   
  
G/AG/W/198  
 
14 June 2019  
(19-4062) Page: 1/9 
Committee on Agriculture    
 
POINTS RAISED BY MEM BERS FOR THE ANNUAL EXAMINATION  
OF EXPORT COMPETITIO N, 25 -26 JUNE 2019  
The present document compiles questions received by the Secretariat by the deadline 
of 11 June 2019 as specified in WTO/AIR/AG/36.  
 
  G/AG/W/198  
 
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  TABLE OF CONTENTS  
1   ARGENTINA  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 3 
2   AUSTRALIA  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 3 
3   BRAZIL  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  3 
4   CANADA  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  3 
5   CHINA  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  3 
6   EUROPEAN UNION  ................................ ................................ ..........................  4 
7   HONG KONG, C HINA  ................................ ................................ .......................  5 
8   INDIA  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  5 
9   INDONESIA  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 6 
10   KOREA, REPUBLIC  OF ................................ ................................ ...................  6 
11   MALAYSIA  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 6 
12   NEW ZEALAND  ................................ ................................ ..............................  6 
13   PAKISTAN  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 7 
14   RUSSIAN FEDERAT ION ................................ ................................ .................  7 
15   SWITZERLAND  ................................ ................................ .............................  8 
16   THAILAND  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 8 
17   TURKEY  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  8 
18   UNITED STATES O F AMERICA  ................................ ................................ ....... 9 
19   URUGUAY  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 9 
20   VIET NAM  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 9 
 
  G/AG/W/198  
 
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  1  ARGENTINA  
AG-IMS ID 91111: Question by United States of America  
Export Credit  
 
a. Please update responses to the Export Competition Questionnaire (ECQ) with 2017 
and 2018 data for the Investment and Foreign Trade Bank (BICE).  
b. Please explain why Argentina responded "not applicable " in the ECQ, for questions  3 
through 8, regarding the Bank of the Argentine Nation (BNA 's) export financing activities.  
2  AUSTRALIA  
AG-IMS I D 91028: Question by European Union  
Export Credit  
 
The EFIC 's 'Export Contract Loan ", "Export Line of Credit ", "Small Business Export Loan " and "Export 
Capital Working Guarantee " notified previously by Australia have been excluded from the answers 
to the  Export Competition Questionnaire this time.  
 
Can Canada explain how those instruments qualify under footnote 7 of the Nairobi Ministerial 
Decision and therefore need not to be notified?  
 
3  BRAZIL  
AG-IMS ID 91055: Question by European Union  
Export Credit  
 
Concerning PROEX Direct Financing, Brazil informs that the repayment period is up to ten years. In 
case of exports to Cuba, the notified average repayment period in 2018 was 34 months.  
 
Does Brazil agree that this does not conform with the Nairobi Decision ? 
 
4  CANADA  
AG-IMS ID 91057: Question by European Union  
Export Credit  
 
Concerning repayment terms for Buyer Financing – how would Canada ensure the compliance with 
the Nairobi Decision in case of a use of this instrument for the sale of agricultural products?  
 
AG-IMS ID 91112: Question by United States of America   
International Food Aid  
  
To date, Canada has not provided updated responses to question 2 of the ECQ. Please provide 
quantity and/or value of food aid provided in years 2017 and 2018 in the  ECQ. If Canada cannot 
provide, please explain why.  
 
5  CHINA  
AG-IMS ID 91064: Question by European Union  
Export Credit  
  
Data on Export Credit Financing has not been updated since 2016. When will China provide the 
missing information for 2017 and 2018?  
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  AG-IMS ID 91114: Question by United States of America  
Export Credit  
  
Please provide data updates for the export credit section of the ECQ for years 2017 and 2018, 
including the annual average premium rates/fees per programme and data on programme use by  
product or product group. If China cannot provide updates, please explain why.  
 
AG-IMS ID 91070: Question by European Union  
State Trading Enterprises  
 
When will China provide answers to the Export Competition Questionnaire concerning agricultural 
expor ting STEs as notified to the WTO STE working party?  
 
AG-IMS ID 91115: Question by United States of America  
State Trading Enterprises  
  
a. Based on news sources, the United States understands that the government of China plans 
to transfer the trading assets of Sinograin, which includes its stockpiles and oilseed 
crushing capacity, to COFCO Corporation. Please explain the rationale behind its 
restructuring of assets for its agricultural state trading enterprises.  
b. Please provide an update to China 's STE section for years 2017 and 2018 in the ECQ, 
including average procurement and export prices. If China cannot provide updates, please 
explain why .  
AG-IMS ID 91117: Question by United States of America  
International Food Aid  
 
The United States notes that in the last two years the China has not updated the export competition 
questionnaire 's (ECQ) for the international food aid section.  
  
a. Please pr ovide an update on quantity and/or value of food aid provided in years 2017 and 
2018, including product description of in -kind food aid and the value of cash -based food 
assistance.  
b. Please provide a description of whether monetization and/or re -exports wer e permitted 
for years 2016, 2017 and 2018.  
6  EUROPEAN UNION  
AG-IMS ID 91118: Question by United States of America  
Export Credit  
 
a. The United States notes that several EU members have not responded to all the questions 
in the Export Competition Questionnai re (ECQ).  
i. Bulgaria indicated that the maximum and average repayment terms are "not 
applicable ". Please provide more specifics about this programme. Please explain why 
these terms are "not applicable. "  
ii. Denmark did not provide a total value figure for expo rts of agricultural products 
in 2016, 2017, and 2018, for the reinsurance programme. Please explain what steps 
Denmark is taking to gather this data. c. Can France please confirm that the average 
fee rate for Cuba is 2.4%, and the average fee rate for Gree ce is 6.5%?  
b. As a follow -up to AG -IMS ID 87050, the United States understands that Italy 's SACE BT is 
a subsidiary of SACE S.p.A., and SACE S.p.A. is a subsidiary of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, G/AG/W/198  
 
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  which is 80% Ministry of Economy and Finance, owned by SACE. Th e United States notes 
the provisions on the Nairobi Decision apply to export financing support "provided by a 
government or any public body " as referred to in the Article 1.1(a)1 of the Agreement on 
Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM).  
i. The United States requests Italy provide information on programmes operated 
by SACE, SACE BT and any other SACE subsidiary that have export credit operations 
benefiting agricultural exports for years 2016, 2017, and 2018 in the ECQ.  
c. As a follow -up to AG -IMS ID 87050  and Spain 's Instituto de Credito Oficial (ICO). The 
United States notes that the scope of the Ministerial Decision on Export Competition is not 
limited to just agricultural -specific programmes, programmes with subsidies or any other 
kind of aid, or progra mmes where private institutions negotiate the specific conditions of 
each contract.  
i. The United States requests Spain provide information on export financing program mes 
operated by the ICO with respect to agricultural exports for years 2016, 2017, and 
2018 in the ECQ.  
AG-IMS ID 91119: Question by United States of America  
International Food Aid  
 
As a follow up to AG -IMS ID 87052, the United States notes that Austria and the Czech Republic 
replied to the 2018 Secretariat 's Questionnaire. However, the EU response still does not include a 
reply from several EU member States that are signatories to the Food Assistance Convention (FAC) 
and/or the Organization for Economic Co -operation and Development (OECD), which have reporte d 
food aid donations in recent years.  
  
Please explain why some EU member States are not responding to the food aid section in the 
Questionnaire.  
 
7  HONG KONG, CHINA  
AG-IMS ID 91120: Question by United States of America  
Export Credit  
  
The United States understands that Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation (HKECIC) offers 
export credit insurance for agricultural products. Hong Kong, China indicated that the average 
premium rate, maximum and average repayment terms, are "not applicable as no repay ment of 
loans is involved. "  
 
a. Please explain why these questions are "not applicable. "  
b. Please provide a response to all the questions in the Questionnaire  
8  INDIA  
AG-IMS ID 91072: Question by European Union   
State Trading Enterprises  
 
When will India pro vide answers to the Export Competition Questionnaire concerning agricultural 
exporting STEs as notified to the WTO STE working party?  
 
AG-IMS ID 91073: Question by European Union  
India has not provided any answers to the Export Competition Questionnaire.  
 
When will India provide the information concerning Export Financing and agricultural 
exporting  STEs?  
 G/AG/W/198  
 
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  AG-IMS ID 91121: Question by United States of America  
The United States requests that India respond to the export competition questionnaire (ECQ) and 
come up -to-date on its export subsidy notifications.  
 
9  INDONESIA  
AG-IMS ID 91071: Question by European Union  
Export Subsidies  
 
Over three years after Nairobi, Indonesia did not provide its updated schedule. When will Indonesia 
comply with the commitments undertaken in this respect in Nairobi?  
 
10  KOREA, REPUBLIC OF  
AG-IMS ID 91123: Question by United States of America  
International Food Aid  
  
The United States requests that the Republic of Korea come up -to-date on its ECQ submissions, 
including information on food aid. The United States understands through WFP and OECD reports 
that the Republic of Korea is a party to the Food Assistance Convention (FAC) and has provided food 
aid. Additionall y, the United States understands from Asean Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve 's 
(APTERR) press releases (posted here: https://www.apterr.org/news -events ) that APTERR has 
provided in -kind food aid in recent  years.  
  
Please indicate when the Republic of Korea will provide a response to the ECQ for years 2016, 2017 
and 2018.  
 
11  MALAYSIA  
AG-IMS ID 91069: Question by European Union  
Export Credit  
 
Malaysia claims that maximum repayment terms per programme are of no relevance to the facilities 
offered by EXIM Malaysia, as they are based on commercial basis.  
 
Are there any guaranties involved in case of non-repayment  by the recipients of the loans?  
AG-IMS ID 91124: Question by United States of America  
Export Cre dit  
  
The United States understands Malaysia did not answer questions to 4 ) through 8 ) because fees are 
based on commercial rate, or based on market rate, or that there is no specific program me by 
product or destination. The United States notes that the s cope of the Ministerial Decision on Export 
Competition is not limited to just agricultural -specific programmes or to programmes that do not 
follow commercial/market rates.  
  
Please provide responses for all missing data in the Questionnaire.  
 
12  NEW ZEALAND   
AG-IMS ID 91068: Question by European Union  
Export Credit  
 
New Zealand reports that the maximum credit term for the Export Credit Guarantee product offered 
by NZEC is 15 years.  
 
How does New Zealand ensure the respect of the Nairobi Decision and the ma ximum tenor length 
of 18 months in case of agricultural products?  
 G/AG/W/198  
 
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  13  PAKISTAN  
AG-IMS ID 91125: Question by United States of America  
State Trading Enterprises  
  
The United States notes Pakistan replied in the export competition questionnaire (ECQ) that it does 
not have an agricultural exporting STE. However, the United States understands that Pakistan 
Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) procures and maintains reserves of wheat, 
and exports grain when called upon by the Government of Pakis tan (GOP). For example, according 
to notification F No.4 -12/2014/DFSC -II/Wheat Export dated Islamabad 12th December 2018, 
decided to sell 0.5 Million Metric tonnes for Export from PASSCO 's reserves. The Trading Corporation 
of Pakistan Ltd (TCP), which acco rding to the TCP website is the "principal trading arm of the 
Government of Pakistan ", appears to also export agricultural products.  
  
Please explain the basis for not reporting PASSCO and TCP as agricultural exporting STEs.  
 
14  RUSSIAN FEDERATION  
AG-IMS I D 91126: Question by United States of America  
Export Credits  
  
a. The United States notes that the Russian Export Center (RCE) operates a programme 
called "Compensation for export credits from commercial banks " that subsidizes interest 
rates on export credi ts provided by commercial banks, which includes transactions 
supporting agricultural products, per Resolution of the Government of the Russian 
Federation No. 620 of May 24, 2017 and in accordance with Federal Law of 
29 November  2018 No. 459 -ФЗ.  
i. Please des cribe this export credit programme and whether it should be reported in the 
export competition questionnaire (ECQ).  
ii. If so, please provide a response to all ECQ questions regarding any financing 
transactions for agricultural products in 2017 and 2018.  
  
b. The United States notes that according to the website of the Russian Agricultural Bank 
(Rosselkhozbank), Rosselkhozbank provides trade financial products/services for the 
export of agricultural products.  
i. Please explain whether Rosselkhozbank 's trade financ ing activities should be reported 
in the ECQ.  
AG-IMS ID 91127: Question by United States of America   
State Trading Enterprises  
  
As a follow up to AG -IMS ID 87058, the Russian Federation stated that the "United Grain Company 
and subsidiaries (UGC) is not a state trading enterprise within the meaning of the working definition 
set forth in the Understanding on the Interpretation of Article XVII of GATT 1994 ".  
 
a. Please describe Russia 's State Grain Intervention Fund (SGIF) and UGC 's role in operating 
the SGIF .  
b. By which government authorities does UGC operate the SGIF?  
c. In what circumstances does UGC export grain?  G/AG/W/198  
 
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  15  SWITZERLAND  
AG-IMS ID 91067: Question by European Union  
Export Subsidies  
 
Switzerland has modified its schedule to make it compliant with the Nairobi Decision on Export 
Competition. This has required the abolition of export subsidies provided so far on basis of the 
"Federal Law of 13 December 1974 on the import and export of pro cessed agricultural products ". In 
parallel, Switzerland has introduced direct payments to milk and cereal producers. The concerned 
amounts, equal to the abolished export subsidies are transferred from the farmers via private funds 
to exporters of transform ed products.  
 
Would Switzerland agree that in the light of the ruling on Canada – Dairy, which defines the meaning 
of "financed by virtue of governmental action ", this new arrangement is de facto an export subsidy 
and as such in breach of the Nairobi Decis ion? 
 
16  THAILAND  
AG-IMS ID 91110: Question by United States of America  
State Trading Enterprises  
  
The United States notes that Thailand indicated in previous responses to the export competition 
questionnaire (ECQ) it does not have an agricultural exporti ng STE. However, as per Thailand 's last 
notification to the Working Party in 2014, the Public Warehouse Organization (PWO) and Tobacco 
Authority of Thailand (TOAT) were STEs that engaged in the export of rice and tobacco respectively.  
 
a. Why does Thailand c onsider PWO and TOAT not to be agricultural exporting STEs?  
b. Have the PWO or TOAT involved in the export of rice or tobacco since the adoption of the 
Nairobi Decision?  
AG-IMS ID 91130: Question by United States of America  
Export Credits  
  
As a follow -up to AG -IMS ID 90083 and 88094: the United States would like to reiterate the following 
questions to Thailand, since it has not provided a written answer. The United States understands 
Thailand to be expressing its view that the export financi ng support program mes administered by 
the Export -Import Bank of Thailand are consistent with the Nairobi Decision. The United States does 
not consider Thailand 's statement of this position to be a substitute for the provision of information 
about such prog rammes in response to questionnaires.  
  
The United States requests Thailand provide information on program mes operated by the 
Export -Import Bank of Thailand for years 2016, 2017, and 2018 in a response to the 
WTO Secretariat 's annual export competition qu estionnaire.  
 
17  TURKEY  
AG-IMS ID 91065: Question by European Union  
Export Credit  
 
From the information provided, the credits provided by Eximbank have a maximum tenor length of 
seven  years. How does Turkey ensure the respect of the Nairobi Decision and t he maximum tenor 
length of 18 months in case of agricultural products?  
AG-IMS ID 91066: Question by European Union  
Export Subsidies  
 
Turkey has recently submitted their due notifications up to 2009. Over three years after Nairobi, 
Turkey still did not pr ovide its updated schedule. Notifications 2010 -1018 are also outstanding.  G/AG/W/198  
 
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When will Turkey comply with its obligations under the Nairobi Decision on Export Competition?  
 
18  UNITED STATES OF AME RICA  
AG-IMS ID 91056: Question by European Union  
Food Aid  
 
The information provided by the US within the framework of the Questionnaire and in answer to 
questions posed several times by the EU in the CoA concerning in -kind food aid does not prove 
compliance with paragraph 25 of the Nairobi Decision.  
 
Could the US s pecify when and in which form have the recipient countries or international entities 
requested U.S. non -emergency in -kind food assistance as required by paragraph 25 of the Nairobi 
Decision?  
 
19  URUGUAY  
AG-IMS ID 91122: Question by United States of America   
Export Credits  
  
The United States notes that Uruguay responded "nil" to the export competition questionnaire  (ECQ) 
in the past few years. Noting that the scope of the Ministerial Decision on Export Competition is not 
limited to just agricultural -specific  programmes:  
  
Please explain why Uruguay does not consider the State Insurance Bank (Banco de Seguros del 
Estado) and Bank of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay (Banco de la República Oriental de Uruguay) 
export financing support activities.  
 
20  VIET NAM  
AG-IMS ID 91109: Question by United States of America  
Export Credits  
  
The United States notes that Viet  Nam has not updated its response to the Secretariat 's 
Questionnaire since 2016 and has not provided data for export financing support programme run by 
The Vietnam  Development Bank for years 2016, 2017 and 2018.  
  
When Viet Nam  will provide data updates for years 2016, 2017 and 2018 to the ECQ? If Viet Nam  
cannot provide updates, please explain why?  
 
 
__________  