CANADA – MEASURES AFFECTING THE IMPORTATION OF MILK AND THE EXPORTATION OF DAIRY PRODUCTS
Document: Notification of Mutually Agreed Solution
Date: 15 May 2003
Document codes: WT/DS103/33; WT/DS103/RW2; WT/DS103/AB/RW2; WT/DS113/RW2
Complainant: U.S.
Respondent: Canada
Third parties: Argentina, Australia, EU, Japan, Mexico
Dispute stage: Mutually Agreed Solution
Agreements cited: Art. 8, 9, 10  AgricultureArt. X, XI, XIII  GATT 1994Art. 1, 2, 3  Import LicensingArt. 3  Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM)Art. 3, 4  AgricultureArt. II  GATT 1994

CANADA – MEASURES AFFECTING THE IMPORTATION OF MILK
AND THE EXPORTATION OF DAIRY PRODUCTS
Notification of Mutually Agreed Solution
The following communication, dated 9 May 2003, from the Permanent Mission of Canada
and the Permanent Mission of the United States to the Chairman of the Dispute Settlement Body, is
circulated pursuant to Article 3.6 of the DSU.
On 17 January 2003, the WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) adopted the reports of the
Panel and Appellate Body in Canada - Measures Affecting the Importation of Milk and the
Exportation of Dairy Products: Second Recourse to Article 21.5 of the DSU by New Zealand and the
United States ( and , and
). In accordance with Article 3.6 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures
Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU), the Governments of Canada and the United States of
America wish to notify the DSB that they have reached a mutually agreed solution regarding the
matters raised by the United States in this dispute.
This mutually agreed solution consists of the following elements:
1. Canada confirms that the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan,
Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Québec have amended
their respective regulations and thereby have eliminated the commercial export milk (CEM) program
at the provincial level as of 30 April 2003.
2. Canada confirms that all consequential federal government amendments to
regulations relating to the elimination of the CEM program will be carried out as expeditiously as
practicable, and undertakes to complete this process by 1 August 2003.
3. Canada confirms that for the marketing year that began on 1 August 2002, Canada
will not exceed its WTO export subsidy reductio n commitments for butter and skim milk powder.
With respect to cheese and other milk products, given the existence of long-term CEM contracts at the
time of the WTO Appellate Body report in December 2002, Canada will exceed its WTO e xport
subsidy reduction commitments for these products in the marketing year that began 1 August 2002.
However, Canada confirms that following the issuance of the Appellate Body report it took immediate
steps to prevent any new CEM contracts, such that no new CEM contracts have been entered into
subsequent to 31 December 2002. Canada also confirms that, subject to judicial or quasi-judicial
proceedings, beginning 1 May 2003, there will be no further deliveries of CEM milk in Canada, and
there will be no exports to the United States of any milk and cream for which export subsidies have
been granted. Furthermore, Canada agrees not to issue any further permits under Special Milk Class
5(d) or any other program that provides export subsidies for cheese and other milk products for the
remainder of the marketing year that began 1 August 2002. Canada notes that on 4 April 2003, it

provided to the United States estimates, based on an industry survey, that exports of cheese and other
milk products for which export subsidies would be granted for the marketing year that began on
1 August 2002, would be approximately 13,000 and 62,000 metric tons, respectively.
4. Canada confirms that, for the marketing year beginning 1 August 2003, and
thereafter, Canada’s exports of dairy products for which export subsidies have been granted will not
exceed the quantities and budgetary outlays specified in its WTO Schedule.
In light of the foregoing, and Canada's commitm ent to comply with its obligations under the
Agreement on Agriculture as clarified by the DSB’s recommendations and rulings in this dispute, the
United States hereby withdraws its request (WT/DS103/17) to the DSB pursuant to Article 22.2 of the
DSU for authorization to suspend the application to Canada of tariff concessions and related
obligations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 covering trade in the amount of
US$35 million on an annual basis. The United States having withdrawn its request under Article 22.2
of the DSU, Canada hereby withdraws its request (WT/DS103/18) to the DSB for arbitration under
Article 22.6 of the DSU objecting to the level of suspension of tariff concessions and other obligations
under the GATT 1994 proposed by the United States.
This letter is without prejudice to the WTO rights and obligations of Canada and the
United States.
For Canada: For the United States:
(s) Sergio Marchi (s) Linnet F. Deily
Ambassador Ambassador