 RESTRICTED  
  
G/SCM/M/112  
 
25 February 2021  
(21-1661) Page: 1/15 
Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures    
 
 
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING  
HELD ON 27 OCTOBER 2020  
CHAIR: MS MICHÈLE LEGAULT DOOLEY (CANADA)  
1. The Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures ("Committee") held a special meeting 
on 27 October 2020, convened in WTO/AIR/SCM/33 dated 16 October 2020.  
2. The Chair recalled that some participants were joining the meeting in person and others online 
via Interprefy. The Chair recalled the technical arrangements that therefore applied to the meeting, 
which were also descri bed in the "Organizational and Technical Arrangements Note" sent to Members 
on 20 October 2020.  
3. The Committee adopted the following agenda:  
1   REVIEW OF 2019 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS (G/SCM/ N/343/...)  
NOT PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED  ................................ ................................ ...........................  3 
 Argentina (G/SCM/N/343/ARG/Suppl.2)  ................................ ................................ .........  3 
 Australia ( G/SCM/N/343/AUS/Rev.1 ) ................................ ................................ .............  3 
 Brunei Darussalam (G/SCM/N/343/BRN)  ................................ ................................ ........  3 
 Burkina Faso (G/SCM/N/284/BFA - G/SCM/N/315/BFA - G/SCM/N/343/BFA)  ......................  3 
 Canada ( G/SCM/N/343/CAN ) ................................ ................................ ........................  3 
 China ( G/SCM/N/343/CHN and Corrigendum 1 ) ................................ ...............................  3 
 Ecuador (G/SCM/N/343/ECU)  ................................ ................................ ........................  4 
 El Salvador (G/SCM/N/343/SLV)  ................................ ................................ ...................  4 
 European Union (G/SCM/N/343/EU and Addenda 1 to 28, respectively pertaining to Austria, 
Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia , Finland, France, Germany, 
Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, 
Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom)  .............  4 
 Georgia (G/SCM/N/315/GEO - G/SCM/N/343/GEO)  ................................ ........................  5 
 Honduras (G/SCM/N/343/HND/Suppl.1)  ................................ ................................ ....... 5 
 Iceland (G/SCM/N/343/ISL)  ................................ ................................ ........................  5 
 India (G/SCM/N/284/IND/Suppl.4 - G/SCM/N/315/IND/Suppl.2 – G/SCM/N/343/IND and 
G/SCM/N/253/IND/Suppl.4 - G/SCM/N/284/IND/Suppl.5 - G/SCM/N/315/IND/Suppl.3 – 
G/SCM/N/343/IND/Suppl.1)  ................................ ................................ ................................ . 5 
 Japan (G/SCM/N/343/JPN)  ................................ ................................ ..........................  5 
 Jordan (G/SCM/N/343/JOR)  ................................ ................................ ........................  5 
 Kazakhstan (G/SCM/N/343/KAZ)  ................................ ................................ .................  6 
 Republic of Korea (G/SCM/N/343/KOR)  ................................ ................................ ........  6 
 Mexico (G/SCM/N/343/MEX)  ................................ ................................ .......................  6 
 Republic of Moldova (G/SCM/N/343/MDA) ................................ ................................ ..... 6 G/SCM/M/112  
 
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 North Macedonia (G/SCM/N/343/MKD/Suppl.1)  ................................ .............................  6 
 Philippines (G/SCM/N/343/PHL/Suppl.1)  ................................ ................................ ....... 6 
 The Russian Federation (G/SCM/N/343/RUS)  ................................ ................................  7 
 Saint Lucia (G/SCM/N/299/LCA - G/SCM/N/315/LCA - G/SCM/N/343/LCA)  .......................  7 
 Switzerland (G/SCM/N/343/CHE)  ................................ ................................ .................  7 
 Togo (G/SCM/N/343/TGO)  ................................ ................................ ..........................  7 
 Turkey (G/SCM/N/315/TUR/Suppl.1 - G/SCM/N/343/TUR)  ................................ ..............  7 
 Ukraine (G/SCM/N/343/UKR)  ................................ ................................ ......................  8 
 The United States (G/SCM/N/343/USA and Corrigendum 1)  ................................ ............  8 
 Uruguay (G/SCM/N/343/URY)  ................................ ................................ .....................  8 
 Viet Nam (G/SCM/N/343/VNM)  ................................ ................................ ....................  8 
2   REVIEW OF 2017 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS (G/SCM/N/315/…) 
NOT PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED  ................................ ................................ ...........................  8 
 Brazil (G/SCM/N/315/BRA/Suppl.1)  ................................ ................................ ...............  9 
 Mexico (G/SCM/N/315/MEX)  ................................ ................................ .........................  9 
 Viet Nam (G/SCM/N/284/VNM - G/SCM/N/315/VNM)  ................................ .......................  9 
3   REVIEW OF 2015 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS (G/SCM/N/284/…) 
NOT PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED  ................................ ................................ ...........................  9 
4   REVIEW OF 2013 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS (G/SCM/N/253/…) 
NOT PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED  ................................ ................................ ...........................  9 
5   CONTINUATION OF REVIEW OF 2019 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS 
(G/SCM/N/343/…)  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  9 
 Australia ( G/SCM/N/343/AUS ) ................................ ................................ ......................  9 
 Brazil (G/SCM/N/343/BRA)  ................................ ................................ .......................... 10 
 Chile (G/SCM/N/343/CHL)  ................................ ................................ ........................... 10 
 Indonesia ( G/SCM/N/343/IDN and G/SCM/N/315/IDN - G/SCM/N/284/IDN - 
G/SCM/N/253/IDN ) ................................ ................................ ................................ ............ 11 
 New Zealand (G/SCM/N/343/NZL)  ................................ ................................ ................ 11 
 Philippines (G/SCM/N/343/PHL ) ................................ ................................ ................... 11 
6   CONTINUATION OF REVIEW OF 2017 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS 
(G/SCM/N/315/…)  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  11 
 China (G/SCM/N/315/CHN)  ................................ ................................ .......................... 11 
 India (G/SCM/N/315/IND/Suppl.1 – G/SCM/N/284/IND/Suppl.3)  ................................ .....13 
7   CONTINUATION OF REVIEW OF 2015 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS 
(G/SCM/N/284/…)  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  13 
 China (G /SCM/N/220/CHN, G/SCM/N/253/CHN, G/SCM/N/284/CHN, and 
G/SCM/N/95/CHN/Suppl.1, G/SCM/N/123/CHN/Suppl.1, G/SCM/N/155/CHN/Suppl.1, 
G/SCM/N/186/CHN/Suppl.1, G/SCM/N/220/CHN/Suppl.1, G/SCM/N/253/CHN/Suppl.1 
and G/SCM/N/284/CHN/Suppl.1)  ................................ ................................ ......................... 13 
8   CONTINUATION OF REVIEW OF 2009 NEW AND FULL NOTIFICATIONS 
(G/SCM/N/186/…)  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  14 
 Gabon (G/SCM/N/186/GAB)  ................................ ................................ ......................... 14 
 G/SCM/M/112  
 
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  1   REVIEW OF 2019 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS (G/SCM/N/343/...) NOT 
PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED  
4. The Chair recalled that, at its April 2019 regular meeting the Committee decided to continue 
to apply the same procedures in G/SCM/117 according to which only notif ications that had been 
circulated to Members in all three WTO working languages not later than 29 June 2020 could be 
reviewed at this meeting. Those notifications were listed in WTO/AIR/SCM/32. Written questions 
pertaining to those notifications had been d ue by 27 July 2020, and written answers by 
28 September  2020.  
Argentina (G/SCM/N/343/ARG/Suppl.2)  
5. No Member raised any questions or comments about this notification.  
6. The Committee took note  of the notification.  
Australia ( G/SCM/N/343/AUS/Rev.1 ) 
7. No Member raised any questions or comments about this notification.  
8. The Committee took note  of the notification.  
Brunei Darussalam (G/SCM/N/343/BRN)  
9. No Member raised any questions or comments about this notification.  
10. The Committee took note  of the notification.  
Burkina Faso (G/SCM/N/284/BFA - G/SCM/N/315/BFA - G/SCM/N/343/BFA)  
11. This multi -symbolled notification was a new and full notification for 2015, 2017, and 2019, 
respectively.  
12. No Member raised any questions or com ments about th is notification.  
13. The Committee took note  of the notifications.  
Canada ( G/SCM/N/343/CAN ) 
14. Written questions and answers concerning this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/CAN/69 – Questions from Chinese Taipei  
• G/SCM/Q2/CAN/70 – Replies to Chinese Taipei  
15. The Committee took note  of the notification, questions, and answers.  
China ( G/SCM/N/343/CHN and Corrigendum 1 ) 
16. Written questions and answers concerning this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/85 – Questions from Canada  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/86 – Questions from the United States  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/89 – Questions from Australia  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/90 – Questions from the European Union  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/91 – Replies to Australia1 
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/92 – Replies to Canada2 
 
1 Circulated on 28 October 2020.  
2 Circulated on 28 October 2020.  G/SCM/M/112  
 
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  • G/SCM/Q2/CHN/93 – Replies to the United States3 
17. China  noted that the replies to the questions from the European Union, which were submitted 
after the applicable deadline, would be provided soon.  
18. The United States  stated that it had received the replies before the meeting a nd requested to 
keep the notification on the agenda of the next meeting.  
19. Australia  indicated that the total budget figures for some of the programmes had not been 
provided and requested China to provide that information. It would continue to review the rep lies. 
20. China  noted the concerns and indicated that it would do its best to get the relevant information 
from the local authorities.  
21. Canada  stated that it would review the replies and come back where necessary.  
22. The Chair noted that since the questions from t he European Union as well as the replies to 
Australia, Canada, and the United States were submitted after the applicable deadline,  the 
Committee would return to this notification at its next special meeting.  
23. The Committee took note  of the notification, que stions, answers, and statements made.  
Ecuador (G/SCM/N/343/ECU)  
24. No Member raised any questions or comments about this notification.  
25. The Committee took note  of the notification.  
El Salvador (G/SCM/N/343/SLV)  
26. No Member raised any questions or comments about this notification.  
27. The Committee took note  of the notification.  
European Union (G/SCM/N/343/EU and Addenda 1 to 28, respectively pertaining to 
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, 
France, Ge rmany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, 
Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and 
the United Kingdom)  
28. Written questions and answers concerning these notifications can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/EU/56 – Questions from New Zealand  
• G/SCM/Q2/EU/57 – Replies to New Zealand  
• G/SCM/Q2/EU/58 – Questions from Canada  
• G/SCM/Q2/EU/59 – Questions from Australia (pertaining to Portugal)  
• G/SCM/Q2/EU/60 – Replies to Canada  
29. The Chair  noted that since the replies to questions posed by Australia had not yet been provided, 
the Committee would return to the notification contained in document G/SCM/N/343/EU/Add.22 
pertaining to Portugal at its next special meeting.  
30. The Committee took note  of the notification, questions, answers, and statements made.  
 
3 Circulated on 28 October 2020.  G/SCM/M/112  
 
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Georgia (G/SCM/N/315/GEO - G/SCM/N/343/GEO)  
31. This double -symbolled notification was a new and full notification for  2017 and 2019, 
respectively.  
32. No Member raised any questions or comment s about th is notification.  
33. The Committee took note  of the notifications.  
Honduras (G/SCM/N/343/HND/Suppl.1)  
34. No Member raised any questions or comments about this notification.  
35. The Committee took note  of the notification.  
Iceland (G/SCM/N/343/ISL)  
36. No Member raised any questions or comments about this notification.  
37. The Committee took note  of the notification.  
India (G/SCM/N/284/IND/Suppl.4 - G/SCM/N/315/IND/Suppl.2 – 
G/SCM/N/343/IND and G/SCM/N/253/IND/Suppl.4 - G/SCM/N/284/IND/Supp l.5 - 
G/SCM/N/315/IND/Suppl.3 – G/SCM/N/343/IND/Suppl.1)  
38. These multi -symbolled documents were new and full subsidy notifications for 2013, 2015, 
2017, and 2019.  
39. Written questions and answers concerning these notifications can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/IND/49 – Questions from the United States  
• G/SCM/Q2/IND/50 – Questions from Canada  
• G/SCM/Q2/IND/51 – Replies to the United States  
• G/SCM/Q2/IND/52 – Replies to Canada  
• G/SCM/Q2/IND/53 – Questions from the United States  
• G/SCM/Q2/IND/54 – Replies to the United States  
40. The Committee took note  of the notification, questions, and answers.  
Japan (G/SCM/N/343/JPN)  
41. Written questions and answers concerning this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/JPN/76 – Questions from the United States  
• G/SCM/Q2/JPN/77 – Replies to the United States  
42. The Committee took note  of the notification, questions, and answers.  
Jordan (G/SCM/N/343/JOR)  
43. No written questions were posed regarding this notification.  
44. The United States  recalled that Jordan had terminated the programme that was extended 
under the Article 27.4 of the Agreement and a new programme was introduced in 2019. The 
United  States requested further details and asked Jordan to explain whether the new programme 
was currently in effect.  
45. Jordan  confirmed the termination of the previous p rogramme at the end of 2018 and noted 
that it could provide written replies if the United States provided written questions.  G/SCM/M/112  
 
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  46. The Committee took note  of the notification and statements made.  
Kazakhstan (G/SCM/N/343/KAZ)  
47. No Member raised any questions or com ments about this notification.  
48. The Committee took note  of the notification.  
Republic of Korea (G/SCM/N/343/KOR)  
49. Written questions and answers concerning this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/KOR/60 – Questions from Canada  
• G/SCM/Q2/KOR/61 – Replies to  Canada  
• G/SCM/Q2/KOR/62 – Question from New Zealand  
• G/SCM/Q2/KOR/63 – Questions from the United States  
• G/SCM/Q2/KOR/64 – Reply to New Zealand  
• G/SCM/Q2/KOR/65 – Replies to the United States  
50. The Committee took note  of the notification, questions, and answers.  
Mexico (G/SCM/N/343/MEX)  
51. Written questions and answers concerning this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/MEX/32 – Questions from Canada  
• G/SCM/Q2/MEX/33 – Questions from New Zealand  
• G/SCM/Q2/MEX/34 – Questions from the United States  
• G/SCM/Q2/MEX/35 – Question from the Dominican Republic  
• G/SCM/Q2/MEX/36 – Replies to Canada  
52. Mexico  indicated that it would provide its written responses to the questions posed by 
New Zealand, the United Sta tes, and the Dominica n Republic as soon as possible.  
53. New Zealand  and the United States  stated that they looked forward to the written answers.  
54. The Chair  noted that because the written replies to Canada had been submitted after the 
applicable deadline and n o replies had been provided for other questions, the Committee would 
return to this notification at its next special meeting.  
55. The Committee took note  of the notification, questions, answers, and statements made.  
Republic of Moldova (G/SCM/N/343/MDA)  
56. No Mem ber raised any questions or comments about this notification.  
57. The Committee took note  of the notification.  
North Macedonia (G/SCM/N/343/MKD/Suppl.1)  
58. No Member raised any questions or comments about this notification.  
59. The Committee took note  of the notification.  
Philippines (G/SCM/N/343/PHL/Suppl.1)  
60. Written questions and answers concerning this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/PHL/13 – Questions from Australia  
• G/SCM/Q2/PHL/14 – Replies to Australia  G/SCM/M/112  
 
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  • G/SCM/Q2/PHL/15 – Question from New Ze aland  
• G/SCM/Q2/PHL/16 – Questions from the United States  
• G/SCM/Q2/PHL/17 – Replies to the United States4 
• G/SCM/Q2/PHL/18 – Reply to New Zealand5 
61. The Chair  noted that because the written replies to New Zealand and the United States had 
been submitted afte r the applicable deadline, the Committee would return to this notification at its 
next special meeting.  
62. The Committee took note  of the notification, questions, answers, and statements made.  
The Russian Federation (G/SCM/N/343/RUS)  
63. Written questions concern ing this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/RUS/20 – Questions from New Zealand  
64. The Russian Federation  stated that it was finalizing its written replies.  
65. New Zealand  stated that it looked forward to the answers in writing.  
66. The Chair  noted that because the written replies to New Zealand had not yet been submitted, 
the Committee would return to this notification at its next special meeting.  
67. The Committee took note  of the notification, questions, and statements made.  
Saint Lucia (G/SCM/N/299/LCA - G/SCM/N/315/LCA - G/SCM/N/343/LCA)  
68. This multi -symbolled notification was a final transparency notification in respect of extensions 
under Article 27.4 of the SCM Agreement  as well as new and full notifications for 2017 and 2019, 
respectively.  
69. No Member raised any questions or comments about these notifications.  
70. The Committee took note  of the notifications.  
Switzerland (G/SCM/N/343/CHE)  
71. No Member raised any questions or comm ents about this notification.  
72. The Committee took note  of the notification.  
Togo (G/SCM/N/343/TGO)  
73. No Member raised any questions or comments about this notification.  
74. The Committee took note  of the notification.  
Turkey (G/SCM/N/315/TUR/Suppl.1 - G/SCM/N/343 /TUR)  
75. This double -symbolled notification was a  new and full  notification for  2017 and 2019, 
respectively.  
76. Written questions and answers concerning this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/TUR/40 – Questions from Canada  
 
4 Circulated on 22 October 2020.  
5 Circulated on 22 October 2020.  G/SCM/M/112  
 
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  • G/SCM/Q2/TUR/41 – Replies to Canad a 
77. The Committee took note  of the notification, questions, and answers.  
Ukraine (G/SCM/N/343/UKR)  
78. No Member raised any questions or comments about this notification.  
79. The Committee took note  of the notification.  
The United States (G/SCM/N/343/USA and Corrigendum 1)  
80. Written questions and answers concerning this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/USA/76 – Questions from Canada  
• G/SCM/Q2/USA/77 – Questions from Australia  
• G/SCM/Q2/USA/78 – Replies to Canada  
• G/SCM/Q2/USA/79 – Replies  to Australia6 
81. The Chair noted that because the written replies to Australia had been submitted after the 
applicable deadline, the Committee would return to this notification at its next special meeting.  
82. The Committee took note  of the notification, questions, and statement made.  
Uruguay (G/SCM/N/343/URY)  
83. No Member raised any questions or comments about this notification.  
84. The Committee took note  of the notification.  
Viet Nam (G/SCM/N/343/VNM)  
85. Written questions and answers concerning this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/VNM/7 and Corrigendum 1 – Questions from Chinese Taipei  
• G/SCM/Q2/VNM/8 – Replies to Chinese Taipei  
86. The United States  thanked Viet Nam for its recent notification and indicated that it might have 
some questions which would be provided in writing.  
87. The Chair noted that because both the questions and the written replies had been submitted 
after the applicable deadline, the Committee would return to this notification at its next special 
meeting.  
88. The Committee took note  of the notification, questions, an d statements made.  
2  REVIEW OF 2017 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS (G/SCM/N/315/…) NOT 
PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED  
89. This was the Committee's sixth special meeting at which new and full subsidy notifications 
for 2017 were reviewed. These notifications were due by 30 June 2017.  
90. The Chair  recalled that the first item on the agenda covered 2017 new and full notifications of 
Burkina Faso, Georgia, India, Saint Lucia, and Turkey. Therefore, those notifications were not 
reviewed again.  
 
6 Circulated on 26 October 2020.  G/SCM/M/112  
 
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  2.1  Brazil (G/SCM/N/315/BRA/Suppl.1)  
91. No Member raised any questions or comments about this notification.  
92. The Committee took note  of the notification.  
2.2  Mexico (G/SCM/N/315/MEX)  
93. Written questions concerning this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/MEX/34 – Questions from the United States  
94. The Chair  noted that because the written replies to the United States had not yet been 
submitted, the Committee would return to this notification at its next special meeting.  
95. The Committee took note  of the notification  and questions . 
2.3  Viet Nam (G/SCM/N/284/VNM - G/SCM/N/315/VNM)  
96. This double -symbolled notification was a  new and full notification for  2015 and 2017, 
respectively.  
97. No Member raised any questions or comments about this notification.  
98. The Committee took note  of the notification.  
3  REVIEW OF 2015 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS (G/SCM/N/284/…) NOT 
PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED  
4  REVIEW OF 2013 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS (G/SCM/N/253/…) NOT 
PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED  
99. The Chair  recalled that the previous items on the agen da covered 2015 new and full notifications 
of Burkina Faso, India, and Viet Nam; and the 2013 notification of India. Therefore, those 
notifications were not reviewed again and there were no additional notifications to be reviewed under 
agenda items 3 and 4.  
5  CONTINUATION  OF REVIEW OF 2019 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS 
(G/SCM/N/343/…)  
100.  The Chair  noted that agenda items 5 to 8 were for continuation of reviews of 2019, 2017, 
2015, and 200 9 new and full notifications, respectively. These reviews had started at prior meetings 
but had not yet been completed, due to late submission of questions or non -submission or late 
submission of written replies.  
101.  The Committee also considered under this ag enda item the follow -up questions that had 
been submitted in respect of certain of those notifications.  
102.  The Chair recalled that the exchange of written questions and answers was the essence of 
the review process for those notifications, as per the Committe e's agreed procedures. Failure to 
reply promptly to such questions undermined transparency, and thus frustrated the purpose of the 
review. All Members that had not yet responded to written questions concerning their subsidy 
notifications thus should submit  their answers without further delay. However, the Chair noted that 
a number of delegations with notifications under the remaining agenda items had submitted written 
answers to the questions that were pending at the end of the last special meeting.  
5.1  Austral ia (G/SCM/N/343/AUS ) 
103.  Written questions and answers concerning this notification can be found in:  G/SCM/M/112  
 
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  • G/SCM/Q2/AUS/60 – Questions from the United States  
• G/SCM/Q2/AUS/61 – Replies to the United States  
104.   The Committee took note  of the notification, questions and a nswers.  
5.2  Brazil (G/SCM/N/343/BRA)  
105.  Written questions and answers concerning this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/BRA/53 – Questions from the United States  
• G/SCM/Q2/BRA/54 – Replies to the United States  
106.  The Committee took note  of the notification, questions and answers.  
5.3  Chile (G/SCM/N/343/CHL)  
107.  Written questions and answers concerning this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHL/27 – Questions from the United States  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHL/28 – Replies to the United States  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHL/29 – Questions from the United States  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHL/30 – Replies to the United States7 
108.  Chile indicated that it was preparing its responses and that it would soon submit them in 
writing. Chile stated that the delay in submitting these responses  was due to the pandemic, some 
domestic issues and also due to two specific issues.  
109.  First, an institutional change, occurred from August 2019, with the creation of the National 
Institute for Sustainable Development of Artisanal Fisheries and Small -Scale Aq uaculture 
(INDESPA). Chile indicated that  this body was responsible for administering the funds corresponding 
to the previous subsidy programmes of the Small -Scale Fishing Promotion Fund (FFPA) and the 
Fisheries Administration Fund (FAP). This information  had been provided in document 
G/SCM/N/343/CHL/Suppl.1. The second reason was that, in order to answer  the questions about 
the Fund for the Promotion and Development of Remote Areas, Chile has needed to collect 
information which was scattered across the ad ministration of these remote areas in the country.  
110.  Chile orally presented answers to the questions from the United States, which were concerned 
with the possibility of these programmes  to increas e the global capacity of the fisheries sector. 
According to C hile, none of the aforementioned programmes would give rise to an increase in 
fisheries capacity. Chile explained that the first programme did not focused on small -scale fishing, 
and the projects and sums awarded did not account for a significant percentag e of the total. The 
second program, FFPA, mainly focused on the sustainable development of the Chilean small -scale 
fishing sector. Regarding the third programme, FAP, the questions from the United States were 
mainly related to fisheries and aquaculture res earch projects and the high -level technical study 
programmes. On the former, Chile pointed out that these projects have not been funded by the FAP 
in the last five years. On the latter, Chile stated that they concerned training and social support due 
to job loss.  
111.  With regards to question 4, on decreasing fuel prices for fishermen, Chile indicated that fuel 
discounts or subsidies were not available in Chile for small -scale or industrial fishing sector.  
112.  The United States  thanked Chile for the oral responses a nd for the previously  circulated written 
replies to its questions.  
113.  The Chair noted that since the replies to questions posed by the United States  had not been 
provided  at the time , the Committee would return to this notification at its next special meeting . 
114.  The Committee took note  of the notification, questions, answers and statements made.  
 
7 Circulated on 4 November 2020.  G/SCM/M/112  
 
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  5.4  Indonesia ( G/SCM/N/343/IDN and G/SCM/N/315/IDN - G/SCM/N/284/IDN - 
G/SCM/N/253/IDN ) 
115.  This multi -symbolled notification was a  new and full notification for 2019, 2017, 2015, 
and 2013, respectively.  
116.  Written questions and answers concerning th is notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/IDN/14 – Questions from New Zealand  
• G/SCM/Q2/IDN/15 – Replies to New Zealand  
117.  The Committee took note  of the noti fication, questions, and answers.  
5.5  New Zealand (G/SCM/N/343/NZL)  
118.  Written questions and answers concerning this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/NZL/30 – Questions from Chinese Taipei  
• G/SCM/Q2/NZL/31 – Replies to Chinese Taipei  
119.  The Committee took note  of the notification, questions, and answers.  
5.6  Philippines (G/SCM/N/343/PHL ) 
120.  Written questions and answers concerning this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/PHL/11 – Questions from the United States.  
• G/SCM/Q2/PHL/12 – Replies to the United States.  
121.  The C ommittee took note  of the notification, questions, and answers.  
6  CONTINUATION  OF REVIEW OF 2017 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS 
(G/SCM/N/315/…)  
6.1  China (G/SCM/N/315/CHN)  
122.  Written questions and answers concerning this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/75 – Questions from the United States  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/76 – Questions from the Dominican Republic  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/77 – Questions from Japan  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/78 – Questions from New Zealand  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/79 – Questions from the European Union  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/81 – Replies to the United States  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/82 – Replies to the Dominican Republic  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/83 – Replies to Japan  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/84 – Replies to New Zealand  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/87 – Follow -up questions from the United States  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/94 – Replies to follow -up questions from the United States8 
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/96 – Partial replies to the European Union9 
123.  China  stated that it had received written questions from the United States, the 
European  Union, Japan, Dominican Republic, and New Zealand on Ch ina’s 2015 -2016 subsidy 
notification and thanked those Members for their continued attention to their subsidy notifications. 
China explained that it had submitted written replies to the questions of Japan, Dominican Republic, 
and New Zealand before the spe cial meeting of last autumn and that it had now completed written 
 
8 Circulated on 28 October  2020.  
9 Circulated on 30 October 2020.  G/SCM/M/112  
 
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  replies to the questions from the European Union and follow -up questions from the United States, 
submitted to the Committee before the meeting.  
124.  The United States  thanked China for the answers to its follow -up questions, mentioning that, 
due to the fact that they have been submitted the morning of the meeting, a detailed analysis would 
be necessary and that could lead to a follow -up in the Spring meeting. Then, it requested to keep 
the notification on the agenda of the next meeting.  The United States pointed out  question 1 
contained in G/SCM/Q2/CHN/87, in which it had asked China about the requirement (contained in 
China's Protocol of Accession) to publish in the MO FCOM gazette normative documents establishing 
or implementing a subsidy programme at the subcentral level of the government. According to the 
United States, China's response, that "it had been committed to enhancing transparency in practice ", 
was unclear. The United States  stated that it would appreciate if China could provide further 
elaboration on the subject.  
125.  China  stated that the MOFCOM Gazette was the official journal dedicated to the publication of 
trade policy -related issues. The journal could be subscribed by mail and was also published 
in MOFCOM website with more than 3.9 million -page views per year. China als o stated that it had 
improved in transparency, such as by having established an authorized platform for releasing 
administrative regulation rules.  
126.  The United States  asked China to confirm whether none of the subcentral legal measures were 
published in the MOFCOM gazette.  
127.  China  stated that the local government subsidies have might been published and suggested 
the United States to access the gazette in order to verify it.  
128.  The United States  affirmed that it had accessed the website of the MOFCOM gazette and co uld 
not see any of the subcentral measures published. The United States reinforced their request that 
China confirmed whether none of the subcentral measures were published.  
129.  China  thanked the United States for the concerns on the issue and stated that it w ould 
communicate them to the competent authorities.  
130.  The United States  thanked for China's answers.  
131.  The European Union  thanked China for the replies submitted and affirmed that it would 
examine them, reserving the right to come back to them at the next meet ing. The European Union, 
then, made two remarks. The first one concerned China's answer that it would not reply to certain 
questions regarding issues on subsidies that were not included in its subsidy notification. About that, 
the European Union asked Chin a whether it was requiring the European Union to submit those 
questions under Article 25(8) of the ASCM. The second remark was that the European Union would 
verify China's notification in order to check whether its questions would have been answered within  
the notification. According to the European Union, however, the purpose of asking questions in the 
first place was to fill in the gaps where the questions were not answered. The European Union would 
check China's replies with the hope that it could fill t hese gaps.  
132.  Regarding the first remark, China  stated that the European Union could reserve the right to 
raise questions under Article 25(8) and Article 25(10) of the SCM Agreement in the case they did 
not refer to subsidy notifications. In respect to the second remark, China affirmed that some of the 
questions were already included in China's notification. However, in the case the European Union 
wanted to ask follow -up questions, that would be welcomed by China.  
133.  The European Union  stated that, as the replies  had been submitted the morning of the 
meeting, it would analyse them in more detail before being able to establish any follow -up. 
134.  The Dominican Republic  thanked China for the replies and stated it would not have any follow -
up questions.  
135.  The Chair  noted th at since the replies to the questions from the European Union and the 
United  States had been submitted after the applicable deadline, the Committee would return to that 
notification at its next special meeting.  G/SCM/M/112  
 
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  136.  The Committee took note  of the notification, questions, answers, and the statements made.  
6.2  India (G/SCM/N/315/IND/Suppl.1 – G/SCM/N/284/IND/Suppl.3)  
137.  This multi-symbolled notification was a  new and full notification for 2017 and 2015, respectively.  
138.  Written questions and replies co ncerning this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/IND/50 – Questions from Canada  
• G/SCM/Q2/IND/52 – Replies to Canada  
139.  Canada  thanked India for the replies  and stated it would not have any follow -up questions for 
the moment.  
140.  India thanked Canada.  
141.  The Committee took note  of the notifications, questions, answers and statements made . 
7  CONTINUATION  OF REVIEW OF 2015 NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATIONS 
(G/SCM/N/28 4/…)  
7.1  China (G/SCM/N/220/CHN, G/SCM/N/253/CHN, G/SCM/N/284/CHN, and 
G/SCM/N/95/CHN/Suppl.1, G/SCM/N/123/CHN/Suppl.1, G/SCM/N/155/CHN/Suppl.1, 
G/SCM/N/186/CHN/Suppl.1, G/SCM/N/220/CHN/Suppl.1, G/SCM/N/253/CHN/Suppl.1 
and G/SCM/N/284/CHN/Suppl.1)  
142.  The multi -symbolled notifications from China covered the periods 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 
2011, 2013 and 2015, and were taken up together under this agenda item.  
143.  Written questions and answers concerning these  notification s can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/74 – Follow -up question from the United States  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/80 – Reply to the follow -up question from the United States  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/88 – Follow -up questions from the United State  
• G/SCM/Q2/CHN/95 – Replies to the follow -up questions from the United States10 
144.  The Chair recalled that China had submitted its written replies to the follow -up questions from 
the United States contained in document G/SCM/Q2/CHN/88 just before the meeting.  
145.  The United States  stated that it would need additional time to look at the replies and requested 
to keep that item on the agenda for the next meeting of the Committee. As a general point, the 
United States recalled that the follow -up questions were about China's first sub -central subsidy 
notification which dated back 2003. The United States had asked questions about very specific legal 
measures and expected clarification why they had not been notified. In its written answers, however, 
China replied that "that legal measure has been repealed". Although it might have been repealed, 
the measure had been in effect at some point of time and therefore the question still stood.  
146.  China  reiterated that it had been striving to enhance the transparency of its subsidy policies 
and had ma de a succession of major breakthroughs in that process. It had submitted a subsidy 
notification at the central and local governmental levels in July 2018 covering the period 2015 and 
2016. It also had submitted another notification at the central and local -government levels in 2019 
covering the periods 2017 and 2018 in strict accordance with the timing requirement of the WTO. 
As a vast country with complicated administrative divisions it was not easy for China to collect 
information on local subsidy policie s. Therefore, its efforts should be respected by Members.  
147.  The United States  reiterated that it had referenced a very specific legal measure and asked 
why the relevant subsidy programme had not been notified. The only reply was "that document had 
been repea led". Given that the notification dated back to 2001, it was expected to see that the 
 
10 Circulated on 28 October 2020.  G/SCM/M/112  
 
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  document had been repealed. The question, "why the subsidy programme had not been notified ", 
however, still remained.  
148.  China  reiterated that it had submitted its local lev el subsidy notification in 2015 for the first 
time covering the period 2001 and 2014 which was not easy to do. China had made significant 
improvements and therefore it was unfair for Members to accuse China of being incapable.  
149.  The United States  noted the s tatement made by China that China's first subsidy notification 
with respect to subcentral programs had been submitted in 2015. For anyone that is familiar with 
China's industrial subsidy regime the programmes at the sub -central level are critical to unders tand 
the full nature of China's industrial subsidy regime. The United States has been citing very specific 
legal measures that were in place during the period between 2001 and 2015 and asking why those 
measures have not been notified. According to the Unit ed States, to be told that those measures 
would not be notified because the measures were repealed in 2020 would not facilitate transparency.  
150.  China  noted that the completeness of a subsidy notification was a technical and complicated 
issue on which Members  had different understandings. It also stated that there were non -notified 
measures by other Members including the United States. After comparing the United States' subsidy 
notification with other sources, China had found a lot of non -notified subsidies fr om two channels. 
The first channel was the WTO disputes such as Foreign Sales Corporations in DS108 and Export 
Credit Guarantee Programmes in DS267. The second channel was anti -subsidy cases initiated by 
other Members against the United States, such as Ind iana’s Tax Relief Program for Ethanol 
Production (China v. the United States on sorghum import). There were a lot of examples showing 
that the completeness of a notification was very difficult for both developing and developed 
Members.  
151.  The Chair noted that because China had provided its written replies to the follow -up questions 
from the United States just before the meeting, the Committee would return to that notification at 
its next special meeting.  
152.  The Committee took note  of the notification, questions, answers and statements made.  
8  CONTINUATION OF REVIEW OF 2009 NEW AND FULL NOTIFICATIONS 
(G/SCM/N/186/…)  
8.1  Gabon (G/SCM/N/186/GAB)  
153.  Pending written questions concerning this notification can be found in:  
• G/SCM/Q2/GAB/1 – Questions from the United Sta tes 
• G/SCM/Q2/GAB/2 – Questions from Turkey  
154.  The Chair  noted that as no written replies had been submitted by Gabon, the Committee would 
return to this notification at its next special meeting.  
155.  The Chair reminded the delegations that had not yet replied to q uestions that they had 
received in connection with this or previous meetings to provide their written responses as soon as 
possible, so that the Committee could conclude the review of the notifications at its spring special 
meeting. She also reminded Membe rs that had not yet done so to submit their 2019 new and full 
subsidy notifications as soon as possible.  
156.  All Members were required to submit their 2019 new and full notifications, not later than 
30 June 2019. The Members that already had made those notific ations were to be commended. All 
other Members should redouble their efforts to notify on time, which would greatly enhance the 
transparency function of subsidy notification and review.  
157.  For new and full notifications to be placed on the agenda of the sprin g special meeting, the 
Chair reminded the delegations that these notifications would have to be circulated in all three 
working languages not later than 4 January 2021. Given the time needed for translation, this left a 
narrow window to notify in time for review in the spring. The Secretariat stood ready to offer any 
assistance in this regard.  G/SCM/M/112  
 
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  158.  The Chair also informed delegations wishing to receive written answers to any questions 
regarding notifications reviewed at the present meeting that they should submi t their questions in 
writing, to both the Member concerned and to the Secretariat. Similarly, the written answers must 
be submitted directly to the Member that posed the question, and to the Secretariat. The Chair 
emphasized that it was the responsibility of the Members submitting questions and answers to 
provide them directly to the other Member concerned, at the time it submitted it to the Secretariat 
for circulation to all Members concerned.  
159.  Finally, the Chair informed the delegations that after the week 's Rules Committee cluster, the 
Secretariat would circulate the usual triple -symbolled document containing all of the deadlines for 
documents to be submitted.11 
160.  The meeting was closed . 
__________  
 
11 G/ADP/W/506 - G/SCM/W/581 - G/SG/W/250.  