WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(03)/W/15
12 September 2003
(03-4789)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Fifth Session
Cancún, 10 - 14 September 2003Original:  English
AGRICULTURE
AMENDMENTS TO PARAGRAPH 1.3 OF ANNEX A
Communication from Norway
The following communication, dated 12 September 2003, has been received from the
delegation of Norway.
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Background
1. The Chair's draft text on Blue Box support (Par agraph 1.3 of Annex A) with a harmonisation
of the Blue Box payments, limited to 5 per cent of the production value, will yield inequitable resultsacross the Membership. In contrast to most countries, which would get increased flexibility if the
Chair's proposal were to take effect, the 5 per cen t ceiling would in case of Norway imply a reduction
of existing Blue Box support of around 87 per cent.
2. In Norway, Blue Box support has played a ma jor role in shifting away from more trade
distorting policies, and it has been an indispensable element in our safeguarding of non-trade
concerns.
3. On this basis, in order to ensure that commitments are made in a more equitable way, Norway
believes that an optional approach should be available and submits the following proposal.
Proposal
The first part of Paragraph 1.3 (ii) of Annex A should be amended as follows:
"support under 1.3(i) shall not exceed 5% of the total value of agricultural production in the 2000-
2002 period by [...]. Alternatively, Members shall have the option to reduce their existing Blue Box
support, as disbursed in the period 2000-2002, by 50% ."
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