 
 Coupled to current prices and production  
 Loan rates unchanged, except for potential 
downward adjustment of upland cotton loan 
rate 
Direct payments  Eliminated 
 DP-style programme for upland cotton until 
Stacked Income Protection (STAX) is 
implemented 
… … 
 Crop 
insurance Federal Crop Insurance Programme (permanently 
authorized) Maintained 
Amendments include new subsidized insurance 
programmes: 
 Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) 
 Stacked Income Prot ection Plan for 
producers of upland cotton (STAX)  … … 
 Export credit 
guarantees Export credit guarantee programme (GSM-102) 
 Maintained 
Amendments include: 
 Maximum tenor reduced to 24 months 
 Flexibility given to the U.S. Secretary of 
Agriculture to adapt the programme 
pursuant to such terms as may be agreed 
between the United States and Brazil in the 
cotton dispute WTO/DS267  … 
 … 
 
Source: WTO Secretariat. 
4.1.1.2 Title I (Commodities)  
4.1.1.2.1 Elimination of direct payments  Direct payments (DPs) were eliminated at the end the 2013 crop year (P.L. 113-79, Sec. 1101).
71 
DPs have been controversial in the United States in a climate of fiscal restraint because they were 
paid out to farmers and some landlords irrespective of record commodity prices and healthy farm incomes in recent years and even if no crops were grown on eligible land.
72… 
 
                                               
69 The deductible is the amount of expenses that must  be paid out of pocket before an insurer will pay 
any expenses. 
70 Given the complexity of the U.S.  farm programmes, the USDA has pr eviously drawn attention to this 
issue. USDA online information, "Identifying Overlap in the Farm Safety Net". Viewed at: 
http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/eib-economic-information-bulletin/eib87.aspx . 
71 Transitional DPs for upland cotton apply in the crop year 2014 and possibly also in crop year 2015 in 
some areas, due to the delayed implementation of the STAX programme (P.L. 113-79, Sec. 1119). 
72 The DPs are fixed payments for producers and so me landowners based on historical acreage and 
yields of covered commodities (wheat, corn, grain sorg hum, barley, oats, rice, upland cotton, rice, soybeans 
and other oilseeds, and peanuts). The programme has plan ting flexibility provisions , but production is not 
required to receive the DPs. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 137 - 
 
  4.1.1.2.2 Price Loss Coverage 
 The Counter-Cyclical Payments (CCP) programme has been repealed (P.L. 113-79, Sec. 1102) and a similar price-based programme, Price Loss Coverage (PLC), introduced. The main purpose of 
both the CCP and the PLC is to help stabilize farm  incomes by providing deficiency payments when 
commodity prices fall below certain levels (target prices under CCP, referenc e prices under PLC).  
The PLC is open for enrolment by farmers with eligible historical acreage (base acres) of "covered" 
commodities.
73 Eligible commodities are the same as under the CCP programme (wheat, feed 
grains, rice, oilseeds, peanuts, and pulses), with  the exception of upland cotton, for which a new 
insurance programme was established (Stacked Income Protection Plan). … 
Like the expired CCP programme, PLC payments are based on a percentage (85%) of base acres 
and historical yields, i.e. they are decoupled fr om current production. However, farmers have the 
one-time option of updating yields, and of allocating base acres among covered commodities based on the average planted acres in 2009-12. Acreage shifts among commodities in recent 
years, include an increase in corn and soybeans, and a decline in wheat, feed grains, and upland 
cotton (Table 4.3). A reallocation of base acres and yield updating could increase the link or correlation between base acres, and actual crop production and farmers' risks. Base acres for 
upland cotton ("generic" base acres) are excluded from reallocation. The payments on generic 
base acres are tied to the covered commodities planted on those acres (i.e. payments are coupled to current planting decisions), which increases the link between current production and payment on those acres. However, rules governing th e allocation of payments from generic and 
commodity-specific base acres aim to minimize some of those effects. The maximum total base 
acreage remains the same as in previous Farm Bi lls, i.e. the number of acres that may receive 
payments is unchanged. Producers are free to produce most crops on base acres (with some 
limits, though less restrictive than before, on fruits and vegetables, and wild rice), but production 
is not required in order to receive the PLC payments. Conservation compliance provisions apply (section 4.1.1.3).  
Table 4.3 Reallocation of base acreage 
 
 Base acres 
(million),  
2008 Farm Bill Planted acres 
(million),  
2009-12 average 
… … … 
Upland cotton 17.9 11.6 
… … … 
Source: Information provided by the U.S. authorities. 
The United States has notified the CCP programme in terms of non-product-specific AMS 
(de minimis ), arguing that payments cannot be ascribed to a specific product. Counter-cyclical 
payments declined to US$16.9 million in FY2010 and zero in FY2011, as market prices of most 
covered commodities have been above target prices in recent years (Table 4.2). Since the 2006 
marketing year, payments have been made only  for upland cotton and peanuts base acres. 
CCP payments were terminated at the end of the 2013 crop year. 
4.1.1.2.4 Marketing loan programme 
 The marketing loan programme remains unchanged, with the exception of a potential downward 
adjustment of the loan rate for upland cotton. …  
With the exception of upland cotton, the 2014 Farm Bill holds the loan rates at the same level as 
for crop years 2010-13 and the statutory rates are fixed for the crop years 2014-18. … Unlike the PLC or ARC, marketing loan programme payments are not tied to, or capped by, base acres. Thus, 
marketing loan support is fully coupled to current  prices and production. To be eligible, farmers 
must comply with environmental cross-compliance provisions and report all crop acreage planted on the farm.  
                                               
73 To acquire base acres, a new farmer would have to  buy or rent a farm with  existing base acres. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 138 - 
 
  The marketing loan programme figures as trade-distorting domestic support (AMS) in 
U.S. domestic support notifications, with loan deficiency payments, marketing loan gains, and 
forfeitures classified as non-exempt direct payments. … 
4.1.1.10 Title XI (Crop Insurance)  
4.1.1.10.1 Overview  
 The Federal crop insurance programme is perm anently authorized under the Federal Crop 
Insurance Act of 1980, as amended, inter alia , by subsequent Farm Bills. The new Farm Bill retains 
the federal crop insurance programme, albeit with a number of amendments and increased spending for subsidized crop insurance. Most of the increase is due to two new insurance plans: for cotton (Stacked Income Protection Plan for pr oducers of upland cotton), and for other crops 
(Supplemental Coverage Option). … 
… 
… Four crops (corn, soybeans, wheat, and cotton) accounted for most of the premium subsidies 
(84% of the total in crop year 2009).
74 Insurance policies are sold by 18 approved private 
insurance companies, whose operating and administrative costs are partially reimbursed and losses underwritten by the Federal Government (as notified by the United States in the General 
Services category of the Green Box).  
4.1.1.10.3 Stacked Income Protection Plan for Producers of Upland Cotton 
 The Stacked Income Protection Plan for Producers of Upland Cotton (STAX) is a new statutory 
revenue insurance that covers losses of up to 20% of expected county revenues (P.L. 113-79, Sec. 
11017). Historical acreage planted with upland cotton is not eligible for payments under the PLC or ARC programmes. The STAX is generally meant to supplement producers' other insurance policies. 
The policy includes a multiplier factor of 80%-120%, allowing producers to adjust the amount of 
protection per acre. The premium subsidy rate is set at 80%. STAX will not be operational until the 2015 marketing year. 
APPENDIX TABLES 
Table A1. 6 Merchandise exports and re-e xports by groups of products, 2008-13 
(US$ million and %) 
Description 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 
Total 1,299,90
0 1,056,71
0 1,277,11
0 1,479,73
0 1,545,57
0 1,578,000 
 (% of total exports and re-exports) 
Total primary products 20.5 19.7 21.2 23.9 23.3 23.5 
 Agriculture 10.8 11.3 11.2 11.4 11.1 11.1 
  …   …   …   …   …   …   … 
   2631 Cotton (other 
than linters), not carded 
or combed 0.4 0.3 0.5 0.6 0.4 0.4 
… … … … … … … 
Source: UNSD, Comtrade database (SITC Rev.3). 
                                               
74 Congressional Research Service (2013a). TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 139 - 
 
  Table A4. 1 Commodity loan rates and Price Lo ss Coverage reference prices, Agricultural 
Act of 2014  
Covered commodities Marketing loan programme 
Commodity loan rates Price Loss Coverage  
Reference prices 
  converted into 
US$/tonne  converted into 
US$/tonne 
… … … … … 
Extra-long staple cotton (lb.) 0.7977 1758.6 n.a. n.a. 
Upland cotton Simple average of the adjusted 
prevailing world price for the two immediately preceding MYs, but not less than US$0.45/lb. or more than US$0.52/lb n.a. n.a. 
n.a. Not applicable (i.e. not a covered commodity). 
 Note:  For the conversion factors, see US TPR (2010), Table AIV.1.  Source: Agricultural Act of 2014. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 140 - 
 
  VIET NAM (SEPTEMBER 2013) - SECRETARIAT REPORT (WT/TPR/S/287/REV.1) 
4 TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
4.2 Agriculture  4.2.2 Trade 
Table 4.2 Exports [???] and im ports of agricultural, 2005-11 
HS 
2002   2005  2006  2007  2008  2009 2010 2011  
… … … … … … … … … 
Imports 
 TOTAL (not including rubber) 2,404  2,850  4,066  5,819  5,757 7,849 10,052  
… … … … … … … … … … 
5201 Cotton, not carded or 
combed '000 tonnes  106 176 202 291 295 349 320 
US$ million  163 214 259 456 385 661 1,037  
… … … … … … … … … … 
Source: UNSD Comtrade. 
4.2.3 Policies  
4.2.3.2 Domestic policies  
 … 
Product-specific plans set out objectives and general policies for some crops and other agricultural 
products….
75 Similarly, the Cotton Development Master Plan for 2015-20 sets targets for areas (in 
this case, an increase in area planted) and states that assistance will be provided through low-interest loans and improved infrastructure.
76 
… 
APPENDIX TABLES Table A1. 7 Merchandise imports by product group, 2007-11 
(US$ million and %) 
  2007  2008  2009  2010 2011  
Total imports (US$ million) 62,764.7 80,713.8 69,948.8 84,838.6 106,749.9 
 % of total 
Total primary products 27.5 29.0 25.5 26.5 28.3 
  Agriculture 9.4 9.8 10.8 12.1 12.4 
… … … … … … 
     2631 Cotton (other than linters), not 
carded or combed 0.4 0.6 0.5 0.8 1.0 
… … … … … … 
Source: UNSD Comtrade database, SITC Rev.3. 
                                               
75 USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (2012a). 
76 USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (2012b). TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.3 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.3 
 
- 141 - 
 
  Table A3. 1 Preferential tariff averag es for selected product groups, 2013 
 No. of 
lines MFN 
applied ATIGAa AK 
FTAb AC 
FTAc AANZ 
FTAd AI 
FTAe AJ 
CEPAf VJ 
EPAg 
Description  (%)  (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)  
Total 9,558 10.4 2.0 7.5 4.2 8.2 9.1 7.8 7.6 
HS 01-24 1,594 17.4  2.8 10.5 4.7 13.5 15.5 14.3  14.5 
HS 25-97 7,964 9.0 1.8 6.9 4.1 7.2 7.8 6.5 6.2 
By WTO category          
WTO Agriculture 1,298 17.4 3.4 10.4 5.4 12.6 15.1 13.8 14.0 
  …   …   …   …   …   …   …   …   …   … 
  Cotton 5 6.0  0.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 6.0 3.0  3.3 
  …   …   …   …   …   …   …   …   …   … 
a  ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (Circular No. 161/2011/TT-BTC). 
b  ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement (Circular No. 163/2011/TT-BTC). c  ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (Circular No. 162/2011/TT-BTC). d  ASEAN-Australia New Zealand Free Trad e Agreement (Circular No. 44/2012/TT-BTC). 
e  ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (Circular No. 45/2012/TT-BTC). f  ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partne rship Agreement (Circular No. 20/2012/TT-BTC). 
g  Viet Nam-Japan Economic Partnershi p Agreement (Circular No. 21/2012/TT-BTC). 
Source: WTO Secretariat calculations, based on data from the Ministry of Finance, Circular No. 193/2012/TT-
BTC and Circular Nos. as in footnotes a to g. 
 
 
__________