RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/AG/W/39
13 November 1998
(98-4550)
Committee on Agriculture Original:  English
IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES REGARDING DOMESTIC SUPPORT
Notification of “Green Box” Measures
Discussion Paper by the United States
1. In its discussion paper G/AG/W/34, New Zealand identifies several technical issues related to
domestic support notifications.  One of these issues concerns the provision of adequate information in
domestic support notifications to determine the nature of the measures, particularly with regard to
those provisions for which exemption can be claimed (Annex 2, Articles 6.2 and 6.5).  While allaspects of the DS notification are important, this paper will focus on ways to improve the reporting
format of Supporting Table DS:1 ("Green Box" measures), since a lot of time is spent in the
Committee discussing these programmes.
2. The current format for Supporting Table DS:1 (attached) requires Members to provide the
type, name, and description of the measure being reported, along with reference to the criteria in
Annex 2.  While this format seems relatively straig htforward, some Members have not provided this
information or have provided only partial information, resulting in numerous questions in the
Committee on programme descriptions, Annex 2 conformity, etc.  A slight modification to the format
of Supporting Table DS:1 could facilitate the provision of concise, relevant information that enhances
the transparency of the notification without overly burdening the notifying Member.
3. One way to improve the format of Supporting Table DS:1 would be to divide up "column 2"
into three columns:  name of measure, description of measure, and reference to Annex 2 criteria (see
attached "version one").  The rest of the table would remain the same (e.g., columns for monetary
value and data sources).  A second variation would be to place the programme description and
reference to Annex 2 criteria to the right of the monetary value column.  In both cases, Membersshould make every effort to succinctly present programme details in a way that  specifically  addresses
the relevant Annex 2 criteria.
4. The purpose of this exercise is not to make notification requirements more cumbersome for
Members, but rather to propose format options that clarify each element required for notification.Both of these approaches merely specify with mo re precision the reporting obligation that already
exists, while neither entails additional information to be notified.   A lot of time and effort is spent, in
capitals and in this Committee, reviewing notificati ons and preparing questions and answers.  These
resources could be utilized more efficiently if all Members agreed to notify Green Box (and other
measures) using one of these formats.  We welcome input and comments from other Members ontheir experiences in preparing Supporting Tabl e DS:1 and how Green Box notifications can be
improved.G/AG/W/39
Page 2
CURRENT VERSION
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  name of Member
Supporting Table DS:1
REPORTING PERIOD:  calendar year, marketing year, etc.
Measures exempt from the reduction commitment - "Green Box"
Measure type Name and description of measure with reference to criteria in Annex 2 Monetary value of
measure in year in
questionData sources
12 3 4
(a) "general services"
(b) "public stockholding for food security purposes"
(c) "domestic food aid"
(d) "decoupled income support"
(e) "income insurance and income safety-net programmes"
(f) "payments for relief from natural disasters"
(g) "structural adjustment assistance provided through producer retirement programmes"
(h) "structural adjustment assistance provided through resource retirement programmes"
(i) "structural adjustment assistance provided through investment aids"
(j) "environmental programmes"
(k) "regional assistance programmes"
(l) "other"G/AG/W/39
Page 3VERSION ONE
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  name of Member
Supporting Table DS:1
REPORTING PERIOD:  calendar year, marketing year, etc.
Measures exempt from the reduction commitment – "Green Box"
Measure type Name of measure Description of measure Reference to Annex 2 criteria Monetary value of
measure in year in
questionData sources
12 345 6
"general services"
"public stockholding for food
security purposes"
"domestic food aid"
"decoupled income support"
"income insurance and income
safety-net programmes"
"payments for relief from natural
 disasters"
"structural adjustment assistance
provided through producer retirement"
"structural adjustment assistance
provided through resource retirement"
"structural adjustment assistance
provided through investment aids"
"environmental programmes"
"regional assistance programmes"
"other"G/AG/W/39
Page 4
VERSION TWO
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  name of Member
Supporting Table DS:1
REPORTING PERIOD:  calendar year, marketing year, etc.
Measures exempt from the reduction commitment – "Green Box"
Measure type Name of measure Monetary value of measure in
year in questionDescription of measure and
reference to Annex 2Data sources
12345
"general services"
"public stockholding for food
security purposes"
"domestic food aid"
"decoupled income support"
"income insurance and income
safety-net programmes"
"payments for relief from natural
 disasters"
"structural adjustment assistance
provided through producer retirement"
"structural adjustment assistance
provided through resource retirement"
"structural adjustment assistance
provided through investment aids"
"environmental programmes"
"regional assistance programmes"
"other"
__________