   
  
TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1  
TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
26 April 2024 
(24-3399) Page: 1/78 
Committee on Agriculture  
Special Session  
Sub-Committee on Cotton    
 
  
COTTON  
BACKGROUND PAPER BY THE SECRETARIAT1 
Addendum  
This addendum refers to and must be read in conjunction with document TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20 -
TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20 . It showcases in particular: Members' replies to the questionnaire on 
new or updated cotton -related policy developments (Annex 4); and information on cotton markets 
and policies from the trade polic y review mechanism (Annex 5).  
 
The main updates captured in this revised version compared to the previous one2 are as follows:  
 
• In Annex  4, inclusion of the following replies to the Secretariat questionnaire circulated 
on 30 January 2024 : Burkina Faso , Mali, South Africa  and Ukraine .  
 
• In Annex 5, inclusion of relevant information from  Morocco and Türkiye's  new TPR 
report s. 
 
_______________  
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS  
ANNEX 1  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........................  2 
ANNEX  2 ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........................  5 
ANNEX  3 ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........................  8 
ANNEX  4 ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  11 
ANNEX 5  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  41 
 
1 This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice 
to the positions of Members or to their rights and obligations under the WTO. It has been prepared for 
information only and is not intended to provide any authoritative or official legal interpretation of the provisions 
of the WTO Agreements in general on i n relation to any measure listed in this document.  
2 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.19/Add.1 -TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.19/Add.1  and 
TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.19/Add.1/Suppl.1 -TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.19/Add.1/Suppl.1 . TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev. 20/Add.1  
 
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  ANNEX 1  
NOTES ON TARIFF RATE QUOTA COMMITMENTS FROM CHINA'S SCHEDULE  
1. Tariff quotas indicated in the third column are volumes for calendar year 2001. Tariff quota 
concessions will be implemented according to the date specified in the "implementation" column. 
The implementation column indicates the date (referring to  1 January of the year indicated) when 
the final quota quantity will be achieved. The tariff quota concessions are subject to equal annual 
adjustments (occurring on 1  January of each year), unless otherwise specified in the last column 
("Other terms and co nditions").  
2. The People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as "China") shall maintain its in -quota 
applied and bound rates (and, upon removal of the tariff -quota, its applied and bound rates) for 
HS 1514 (rape or colza (canola) oil and its fractio ns, whether or not refined, but not chemically 
modified) at a level equal to that for HS 1507 (soya -bean oil and its fractions, whether or not refined, 
but not chemically modified) and for HS 1205 (rape or colza (canola) seeds, whether or not broken).  
3. The growth rate for the TRQ volume for canola (rapeseed) oil shall be no less than the growth 
rate for the TRQ volume for soybean oil.  
4. An entity granted a tariff quota allocation (quota -holder) may engage in importation through 
state-trading enterprises and/or through entities possessing the right to trade other than 
state-trading enterprises, including direct importation by the quota holder, as indicated on 
documentation issued with the allocation or reallocation of the tariff quota quantitie s. 
5. Application: All applications for an allocation of the tariff -quota will be submitted to the State 
Development and Planning Commission (SDPC). Specific conditions for applying for a tariff -quota 
allocation will be published in the official journal one m onth in advance of the application period, 
which will be from 15  October to 30  October.  
6. Allocation:  
a. The entire tariff -quota quantity established in Section I -B shall be allocated to end users 
by 1 January each year. Inquiries regarding tariff -quota allo cations can be made to the 
SDPC, with responses provided within 10 working days. Any additional requirement for 
importation will be automatic under the terms of the Agreement on Import Licensing 
Procedures. China shall equitably distribute allocations with in each portion of the 
tariff-quota to ensure complete tariff -quota utilization and to establish a tariff -quota 
system that is open, transparent, fair, responsive to market conditions, timely, minimally 
burdensome to trade and reflects end user preferences . 
b. In the first year, allocations to end users by the SDPC of the tariff -quota reserved for 
importation through state -trading enterprises shall be based on a first -come, first -served 
system or the requests of the applicants and their historical import pe rformance, 
production capacity, or other relevant commercial criteria, subject to specific conditions to 
be published one month in advance of the opening of the application period so as to ensure 
an equitable distribution and complete tariff -quota utilizat ion. In the first year, no less 
than 10% of the tariff -quota reserved for importation through state -trading enterprises 
will be allocated to new quota -holders.  
c. In the first year, allocations to end users by the SDPC of the tariff -quota reserved for 
importation through entities other than state -trading enterprises shall be based on a 
first-come, first -served system or the requests of the applicants and their historical import 
performance, production capacity, or other relevant commercial criteria. No less  than 10% 
of the tariff -quota reserved for importation through entities other than state -trading 
enterprises will be allocated to new quota -holders. This tariff -quota will be limited to 
entities that do not receive any special or exclusive rights or privil eges, and will include 
allocations to joint ventures, wholly foreign -funded enterprises, and private enterprises.  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  d. Except in cases where tariff -quota is allocated on a first -come, first -served basis, and in 
accordance with China's Schedule of Concessions  and Commitments on Goods, a 
quota -holder that has imported under a tariff -quota shall, upon application, receive an 
allocation of the tariff -quota in the following year for a quantity no less than the quantity 
imported the previous year. For all methods o f allocation, a quota -holder that does not 
import its full allocation under a tariff -quota will receive a proportional reduction in the 
tariff-quota allocation in the subsequent year unless the quantity is returned to the 
SDPC  prior to 15  September. A quot a holder that has failed to import its full allocation in 
two consecutive years and has returned that unused portion by 15  September shall have 
its quota allocated in the following year on the basis of its fill rate in the most recent year, 
and will not be nefit from any additional reallocations until and unless there are no other 
applications. The means of calculating the penalty will be included in the TRQ regulation 
in force and publicly available, and will be applied in a consistent and equitable manner.  
e. Allocations will be established for commercially viable shipping quantities and provisions 
will be made for partial shipments against a single tariff -quota allocation. All commercial 
terms of trade, including product specification, pricing, packaging, etc., will be at the sole 
determination of the importer and the exporter taking into full account the demands of 
the end user. Tariff -quota allocations will be valid for any item or mixture of items subject 
to the same tariff -quota.  
f. Inquiries on the ent ities which received the allocation can be made to the SDPC which 
shall provide the information within 10 days.  
7. Term: The tariff -quota for each product will be opened on 1  January each year, unless 
otherwise specified in the Schedule. Tariff -quota allocati ons will be valid for the calendar year.  
8. Reallocation:  
a. In any year, if a quota -holder has not contracted for the total quantity by 15  September, 
it shall return the unused portion of the tariff -quota quantity to the SDPC for reallocation.  
b. Applications for reallocation of the tariff -quota will be accepted by the SDPC from 
1 September to 15  September and new allocations shall be assigned by 1  October. 
Specific conditions for applying for reallocation of tariff quotas will be published in the 
official journal one month in advance of the application period. Such allocations, which 
shall be to new applicants and to entities other than those returning quotas under 
sub-paragraph 8.a. above, will be assigned on a first -come, first -served basis. 
Quota -holders allocat ed a share of the tariff -quota reserved for importation through 
entities other than state -trading enterprises may import through any entity that has a 
right to trade in any product as specified in Section  5 of China's Protocol of Accession.  
c. Inquiries on th e entities which received the reallocations can be made to the SDPC which 
will provide the information within 10 days.  
d. In situations where goods have been shipped from their port of origin before 31  December 
of any year, but are entered after 31  December o f that year, China shall extend the 
validity of the tariff quota documents and shall count such shipments against the tariff 
quota allocation for the year in which the tariff quota was initially allocated.  
9. Consultations: With a view to maintaining a transp arent and open tariff quota system, upon 
request from any WTO Member, China shall consult with the Member on the administration of the 
tariff quota to ensure that the tariff quota will be allocated in a transparent, equitable and 
non-discriminatory manner and that the tariff quota will be fully utilized.  
Notes:  
1. The share of the tariff -quota reserved for importation through state -trading enterprises is 
specified in column 7 of Section I -B. The remainder of the tariff -quota quantity is reserved for 
importatio n through any non -state trading enterprise possessing the right to trade in any 
product as set forth in Section 5 of China's Protocol of Accession.  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev. 20/Add.1  
 
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  In any year, if the quantity of the tariff -quota reserved for importation through state -trading 
enterprises has not been contracted for by 15  August, quota -holders will have the right to 
trade or to import through any entity with the right to trade any product under Section 5 of 
China's Protocol of Accession.  
2. China shall ensure that the applied duty for soybean oil, rapeseed oil, palm oil, peanut oil, 
cottonseed oil, sunflower seed oil, and corn oil is no greater than the applied duty for any one 
of these oils or for any other vegetable oil. Of the vegetable oils subject to tariff quota (i.e., 
soybean oil, rapese ed oil, and palm oil), if the tariff -quota for any one oil is autonomously 
increased, the tariff -quotas for the other two will be increased commensurately. Beginning 
1 January  2006, China will remove soybean oil, rapeseed oil and palm oil from Annex 2A of 
the Protocol of Accession and will grant the right to trade such oils to all individuals and 
enterprises.  
3. All quota holders, that have already fully used or contracted their tariff -quota allocations in 
any year by 15  September shall also be eligible for reallocation of tariff -quota from other 
quota holders that have returned their allocations.  
_______________  
 
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  ANNEX  2 
CHAPTER NOTES CONCERNING TRQ COMMITMENTS FOR COTTON FROM THE US SCHEDULE  
"CHAPTER  52 
COTTON  
Additional US Notes 1/  
1.  Under  regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, the staple length of cotton shall 
be determined for all customs purposes by application of the Official Cotton Standards of the 
United  States for length of staple, as established by the Secretary of  Agriculture and in effect when 
the determination is to be made.  
5.  There shall be permitted entry an aggregate quantity of cotton, entered under the provisions of 
additional US notes 6 through 11, inclusive, to this chapter, of not less than the total qu antity 
specified below.  
 Quantity (metric tonnes)  
1995 41,926.8  
1996 48,850.4  
1997 55,773.9  
1998 62,697.5  
1999 69,621.0  
2000 and thereafter  76,544.6  
 
An additional aggregate quantity of 10,000 metric tonnes is reserved for Mexico under this note. 
The quantitative limitations established by this note may be administered through regulations 
(including licences) issued by the Secretary of Agriculture.  
1/ Note 1 and additional US notes 2, 3 and 4 to this chapter are omitted from this section and are 
in section II of this schedule. Additional US notes 5 through 11, inclusive, to this chapter are not in 
the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.  
6.  There shall be permitted entry an aggregate quantity of cotton, not carded or combed, havin g a 
staple length under 28.575 mm (1 -1/8 inches) (except harsh or rough cotton, having a staple length 
under 19.05 mm (3/4 inch)), entered under subheading 5201.00.14 during the 12 -month period 
beginning September  20 in any year, of not less than the total  quantity specified below.  
 Quantity (metric tonnes)  
1995 8,495.05*  
1996 10,837.45*  
1997 13,179.85*  
1998 15,522.25*  
1999 17,864.65*  
2000 and thereafter  20,207.05*  
* Of the quantitative limitation provided for in this note, access levels are reserved as follows for entry 
under the provisions of this note:  
 Quantity 
(kg)  Quantity 
(kg) 
Egypt & Sudan (aggregate)  355,532  Honduras  341 
Peru 112,469  Paraguay  395 
India & Pakistan (aggregate)  908,764  Colombia  56 
China  621,780  Iraq 88 
Brazil  280,648  British East Africa  1,016  
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics  215,512  Indonesia & Netherlands New Guinea (aggregate)  32,381  
Argentina  2,360  British West Indies (except Barbados, Bermuda, 
Jamaica, or Trinidad and Tobago)  9,671  
Haiti 107 Nigeria  2,438  
Ecuador  4,233  British West Africa (except Nigeria and Ghana)  7,259  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev. 20/Add.1  
 
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  The quantitative limitations established by this note may be administered through regulations 
(including licences and reallocation of unfilled quotas) issued by the Secretary of Agriculture.  
7.  There shall be permitted entry an aggregate quantity of harsh or rough cotton, not carded or 
combed, having a staple length of 29.36875 mm (1 -5/32 inches) or more but under 34.925 mm 
(1-3/8 inches) and white in colour (except cotton of perished staple, grabbots and cotton pickings), 
entered under subheading 5201.00.24 during the 12 -month period beginning 1  August in any year, 
of not less than the total quantity specified below.  
 Quantity (metric tonnes)  
1995 900.0  
1996 1,000.0  
1997 1,100.0  
1998 1,200.0  
1999 1,300.0  
2000 and thereafter  1,400.0  
The quantitative limitations established by this note may be administered through regulations 
(including licences) issued by the Secretary of Agriculture.  
8.  There shall be permitted entry an aggregate quantity of cotton, not carded or combed, having a 
staple length of 28.575 mm (1 -1/8 inches) or more but under 34.925 mm (1 -3/8 inches) (except 
harsh or rough cotton, not carded or combed, having a staple length of 29.36875 mm (1-5/32 
inches) or more and white in colour) but including cotton of perished staple, grabbots and cotton 
pickings, entered under subheading 5201.00.34 during the 12 -month period beginning 1  August in 
any year, of not less than the total quantity specified  below.  
 Quantity (metric tonnes)  
1995 5,200.0  
1996 6,460.0  
1997 7,720.0  
1998 8,980.0  
1999 10,240.0  
2000 and thereafter  11,500.0  
The quantitative limitations established by this note may be administered through regulations 
(including licences) issued by the Secretary of Agriculture.  
9.  There shall be permitted entry an aggregate quantity of cotton, not carded or combed, having a 
staple length of 34.925 mm (1 -3/8 inches) or more, entered under subheading 5201.00.60 during 
the 12 -month period beginning August  1 in any year, of not less than the total quantity specified 
below.  
 Quantity (metric tonnes)  
1995 25,500.0  
1996 28,420.0  
1997 31,340.0  
1998 34,260.0  
1999 37,180.0  
2000 and thereafter  40,100.0  
The quantitative limitations established by this note may be administered through regulations 
(including licences) issued by the Secretary of Agriculture.  
10.  There shall be permitted entry an aggregate quantity of card strips made from cotton having a 
staple  length under 30.1625 mm (1 -3/16 inches), and lap waste, sliver waste and roving waste of 
cotton, all the foregoing the product of any country or are including the United States, entered under 
subheading 5202.99.10 during the 12 -month period beginning 20  September in any year, of not 
less than the total quantity specified below.  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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   Quantity (kg)  
1995 1,835,427*  
1996 2,135,427*  
1997 2,435,427*  
1998 2,735,427*  
1999 3,035,427*  
2000 and thereafter  3,335,427*  
* Of the quantitative limitation provided for in this note, access levels are reserved as follows for entry 
under the provisions of this note:  
 Quantity (kg)   Quantity (kg)  
United Kingdom  653,695  Japan  154,917  
Canada  108,721  China  7,857  
France  34,385  Egypt  3,689  
India & Pakistan (aggregate)  31,582  Cuba 2,968  
Netherlands  10,317  Germany  11,540  
Switzerland  6,711  Italy 3,215  
Belgium  5,830    
The quantitative limitations established by this note may be administered through regulations 
(including licences and reallocation of unfilled quotas) issued by the Secretary of Agriculture.  
11.  There shall be permitted entry an aggregate quantity of fibres of cotton processed but not spun, 
entered under subheading 5203.00.10 during the 12 -month period beginning 11  Septe mber in any 
year, of not less than the total quantity specified below.  
 Quantity (kg)  
1995 1,000  
1996 1,300  
1997 1,600  
1998 1,900  
1999 2,200  
2000 and thereafter  2,500  
The quantitative limitations established by this note may be administered through regulations 
(including licences) issued by the Secretary of Agriculture."  
_______________   TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev. 20/Add.1  
 
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  ANNEX  3 
EXCERPT FROM ANNEX  1 TO G/AG/N/USA/2/ADD.3  AND G/AG/N/USA/34/ADD.1  
NOTES FROM THE HARMONIZED TARIFF SYSTEM OF THE UNITED STATES  
"36/  Short staple cotton  
 from Additional US Note 5 to Chapter 52 of the HTSUS:  
5.  The aggregate quantity of cotton, not car ded or combed, the product of any country or area 
including the United States, having a staple length under 28.575 mm (1 -1/8 inches) (except harsh 
or rough cotton, having a staple length under 19.05 mm (3/4 inch)), entered under subheading 
5201.00.14 durin g the 12 -month periods from 20  September  1999, through 19  September  2000, 
inclusive, shall not exceed 17,864.65 metric tonnes or from 20  September  2000, through 
19 September  2001, inclusive, shall not exceed 20,207.05 metric tonnes (articles the product of  
Mexico shall not be permitted or included in the aforementioned quantitative limitation and no such 
articles shall be classifiable therein).  
Of the quantitative limitations provided for in this note, the countries listed below shall have access 
to not less than the quantities specified below:  
 Quantity (kg)  
Argentina  2,360  
Brazil  280,648  
British East Africa  1,016  
British West Africa (except Nigeria and Ghana)  7,259  
British West Indies (except Barbados, Bermuda, Jamaica, Trinidad, Tobago)  9,671  
China  621,780  
Colombia  56 
Ecuador  4,233  
Egypt & Sudan (aggregate)  355,532  
Haiti 107 
Honduras  341 
India & Pakistan (aggregate)  908,764  
Indonesia & Netherlands New Guinea (aggregate)  32,381  
Iraq 88 
Nigeria  2,438  
Paraguay  395 
Peru 112,469  
Armenia; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Estonia; Georgia; Kazakhstan; Kyrgyzstan; Latvia; 
Lithuania; Moldova, Republic of; Russian Federation; Tajikistan; Turkmenistan; Ukraine 
and Uzbekistan (aggregate)  215,512  
Other than as provided for in the country allocations above, articles the product of countries or areas 
who are not members of the World Trade Organization shall not be permitted or included in the 
quantitative limitations set forth in this note.  
37/ Harsh or rough cotton  
 from Additional US Note 6 to Chapter 52 of the HTSUS:  
6.  The aggregate quantity of harsh or rough cotton, not carded or combed, the product of any 
country or area including the United States, having a staple length of 29.36875 mm (1 -5/32 inches) 
or more but under 34.925 mm (1 -3/8 inches) and white in colour (except cotton of perished staple, 
grabbots and cotton pickings), entered under subheading 5201.00.24 during the 12 -month periods 
from 1  August  1999, through 31  July 2000, inclusive, shall not exceed 1,300.0  metric tonnes or f rom 
1 August  2000, through 31  July 2001, inclusive, shall not exceed 1,400.0  metric tonnes (articles the 
product of Mexico shall not be permitted or included in the aforementioned quantitative limitation 
and no such articles shall be classifiable therein).  
Articles the product of countries or areas who are not members of the World Trade Organization 
shall not be permitted or included in the quantitative limitations set forth in this note.  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  38/ Medium staple cotton  
 from Additional US Note 7 to Chapter 52 of the HTSUS:  
7.  The aggregate quantity of cotton, not carded or combed, the product of any country or area 
including the United States, having a staple length of 28.575 mm (1 -1/8 inches) or more but under 
34.925 mm (1 -3/8 inches) (except harsh or rough cott on, not carded or combed, having a staple 
length of 29.36875 mm (1 -5/32 inches) or more and white in colour) but including cotton of perished 
staple, grabbots and cotton pickings, entered under subheading 5201.00.34 during the 12 -month 
periods from 1  Augus t 1999, through 31  July 2000, inclusive, shall not exceed 10,240.0  metric 
tonnes or from 1  August  2000, through 31  July 2001, inclusive, shall not exceed 11,500.0  metric 
tonnes (articles the product of Mexico shall not be permitted or included in the afore mentioned 
quantitative limitation and no such articles shall be classifiable therein).  
Articles the product of countries or areas who are not members of the World Trade Organization 
shall not be permitted or included in the quantitative limitations set for th in this note.  
39/ Long staple cotton  
 from Additional US Note 8 to Chapter 52:  
8.  The aggregate quantity of cotton, not carded or combed, the product of any country or area 
including the United States, having a staple length of 34.925 mm (1 -3/8 inches)  or more, entered 
under subheading 5201.00.60 during the 12 -month periods from 1  August  1999, through 
31 July 2000, inclusive, shall not exceed 37,180.0 metric tonnes or from 1  August  2000, through 
31 July 2001, inclusive, shall not exceed 40,100.0 metric tonnes (articles the product of Mexico shall 
not be permitted or included in the aforementioned quantitative limitation and no such articles shall 
be classifiable therein).  
Articles the product of countries or areas who are not members of the World Trade O rganization 
shall not be permitted or included in the quantitative limitations set forth in this note.  
40/ Cotton waste  
 from Additional US Note 9 to Chapter 52 of the HTSUS:  
9.  The aggregate quantity of card strips made from cotton having a staple length  under 
30.1625  mm (1 -3/16 inches), and lap waste, sliver waste and roving waste of cotton, all the 
foregoing the product of any country or area including the United States, entered under subheading 
5202.99.10 during the 12 -month periods from 20  September  1999, through 19  September  2000, 
inclusive, shall not exceed 3,035,427 kilograms or from 20  September  2000, through 
19 September  2001, inclusive, shall not exceed 3,335,427 kilograms (articles the product of Mexico 
shall not be permitted or included in the aforementioned quantitative limitation and no such articles 
shall be classifiable therein).  
Of the quantitative limitations provided for in this note, the countries listed below shall have access 
to not less than the quantities specified below:  
 Quantity (kg)  
Belgium  5,830  
Canada  108,721  
China  7,857  
Cuba 2,968  
Egypt  3,689  
France  34,385  
Germany  11,540  
Italy 3,215  
India & Pakistan (aggregate)  31,582  
Japan  154,917  
Netherlands  10,317  
Switzerland  6,711  
United Kingdom  653,695  
Other than as provided for in the country allocations above, articles the product of countries or areas 
who are not members of the World Trade Organization shall not be permitted or included in the 
quantitative limitations set forth in this note.  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev. 20/Add.1  
 
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  41/ Cotton proc essed but not spun  
 from Additional US Note 10 to Chapter 52 of the HTSUS:  
10.  The aggregate quantity of fibres of cotton processed but not spun, entered under subheading 
5203.00.10 during the 12 -month periods from 11  September  1999, through 10  September  2000, 
inclusive, shall not exceed 2,200 kilograms or from 11  September  2000, through 
10 September  2001, inclusive, shall not exceed 2,500 kilograms (articles the product of Mexico shall 
not be permitted or included in the aforementioned quantitative limita tion and no such articles shall 
be classifiable therein).  
Articles the product of countries or areas who are not members of the World Trade Organization 
shall not be permitted or included in the quantitative limitations set forth in this note."  
_______________   TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  ANNEX  4 
MEMBERS' REPLIES TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE ON NEW OR UPDATED  
COTTON -RELATED POLICY DEVELOPMENTS  
1.   Since the second dedicated discussion of the relevant trade -related developments for cotton of 
28 November  2014, Members agreed that, in ord er to complement the revised background paper to 
be prepared by the WTO Secretariat and in advance of each dedicated discussion, a questionnaire 
would be sent to Members to seek updates, on a voluntary basis, on their recent cotton -related 
policy developme nts across the three pillars of Market Access, Domestic Support and Export 
Competition.1 Members were also invited to provide an assessment of the impact (or anticipated 
impact), if available, of those new or updated policy developments.  
2.   Nineteen questionnaires were circulated on 4  February and 17 September  2015, 22  February2 
and 13  September  2016, 28  March and 10  October  2017, 24  January and 14  September  2018, 
11 February and 10  September  2019, 22  January and 21  September  2020, 1  Februar y and 
3 September  2021, 2  March and 31  August  2022, 9  February and 25  August  2023,  30 January 2024,  
respectively. The following table lists Members who have replied to those questionnaires. The  
replying Members who are among the 33  Members identified in pa ragraphs 12 and 13 of this paper 
as markets of interest to LDCs are identified in bold:  
Members who replied to the previous questionnaires  
circulated on 4  February  2015, 17  September  2015, 
22 February  2016, 13  September  2016, 28  March  2017, 
10 October  2017 , 24 January  2018, 11  February  2019, 
10 September  2019, 22  January  2020, 21  September  2020, 
1 February  2021, 3  September  2021, 2  March  2022, 
31 August  2022 , 9 February  2023  and 25 August 2023  Members who replied to the 
questionnaire circulated on 
30 Januar y 2024 
Argentina; Australia ; Benin; Brazil ; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Chad; 
China ; Cambodia; Colombia ; Costa Rica; Egypt ; Ecuador; El Salvador ; 
European  Union ; Hong Kong, China ; Japan ; Israel; Macao, China; 
Mali; Mauritius ; Montenegro; Morocco ; Mozambique; New Zealand ; 
Pakistan ; Peru; Russian Federation ; South Africa ; Switzerland; 
Chinese Taipei ; Thailand ; Togo; Türkiye ; Ukraine; 
the United  States ; and Uruguay  Burkina Faso ; Brazil ; 
Hong  Kong, China ; Macao, 
China; Mali; New Zealand ; 
South Africa ; and Ukraine  
3.   Some Members provided a "nil" reply, i.e. they did not report any new or updated policy 
development across the three pillars of Market Access, Domestic Support and Export Competition. 
These Members are listed in the table below.  
Members with a nil reply to the previous questionnaires 
circulated on 4  February  2015, 17  September, 22  February  2016, 
13 September  2016, 28  March  2017, 10  October  2017, 
24 January  2018, 14  September  2018, 11  February  2019, 
10 September  2019, 22  January  2020, 21  September  2020, 
1 February  2021, 3  September  2021, 2  March  2022, 
31 August  2022 , 9 February  2023  and 25 August 2023  Members with a nil reply to the  
questionnaire  circulated on 
30 January 2024  
Australia; Brazil; Ecuador; European Union; Cambodia; Costa Rica; 
El Salvad or; Hong  Kong, China; Japan; Macao, China; Mauritius; 
Montenegro; New  Zealand; Pakistan; Peru; Chinese Taipei, 
Russian  Federation; South Africa; Switzerland; Thailand; Uganda; 
Uruguay and the United States  Brazil; Hong Kong, China; Macao, 
China  and New Zealand  
4.   Non-nil replies are reproduced below. In cases where a Member has replied to more than one 
questionnaire, only the response to the latest questionnaire is listed. Responses to earlier 
questionnaires can be found in previous versions of the Secreta riat's background paper.  
  
 
1 Paragraph 12 of the Chairperson report on the second dedicated discussion of the relevant 
trade -related developments for cotton ( TN/AG/29 -TN/AG/SCC/3 ). 
2 The French and Spanish versions of the questionnaire were circulated on 8 March 2016.  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev. 20/Add.1  
 
- 12 - 
 
  Reply from Burkina Faso to the questionnaire circulated on 30 January 2024 (original 
reply in French)  
 
Regarding market access, the Government of Burkina Faso, as part of its 2023 -24 campaign, has 
revised Order No. 2023-00584/MDICAPME/CAB/SP -FCL of 15 December 2023 setting the transfer 
price and arrangements for seed cotton for oil mills in Burkina Faso.  
 
With respect to domestic support and export competition, no new development was reported . 
 
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 13 - 
 
  Reply from Mali to the questionnaire circulated on 30 January 2024 (original reply in 
French)  
The following noteworthy developments occurred between October  2023 and March  2024:  
(1) Market access  
1. In connection with the diversification of transit ports f or Mali's cotton fibre, the Malian 
Company for Textile Development ( CMDT ) opened two corridors: Conakry in Guinea and 
Nouakchott in Mauritania.  
 
2. In December  2023, the CMDT, the Permanent Mission in Geneva and the Ministry of 
Agriculture conducted a join t mission to discuss the lifting of the suspension of Malian 
cotton imports into Pakistani territory with the Pakistani authorities.  
 
3. The State of Mali adopted the Indian certificate of origin format with a view to accessing 
India's duty -free tariff pre ference scheme for countries like Mali.  
 
(2) Domestic support  
4. Within the context of the relaunch of operations of the Compagnie Malienne des Textiles 
(COMATEX) and in order to secure the supply of raw materials, a performance contract 
was signed on 21  June 2023 between COMATEX, the CMDT, the Ministry of Industry and 
Trade, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance.  
5. Cotton seed purchased by approved oil mills continued to be exempt from VAT.  
6. As recommended by the President of the Transition, 10% of seed production was to be 
processed by oil mills and made available to cotton and livestock farmers.  
(3) Export competition  
Mali does not grant any export subsidies for cotton.  
Source:  CMDT.  
 
  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 14 - Reply from South Africa to the questionnaire circulated on 30 January 2024  
GENERAL  
 
South Africa 's land area under cotton production has decreased from approximately 39 ,000 ha in the 2018/19 season to 17 ,838 ha in the 2023/24 
season. There are various rea sons for the decline in the area dedicated for cotton production, amongst them, is the dramatic rise in trade -distorting 
support for cotton producers, mainly in developed countries, who have government support programmes to sustain local farming.   
 
Cotton remains of special importance to smallholder producers in South Africa, many of which are women.  
 
South Africa is a net exporter of cotton and developments on the world market have a direct impact on South African producers  of cotton.  
 
* Source: DALRRD, 2 023, Abstract of Agricultural Statistics and Cotton SA, 2024, Cotton Hectares Planted and Yield for the Republic of South Afr ica (2023/24 in 
an estimates).  
MARKET ACCESS  
 
The major change in the market access environment for South Africa started in 2021 with the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade 
Agreement (AfCFTA). The agreement was implemented in phases starting from 2021. The phasing down to zero of tariffs was plann ed to stretch over 
a period of five years for some Member States/ Customs Unions and 10 years for others from 2021. For cotton, this resulted in the tariffs being phased 
down (see the Table 1 below for the current applicable tariffs on cotton in 2024).  
Table 1  - Current applied import duty for cotton in South Africa  
Date: 15.03.2024  SCHEDULE 1 / PART 1 / SECTION XI  Customs & Excise Tari ff 
Heading/ 
Subheading  CD3 Article Description  Statistical 
Unit Rate of Duty  
General  EU/UK  EFTA  SADC  MERCOSUR  AfCFTA  
5201.00   Cotton, not carded or combed:  
5201.00.10  
5201.00.20  
5201.00.90  6 
3 
4 - Not ginned  
- Ginned but not further processed  
- Other  kg 
kg 
kg free 
160c/kg  
15% free 
free 
free free 
160c/kg  
15% free 
free 
free free 
160c/kg  
15% free 
96c/kg  
9% 
52.02   Cotton waste (including yarn waste and garneted stock):  
5202.10  7 - Yarn waste (including thread waste)  kg free free free free free free 
5202.9   - Other:  
5202.91  
5202.99  0 
0 -- Garnetted stock  
-- Other  kg 
kg free 
free free 
free free 
free free 
free free 
free free 
free 
5203.00  6 Cotton, carded or combed  kg 15% free 15% free 15% 9% 
 
 
3 "CD" stands for "Check digit". South Africa Revenue Services (SARS) uses the check digit to check the code 's relevance, the code stands for a particular good or 
commodity.   
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 15 - Currently, the import duty for cotton is already at zero for Cotton originating from the member states that are party to  the SADC FTA  and the EU/UK. 
Since the implementation of the AfCFTA (in 2021) there has been a decrease in imports/export of cotton with Africa and the wo rld. Currently, a large 
portion of South African cotton imports originates from LDCs and developing countries in th e Southern African region (i.e SADC), and this has been the 
case even before the implementation of the AfCFTA. The impact of the AfCFTA on trade has not yet been realized by the parties  to the AfCFTA.  
Tables depicting South African trade in cotton are atta ched below (Table s 2-4). 
Table 2 below indicates that South Africa's cotton Imports from Africa and imports from the world decreased between 2019 and 2023. Table 3 indicates 
that South Africa's cotton exports to Africa and to the world decreased between 20 21 and 2023.  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT  
There has been no change in the policy environment in relation to domestic support. South African cotton producers do not ben efit from any trade -
distorting domestic support, including AMS, de minimis  and blue box support.  
EXPORT COMPETITION  
There has been no change in the policy environment in relation to export subsidies. South African cotton producers do not ben efit from export subsidies 
of any kind.  
Table 2  - South Africa 's cotton imports from Africa and the World in R Thou sand ( '000)  
Africa  World  
 Product  2019  2020  2021  2022  2023  2019  2020  2021  2022  2023  
HS code  Total 350,508 252,975 389,044 198,133 48,068  384,803 292,388 423,285 253,783 60,806  
5201 Cotton, neither carded nor combed  308,119 141,884 350,981 195,071 38,817 332,136 166,301 372,131 234,163 38,946 
5202 Cotton waste, incl. yarn waste and garnetted stock  4,257 2,895 2,789 3,062 5,399 10,464 12,004 9,091 15,411 13,031 
5203 Cotton, carded or combed  38,132 108,196 35,274 0 3,852 42,203 114,083 42,063 4,209 8,829 
Source:  World Trade Map  (ITC's Trade Map) .  
Table 3  - South Africa 's cotton exports to Africa and to the World in R Thousand ( '000)  
Africa  World  
 Product  2019  2020  2021  2022  2023  2019  2020  2021  2022  2023  
HS code  Total 156,365  100,332  212 664  150,834  48,383  389,581  309,640  347,912  231,936  127,381  
5201 Cotton, neither carded nor combed  115,320  66,545  157 345  93,826  7,151  347,869  275,183  291,813  172,797  81,744  
5202 Cotton waste, incl. yarn waste and garnetted stock  518 344 1 035  835 830 1,184  1,030  1,801  2,588  5,198  
5203 Cotton, carded or combed  40,527  33,443  54 284  56,173  40,402  40,528  33,427  54,298  56,551  40,439  
Source:  World Trade Map  (ITC's Trade Map) .  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 16 - 
 
  Table 4  - List of supplying markets for a product group imported by South Africa 
(Product group: Cotton 5201 -5203) - South African Rand thousand ( '000)  
Exporters  Imported 
value in 2019  Imported 
value in 2020  Imported 
value in 2021  Imported 
value in 2022  Imported 
value in 2023  
World  384,803  292,388  423,285  253,783  60,806  
Zambia  199,452  112,513  233,441  97,822  29,675  
Lesotho  38,262  107,231  35,598    6,082  
Eswatini  17,883  8,177  7,483  12,037  5,640  
Pakistan  6,250  9,044  6,317  8,795  5,179  
Malaysia  3,017  3,222  2,848  2,309  4,811  
Zimbabwe  85,473  13,721  109,511  19,456  3,502  
Mauritius  3,781  2,649  2,450  2,686  1,751  
Türkiye  87 409 2,361  884 1,456  
United States  621 1,292  2,391  557 645 
India  1,212  17,793  886 2,538  571 
Mozambique  4,864  8,488    98 479 
Tanzania  346 164 339 295 442 
Namibia  447 33 221 622 258 
Angola  0 0     147 
Tunisia  0 0   16 92 
Italy  43 0 59 164 18 
Netherlands  14 0     18 
United Kingdom  0 16 118 33 18 
Area Nes  14 0   459 0 
Bangladesh  0 0     0 
China  159 458 44 1,507  0 
Botswana  0 0       
Brazil  16,641  6,460  18,139      
France  14 65       
Indonesia  318 343 1,018      
Israel  0 0   33   
Côte d'Ivoire  0 0   33,885    
Japan  0 0       
Malawi  0 0   5,536    
Mali  0 0   25,680    
Mexico  216 0       
Chinese Taipei  5,629  0       
Mongolia  0 33       
Spain  43 0   0   
Switzerland  0 0   38,323    
Thailand  0 278       
Source:  World Trade Map  (ITC's Trade Map) . 
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 17 - 
 
  Reply from Ukraine to the questionnaire circulated on 30 January 2024 (original reply in 
French)  
 
Market access  
 
The current applied import duty for cotton (tariff lines: 5201 00 10 00, 5201 00 90 00, 
5202 10 00 00, 5202 91 00 00, 5202 99 00 00, 5203 00 00 00)  is 0 %.  
 
Domestic support  
 
No domestic support has been provided for cotton.  
 
Export competition  
 
There hav e been no changes in the cotton -related export competition policy.  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 18 - 
 
  Reply from Burundi to the questionnaire circulated on 25 August  2023 (original reply in 
French)  
MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT, AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK  
 
COTTON MANAGEMENT COMPANY (COGERCO ) 
 
Recent events impacting cotton policies in Burundi (with a view to preparing for the 20th dedicated 
session on cotton)  
 
● Market access: NA 
 
● Domestic support: COGERCO is searching for new land to expand cotton growing. To 
this end, field visits have been made to four provinces (Makamba, Rutana, Ruyigi and 
Cankuzo) to sensitize officials at all levels and the population to the National Strategy 
for the revival of  the cotton, textiles and clothing sector in Burundi 
(2019 -2027). These visits have been supported by the Office of the President of the 
Republic, who has mandated one of his chiefs of staff to spearhead the visits.  
 Impact assessment of domestic support: In all of the provinces visited, the local 
government at all levels and the population have expressed support for the Strategy. 
Moreover, they have committed to supporting COGERCO in identifying new land to 
expand cotton growing in their respective provinc es (the search is underway).  
 
● Export Competition: NA because COGERCO is not yet in a position to meet local 
demand before moving on to exports.  
 
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 19 - 
 
  Reply from Togo to the questionnaire circulated on 25  August  2023 (original reply in 
French)  
TABLE OF INFOR MATION ON DEVELOPMENTS IN TOGO'S COTTON -RELATED POLICIES  
ORDER  AREA OF 
INFORMATION  ELEMENTS OF RESPONSES  
01 Market access  The Togolese State is putting in place a policy of domestic processing of agricultural 
products, and specifically of cotton, through the establishment of textile industries. 
The ultimate expression of this commitment has been:  
- the adoption of a 2020 -2030 textile and clothing industry policy for Togo. This 
policy focuses on strengthening spinning, weaving, knitting and garment -
making activities, and includes incentives and innovative measures for 
attracting investors and ensuring the sustainable development of the textile 
and clothing industry;  
- the adoption of the Law on industrial free zone status in Togo, which seeks to 
further improve the business climate and provide benefits to investors and 
enterprises operating in the field of textiles;  
- the creation of the Adétikopé Industrial Platform (PIA) and the installation and 
operationalization of the textile factory, the first results  of which are already 
visible.  
 
The long -term objective is to improve production, process the cotton produced in 
Togo and guarantee a remunerative and sustainable market for cotton growers.  
02 Domestic 
support  Given the continuous increase in fertilizer prices on the international market due to 
the twin effects of the COVID -19-related health crisis and the conflict between the 
Russian Federation and Ukraine, the Togolese State has supported, for the 
production year 2023 -2024, the fertilizer tra nsfer price for cotton producers. This 
support measure has made it possible to stabilize the prices of cotton inputs at the 
national level in order to mitigate the fluctuation and inflation of input prices seen 
worldwide.  
 
Discussions are under way between  the State (the Ministries of Economy and 
Finance, and Agriculture) and the New Cotton Company of Togo for the 
establishment of the cotton sector stabilization fund (FSSC). This fund could make 
it possible to set up a mechanism within the sector to mobiliz e resources for 
structural investments to improve competitiveness and performance in general.  
03 Export 
competition  Export competition is mainly linked to subsidies that some countries give their cotton 
producers, allowing them to endure the market price even if it is very low. This 
practice creates market distortion.  
 
Togolese cotton is primarily in competition with products from India, insofar as Asia 
is the main market for domestic production. Certain countries have a significant 
advantage in terms of d istance for transactions.  
 
The Togolese cotton sector does not receive export support.  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 20 - 
 
  Reply from the European Union to the questionnaire circulated on 9 February  2023  
In reply to the questionnaire of the WTO Secretariat dated 9 February  2023 on new or updated 
cotton -related policy developments in advance of the 19th Dedicated Discussion on cotton, below is 
the update of the data on direct payments expenditures for cotton, granted in accordance with 
Article  6.5 of the Agreement on Agriculture. No other cotton -related policy developments occurred 
in the EU during the reporting period.  
(Million EUR in a marketing year)  
Description of Measure  2013  
/14 2014  
/15 2015  
/16 2016  
/17 2017  
/18 2018  
/19 2019  
/20 2020  
/21 2021  
/22 
Payments based on fixed area 
and yields: Cotton  
(Title IV, Chapter 1, Section 6 of 
Regulation (EC) No 73/2009; 
from 2015, Title IV, Chapter  2 of 
Regulation (EU)  No 1307/2013)  231.8  244.0  243.9  233.8  243.7  244,9  245.0  240.8  235.4  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 21 - 
 
  Reply from Israel to the questionnaire circulated on 9  February  2023  
Market Access  
 
No changes in tariffs related to cotton were made during 2022.  
 
Domestic Support  
 
Israel's budgetary outlay for cotton for 2022 was USD  74 thousand  for new machinery support (a 
budget of 500 million NIS allocated in two equal instalments for 2022 and 2023).  
 
There were no other forms of support during 2022.  
 
Export Competition  
 
Export subsidies for cotton were zero in 2022.  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 22 - 
 
  Reply from Argentina to the questionnaire circulated on 2 March  2022 (original reply in 
Spanish)  
Input prepared by the Under -Secretariat for the Development of Regional Economies of the Ministry 
of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of Argentina on new or updated cotton -related policy 
developments:  
• Regarding domestic support, the Cotton Production Income Compensation Fund 
(Law No. 26.060 and amendments) continues to be implemented at the national level. This 
fund has been in operation for many years and is distributed among the cotton -growing 
provinces, which first submit Annual Operational Programmes defining the specific uses.  
• This aid can be used for research (agreements with the National Agricultural Technology 
Institute (INTA) or other entities), or for monitoring and prevention of pests, such as the 
boll weevil, in conjunction with the National Agriculture and Food Quality and Health 
Service  (SENASA). Any direct assistance provided to producers (seed, fuel, and other 
inputs), is  always aimed at small and medium -sized producers.  
• Regarding export competition , cotton exporters did not receive any State subsidies and there 
are no State -owned companies engaged in exporting the product concerned.  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 23 - 
 
  Reply from Mozambique to the questionnaire circulated on 2  March  2022  
In Mozambique, cotton production is oriented b y a regulation. The current cotton cultivation 
Regulation is being used from 2015 (Decree 37/2015 of 31  December). This Regulation drives the 
performance of the cotton actors' sector, in the component of production, market, processing and 
export.  
 
In this year (2022), we are proceeding with identification of gaps in the current cotton cultivation 
Regulation and are about to begin the process of assessing the impact of the Regulation on the value 
chain actors, to identify gaps and probable requirements for a djustments to the current context. 
Depending on the results, it will be decided whether or not the review will take place. If decided to 
do the Regulation revision, it is expected to be in 2023.  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 24 - 
 
  Reply from the United States to the questionnaire circulate d on 3  September  2021  
Market Access:  
 
There are no new or updated cotton -related policy developments.  
 
Domestic Support:  
 
There are no new or updated cotton -specific programs to report. We do not anticipate any market 
impact from the changes covered below.  
 
Pandemic Assistance for Cotton Users (PACU) Program  
 
In April, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a one -time payment to 
domestic users of upland and extra -long staple cotton under the PACU program. Under this program, 
domestic users received USD  0.06 per pound to domestic users based on a 3 -year monthly average 
consumption during 2017 through 2019, covering 10 months in 2020 (1  March  2020 to 
31 December  2020). The program and payment formula were established by the Cons olidated 
Appropriations Act, 2021.  
 
Export Competition:  
 
There are no new or updated cotton -related policy developments.  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 25 - 
 
  Reply from Colombia to the questionnaire circulated on 1  February  2021  
The WTO questionnaire requests information on any new or updated cotton -related policy 
developments.  
MARKET ACCESS  
Colombia did not apply any such measures during the years 2019 and 2020.  
 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT 2019  
Cotton marketing support. Pursuant to Resolution No.  300 of 16  September  2019, the Colombian 
Governmen t established support for cotton fibre marketing to producers of the 2019 interior harvest 
in the departments of Tolima, Huila, Cundinamarca and Valle del Cauca.  
 
The support was based on the international price (ICE -NY contract) in US cents per pound, mul tiplied 
by the exchange rate and the conversion factor of 22.046 from US cents per pound to US dollars 
per tonne. In August  2019, the price closed at USD  4,422,709, compared with USD  5,609,221 for 
the same month of the previous year, resulting in a decreas e of 21%. Consequently, the projected 
net income for cotton farmers in the interior of the country does not cover the production costs.  
 
For 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development did not allocate any budget for the 
provision of such suppo rt. 
 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT 2020  
Support for cotton planting with resources from the Emergency Mitigation Fund (FOME). 
Pursuant to Resolution No.  223 of 15  September  2020, the cotton growers' union (Conalgodón) 
helped to develop the Cotton Support Programme 2020 , addressing cotton planting by small and 
medium -sized producers in the Costa Llanos area of the departments of Córdoba, Cesar, Sucre, 
Bolívar, Magdalena, Antioquia, Vichada and Guajira, in order to mitigate the adverse effects of 
COVID -19, allocating USD  2,152,500,000.  
 
Support for marketing using FOME resources. Pursuant to Resolution No.  224 of 
15 September  2020, the cotton growers' union (Conalgodón) helped to develop support for the 
marketing of cotton fibre by small and medium -sized producers in the d epartments of Tolima, Huila, 
Cundinamarca and Valle del Cauca, in order to mitigate the adverse effects of COVID -19, allocating 
USD 799,500,000.  
EXPORT COMPETITION  
Colombia did not apply any export competition measures during the years 2019 and 2020.  
 
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 26 - 
 
  Reply from the Russian Federation to the questionnaire circulated on 1  February  2021  
Market Access  
 
The Russian Federation's exports and imports of cotton, not carded or combed (thousand US dollars).  
  2020  
Export   
Armenia  10.6 
Belarus  843.3  
European Union  531.0  
Türkiye  2.3 
Ukraine  89.4 
Total  1,476 .6 
Import   
Kazakhstan  7,525.9  
Kyrgyz Republic  8,549.7  
Tajikistan  18,607.9  
Türkiye  122.6  
Uzbekistan  1,111.8  
Total  35,917.9  
 
Domestic Support  
 
Information to be provided upon the relevant DS:1 notification.  
 
Export Competition  
 
No specific measures for cotton are applied in the context of export competition . 
 
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 27 - 
 
  Reply from Türkiye to the questionnaire circulated on 21  September  2020  
The major input of Türkiye's textile and clothing sector is cotton. Textile and clothing sector 
consumes about 1.5  million tonnes of cotton and there was 882  thousand tonnes 
at 2017/2018  season, 997  thousand tonnes at 2018/2019 season cotton has been produced in 
Türkiye. The domestic production and import  ratio was 59.5% at 2017/2018 and 
69.7%  at 2018/2019 season.  
 
According ICAC, Türkiye was ranged at 6th in terms of production, 5th in terms of consumption and 
4th in terms of imports among the world. According to the estimates of Ministry of Agriculture a nd 
Forestry, 2019/20 season cotton production will be around 814  thousand tonnes.  
 
Türkiye has imported at 2018 -2019 season about 1.35  billion dollars and 761  thousand tonnes of 
cotton.  
 
The import tax for cotton is 0% and VAT is 8%. There is 3% anti dampi ng duty for US origin cotton 
of CIF value.  
 
COTTON DATA  
 
Import Tax:  0% 
VAT: 8% 
WTO Rate:  6% 
Support:  0,064 USD/Kg at 2018/2019 season (For whom use certified crops)  
Fuel-Fertiliser Support:  7.75 USD/Da Fuel Support + 0.5 USD/Da (Fertiliser Support) 
= 8.25 USD Total for 2018 -2019 Season  
Production  
1,000 Tonnes  
Season  
(1 August  - 31 July)  Türkiye  World  
(ICAC)  TÜİK1 ICAC2 
2012/2013  858 858 27,079  
2013/2014  877 878 26,225  
2014/2015  846 720 26,234  
2015/2016  738 640 21,476  
2016/2017  756 703 23,075  
2017/2018  882 792 26,678  
2018/2019  977 977 25,750  
2019/2020*  814 800 26,025  
* Turkish Institute of Statistics, Forecast.  
Consumption  
1,000 Tonnes  
Season  
(1 August  - 31 July)  Türkiye  World  
(ICAC)  MAF3 ICAC2 
2012/2013  1,785  1,350  23,448  
2013/2014  1,637  1,400  24,101  
2014/2015  1,501  1,486  24,587  
2015/2016  1,500  1,500  24,139  
2016/2017  1,450  1,455  24,516  
2017/2018  1,481  1,481  26,351  
2018/2019  1,400  1,555  26,344  
2019/2020*  - 1,477  22,870  
* Forecast.  
1 Turkish Institute of Statistics.  
2 International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC).  
3 Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.  
 
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 28 - 
 
  Foreign Trade  
(GTİP No: 5201) (Sezon)  
Cotton Foreign Trade  
Season  Export  Import  
Value  
(tonne)  Value USD  
(USD  1,000)  Value  
(tonne)  Value USD  
(USD  1,000)  
2005/06  47,030  66,447  762,315  960,891  
2006/07  66,002  92,034  877,261  1,137,935  
2007/08  80,647  141,864  711,414  1,099,841  
2008/09  29,678  53,888  635,632  872,934  
2009/10  32,557  60,568  956,682  1,565,191  
2010/11  31,825  102,656  729,428  2,044,108  
2011/12  65,237  143,793  518,610  1,274,291  
2012/13  47,384  97,703  803,760  1,513,800  
2013/14  44,332  92,185  924,373  1,843,536  
2014/15  52,279  84,481  800,068  1,306,133  
2015/16  50,327  81,283  918,307  1,369,259  
2016/17  72,816  130,732  801,007  1,408,137  
2017/18  70,723  139,127  876,211  1,620,713  
2018/19  104,871  183,991  761,891  1,351,087  
Cotton Season: 20XX 1  August  - 20XX  + 31 July. 
Source:  Turkish Institute of Statistics.  
 
MARKET ACCESS  
 
In Türkiye's Harmonized System, there are two products with 12 digits code under in heading  52.01 
(cotton, not carded or combed) as followings:  
• 5201.00.10.00.00 - Rendered absorbent or bleached;  
• 5201.00.90.00.00 – Others.  
Türkiye applies 0% customs duty to all countries for these goods.  
 
Notwithstanding, as of 17  April 2016, Türkiye has started to implement a rate of 3% (CIF) 
anti-dumping duty, if the goods are, which listed above, with the US origin.  
 
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 29 - 
 
  Reply from Brazil to the questionnaire circulated on 2 2 January  2020  
There has not been any change in Brazilian policies for cotton.  
Market Access : 
Of the three tariff lines (5201.00.10, 5201.00.20, and 5201.00.90) in heading 5201 (cotton, not 
carded or combed), all maintained an applied duty rate of 6%.  
Dome stic Support : 
There has been no domestic support provided to Brazilian cotton producers.  
Export Competition : 
No export subsidies have been granted to cotton.  
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 30 - 
 
  Reply from Peru to the questionnaire circulated on 10  September  2019 (original reply in 
Spanish)  
I.  Market Access  
Peru made no changes to its cotton -related policies concerning market access.  
II.  Domestic Support  
Cotton Financing Programme  
1.   Description of the Programme:  
The funding programme helps enhance the competitiveness of Peruvian cotton and boosts the cotton 
production chain through the provision of reimbursable loans to eligible small cotton producers 
forming part of producer organizations in the Pisco, Ica, Chinc ha, Cañete and Santa valleys.  
2.   Objective:  
Provision of loans to finance cotton farming for the purchase of inputs (seed, fertilizers and 
agrochemicals), machinery, labour, administrative costs and technical assistance.  
3.   Beneficiaries:  
Small cotton producers in the Pisco, Ica, Chincha Cañete and Santa valleys, through producer 
organizations (formally established cooperatives and/or associations), which, in addition, provide 
services relating to business management and technical assistance.  
4.   Duration:  
The programme runs from November  2018 to October  2019, in accordance with the planting and  
harvesting season in each valley.  
5.   Form of benefit:  
The Temporary Funding Programme for Agricultural Inputs, financed with resources from the 
AGROPERU Fund through AGROBA NCO, is intended for small producer organizations in the Pisco, 
Ica, Chincha, Cañete and Santa  valleys, for the purchase of inputs (seed, fertilizers and 
agrochemicals), labour, technical assistance and technical management support.  
The preferential  rate f or cotton producers is an annual effective rate of 12% for up to nine months 
for the Tanguis variety and up to seven months for the Hazera and IPA  59 varieties. The interest 
rate on loan arrears applied to this funding programme is 16% for all varieties.  
The programme  has a budget of 5,000,000 (five  million soles), broken down as follows:  
Table 1  - Budget breakdown  
Category  Amount  
(in soles)  Percentage (%)  
1. Campaign funding  4,750,605.00  95.01%  
2. Programme operational costs and technical assistance 
incentives  249,395.00  4.99%  
Total  5,000,000.00  100%  
Source:  Agricultural Financing and Insurance Directorate, based on the Financing Programme for the 
2019-2020 Cotton Season - Agroperú Fund, Agrobanco.  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 31 - 
 
  The amount of funding per hectare is 4,300 soles, with a maximum of four hectares per producer, 
broken down as follows:  
Table 2 : Financing breakdown per hectare  
Category  Amount (in soles)  
Inputs: seed, fertilizers and agrochemicals  
Services: labour, machinery and water  4,110.00  
Technical assistance  140.00  
Technical management support  50.00  
Total  4,300.00  
Source:  Agricultural Financing and Insurance Directorate, based on the Financing Programme for the 
2019-2020 Cotton Season - Agroperú Fund, Agrobanco.  
III.  Export Competitio n 
Peru does not provide export subsidies for agricultural products, including cotton.  
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  Reply from Egypt to the questionnaire circulated on 14  September  2018  
- Market Access conditions : 
• Applied tariffs on cotton 2018 versus Egypt's Bound tariffs:  
HS Description  Applied tariff  
2015%  Bound Tariff %  
5201.00  Cotton, not carded or combed  Free 5 
5202.00  Cotton waste (including yarn waste and garnetted stock)    
5202.10  - Yarn waste (including thread waste)  5 5 
 - Other:    
5202.91  - - Garnetted  stock  5 5 
5202.99  - - Other  5 5 
5203.00  Cotton, carded or combed  5 5 
 
• Egyptian cotton trade  
 
 2015  2016  2017  Until June  2018  
Quantity 
(tonnes)  VALUE 
(USD 
million)  Quantity 
(tonnes)  VALUE  
(USD 
million)  Quantity 
(tonnes)  VALUE 
(USD 
million)  Quantity 
(tonnes)  VALUE  
(USD 
million)  
Exports  36404.54  90.411261  30565.039  87.5227  32129.719  93.7157  23429.95  72.8173  
Imports  73530.91  146.067  842818.8  147.4436  115912.449  235.629  62904.62  133.43  
 
• Egyptian cotton production (.000 quintals)  
 
Year  2015/2016  2016/2017  2017/2018  
Production  1096 7270 1407 
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  Reply from Angola to the questionnaire circulated on 28  March  2017  
In response to the Secretariat questionnaire, Angola is giving the following information:  
(1)   Market access  
Cotton production in Angola is insignificant. In 2016, the production of cotton fibre ( lint) was 
640 tonnes. For 2017, cotton fibre production is estimated at 68 tonnes. Projected cotton fibre 
production for 2018 is 480 tonnes.  
Prior to the rehabilitation of the national textile industry, the cotton produced was exported to 
Bangladesh. After the rehabilitation of the textile industry, the cotton produced in the country started 
to sell in the domestic market.  
The national textile industry, composed of three spinnin g and weaving factories, has imported cotton 
from Greece and India to meet its needs. This picture will be change with the full re -launch of cotton 
production in the country. The estimated yearly need of the national textile industry is estimated at 
24.000  tonnes of cotton fibre.  
(2)   Domestic support  
In 2017 the Ministry of Agriculture took the first step towards the sustainable re -launch of cotton 
production in the country. This year 212 hectares of land were cultivated. The Ministry of Agriculture 
provided seeds and inputs and assisted with the preparation of land.  
Banks in Angola are available to finance the cotton value chain, provided entrepreneurs submit 
feasible investment projects.  
The Angolan Executive is committed to mobilizing financial res ources for the relaunch of the cotton 
value chain.  
(3)   Export competition  
Angola does not apply any export competition measures.  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 34 - 
 
  Reply from Benin to the questionnaire circulated on 13  September  2016 (original reply in 
French)  
Eager to bring about a significant  expansion of the cotton sector in the framework of a public -private 
partnership, the Council of Ministers decided to revive the Framework Agreement between the State 
and the Cotton Trade Association (AIC). Accordingly, the agreement, which had been suspen ded on 
23 September  2013, was renewed on 28  April 2016. A number of reforms undertaken by the 
Beninese Government have had a direct or indirect impact on the cotton sector through the three 
pillars of agriculture, i.e. market access, domestic support and e xport competition.  
(1)   Market access  
One of the aims of the amending finance law adopted in July  2016 and the preliminary draft finance 
law of 2017 is to promote measures to stimulate private investment. Accordingly, since July  2016, 
the registration formaliti es for the following documents are taxed at 0% : 
• deeds for transfer of movable and immovable property, in connection with the 
improvement of the business climate;  
• credit agreements, in order to reduce the cost of credit transactions.  
Measures were also take n to reduce harassment along the trunk roads.  
Similarly, in connection with the transport of seed cotton from the self -managed markets to the 
processing plants, the Government decided to remove the rehabilitation of rural roads from the 
responsibilities re lating to critical functions. The rehabilitation of dirt roads used for cotton is now 
the responsibility of the State.  
(2)   Domestic support  
In connection with domestic support, the following new measures have been taken:  
• Revival of the Framework Agreement betw een the State and the AIC. The introduction of 
domestic price support mechanisms for producers  is now the responsibility of the 
sectoral trade associations in cooperation with the Ministry.  
• Production and agricultural research capacity -building through the introduction, in 
July 2016, of an agricultural research contribution charged on exports of cotton seed and 
fibre and raw cashew nuts, at a rate of CFAF  10 per kilogram exported.  
• Suspension by the Government of cotton subsidies (particularly in relation to inputs) as 
from the 2016 -2017 season.  
(3)   Export competition  
The introduction of a framework conducive to agro -industry is at the centre of the interim budget 
for 2016. A public/private partnership law will help to promote the processing industry a nd in 
particular the cotton spinning mills.  
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  Reply from Australia to the questionnaire circulated on 22  February  2016  
 
Cotton Research and 
Development  Research into 
improvements in cotton 
production  AUD 7.729  million for 
2014-15 Australian Government 
Depar tment of Agriculture, 
Water Resources (DAWR)  
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  Reply from Chad to the questionnaire circulated on 4  February  2015 (original reply in 
French)  
The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Chad to the World Trade Organization (WTO) presents its 
compliments to the WTO Secretariat and, further to the Secretariat's correspondence of 
4 February  2015 on relevant trade -related developments for cotton, has the honour to transmit 
herewith details of new cotton -related policy developments that have occurr ed in Chad since 
January  2014 in relation to the following three pillars:  
(1)   Market access  
Chad has adopted an action plan with a view to substantially increasing production in its cotton 
sector. This will enable the country to boost exports to the main consumer countries, most notably 
Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Portugal and Germany.  
(2)   Domestic support  
Despite a difficult budgetary situation, due to the fall in oil prices which has spread to other raw 
materials and which has played a significant role in slowing down the country's economic growth, 
the Chadian State has fought to maintain its cotton sector, which is of considerable economic and 
social importance for  millions of Chadians. This support, which has a significant impact on priority 
sectors such as education and health, clearly demonstrates the Government's determination to do 
everything possible to ensure that this important sector does not disappear - something that would 
have disastrous consequences for Chad and its population. This support is consistent with Article  6.2 
of the Agreement on Agriculture.  
(3)   Export competition  
Chad continues to suffer the severe financial consequences of falling cotton prices due to the unfair 
competition that we are continuously denouncing at the WTO. If all cotton -producing countries were 
on an equal footing in the international market, Chadian cotton would be more competitive and the 
cotton sector would be making a profit instead of the successive losses recorded in recent years.  
This is a moral issue within the WT O, and as WTO Members we are all responsible for finding a 
solution to this situation, which is unacceptable to countries like ours.  
The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Chad to the World Trade Organization takes this 
opportunity to renew the assurance s of its highest consideration to the WTO Secretariat.  
Access to international markets  
The Société Cotonnière du Tchad (COTONTCHAD) exported 31,700 tonnes of fibre in 2014 and 
envisages export production of 52,000 tonnes of fibre in 2015, i.e. an increase of almost 50%. This 
significant increase is linked to the creation of a business plan that envisages a gradual increase in 
production to 120,000 tonnes of fibre by 2018.  
This business plan was adopted by the Board of Directors, which includes representatives of the 
various Ministers responsible for agricultural policy in general and the development of the cotton 
sector in particular.  
The increase in production has been possible thanks to the support the State has provided by selling 
inputs (fer tilizer, insecticides and various other materials) to farmers to increase crop yields, and 
the increase in the purchase price paid to cotton farmers, which is set at 240 CFAF/kg for high -grade 
cotton.  
Cotton is of considerable economic and social importanc e to Chad. The Chadian government has 
spared no effort to provide financial support to increase cotton production, since this sector provides 
a livelihood, both directly and indirectly, for almost 3  million people. The cotton sector is the only 
sector that  brings large quantities of fresh capital into producing regions. It helps to settle the 
population, and COTONTCHAD SN, which is in charge of purchasing, ginning and marketing, funds 
village associations with a view to the construction of classrooms and fa mily health clinics.  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 37 - 
 
  3756CFAF  20 billion in cash was distributed to farmers in 2014 for the purchase of seed cotton, 
and the company plans to provide CFAF  31 billion in 2015. In anticipation of the increase 
in production in the next two to three years, the  Chadian State has committed itself, 
via the Development Bank of Central African States (BDEAC), to a long -term loan of approximately 
CFAF 30 billion for  COTONTCHAD SN, so as to ensure the renewal and strengthening of logistics and 
industrial infrastructur e. 
Due to the lack of cotton processing infrastructure at national and regional level, COTONTCHAD SN 
exports 98% of its production abroad. The main consumer markets are Asian and European 
countries. Although there are no particular restrictions affecting C had directly, certain domestic 
policies implemented by wealthier countries distort competitiveness. This means that certain mills, 
while appreciating the intrinsic qualities of Chadian cotton, refrain from buying our cotton when they 
compare its price with  the local prices of their own production, which are driven down artificially. 
However, given the much appreciated quality of Chadian cotton, our sales remain steady, despite 
the fall in prices.  
Listed below are the main consumers of Chadian cotton in 2014  and 2015:  
Exports of Chadian Cotton by Country  
Country  Quantity (tonnes)  
2014  Projection for 2015  
Germany  1,500  3,500  
Portugal  2,550  5,200  
Spain  700 1,300  
Italy 200 900 
India 8,300  9,500  
Indonesia  3,380  5,800  
Bangladesh  11,415  18,220  
China  1,850  3,800  
Malaysia  180 680 
Thailand  500 600 
Viet Nam  1,125  2,500  
Total  31,700  52,000  
 
State Domestic Support  
In 2014, the Chadian State budgeted 6.9  billion to support farmers by subsidizing fertilizer. 
For 2015, it budgeted 6.69 billion. Of the amount for 2014, COTONTCHAD SN received 3.5  billion, 
although nothing has yet been paid out under the 2015 budget due to the country's current economic 
and financial situation, which is particularly difficult.  
This support is consisten t with the provisions of Article 6.2 on special and differential treatment for 
the promotion of agriculture and rural areas in low -income countries and the fight against poverty.  
Despite a difficult budgetary situation, due to the drop in oil prices which has spread to other raw 
materials and which has played a significant role in slowing down the country's economic growth, 
the Chadian State has fought to maintain its cotton sector, which is of considerable economic and 
social importance for  millions of Cha dians. The State's actions, which have had an important impact 
on priority sectors such as education and health, clearly demonstrate the Government's 
determination to do everything possible to ensure that this important sector does not 
disappear - somethin g that would have disastrous consequences for Chad and its population.  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 38 - 
 
  Cotton plays a pivotal role in our country's development. It is competitive. And yet it suffers from 
the effects of the massive cotton subsidies provided by certain countries, which h ave the effect of 
driving down prices on the international market.  
For Chad, the time has come to move on from general statements and engage constructively in 
substantive discussions on the cotton issue. This belief forms the basis of its commitment and 
determination to continue negotiating with other C -4 members at the WTO. Chad remains open to 
any initiatives that might help to find an acceptable solution to the cotton issue.  
Export Competition  
The massive support provided to farmers in the form of both p roduction and operating subsidies by 
countries such as the United States and China and by the European Union constitute unfair 
competition and have been denounced for several years now by the C -4 countries within the WTO 
framework. The least developed coun tries (LDCs) continue to suffer the severe financial 
consequences of falling cotton prices. If all cotton -producing countries were on an equal footing in 
the international market, African cotton would be more competitive and the cotton sector would be 
making a profit instead of the successive losses recorded in recent years.  
Countries such as the United States and China have introduced mechanisms to help 
the C-4 countries with a view to repairing the harm they have suffered, but these interventions 
amount  to very little when compared with the  hundreds of  millions of dollars paid to their 
respective  producers.  
What is being demanded by the C -4 countries in general, and by Chad in particular, is compliance 
with the WTO rules that condemn unfair competition and  the artificial driving down of prices, rather 
than the rules on subsidies, which are already well defined and should be limited in terms of  volume.  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 39 - 
 
  Reply from China to the questionnaire circulated on 4  February  20154 
First, China supports C -4's position and their request to solve their problem according to the 
Ministerial Decision on Cotton of December  2013 adopted at MC9. We also support the approach to 
solve the problem of cotton on the basis of the Agriculture Modalities of 2008  (TN/AG/W/4/Rev.4 ). 
We would continue to work together with all Members to find the solution to this issue.  
Second, China's cotton sector is subsistence farming.  
China is among the largest cotton producers in the world. However, China's production is based on 
small -scale and subsistence farming, and the average acreage of cotton is 0.3 hectare per 
household. Moreover, China's cotton production is located remotely in the resource -poor and 
underdeveloped ethnic minority areas, serving as the only instrument for local livelih ood security 
and poverty reduction.  
After joining the WTO, China's cotton production has shown a declining trend; the cotton acreage 
has diminished from 4.8  million hectares in 2001 to 4.3  million hectares in 2013. The main reason 
for such a decline is the high production cost compared to the lower price of cotton caused by 
subsidies of the developed Members.  
Third, China's cotton subsidies are at minimal low level.  
China's agriculture support toolbox is short supplied compared to other WTO Members. It h as no 
AMS including on cotton, no development box. China is only entitled to de minimis , for which the 
level is also lower than for other developing Members (8.5% versus 10%).  
China's cotton support remains lower both in absolute terms and per capita terms . In absolute terms, 
China's cotton support is USD  480 million. In per capita terms per cotton farmer, China's cotton 
support is only just USD  16. 
Fourth, China's cotton subsidy policy is a passive response.  
China has been the victim to the cotton subsidie s by the developed Members. Since its accession 
into the WTO, China's cotton imports surged from 113,000 tonnes to 4.2  million tonnes, while the 
cotton acreage actually diminished.  
China's poor subsistence cotton farmers are over 30  million in household, a nd they will be forced 
out of jobs if the Government does not take the necessary actions. Therefore, the Chinese 
Government has no choice but to subsidize its poor cotton famers to offset the subsidies and 
safeguard the livelihood of those poor famers.  
Fifth, China's cotton subsidy policy does not distort international trade.  
China's temporary cotton reserve policy is designed to offset the turbulence of the volatile 
international market caused by the subsidies of developed Members. This policy does not cre ate 
production distortion or trade distortion. On the production side, China's cotton production does not 
increase in a significant manner. On the import side, China's cotton import continues to increase 
from 2.8  million tonnes in 2010 to 4.2  million tonne s in 2013. If the import on cotton yarn is included, 
the cotton import will be increased from 4.1  million tonnes to 6.5  million tonnes, which provides 
strong incentives for all cotton producers and the developing ones in particular in the context of 
depres sed global cotton prices. In addition, the cotton in stock is intended for domestic textile 
industry rather than for export, thus producing no distortion on international cotton market.  
In the meantime, exports of Chinese textiles are still subject to tari ff peaks, tariff escalations and 
other protectionist measures of developed Members, which the developed Members intend to ignore 
through the so -called recalibration exercise.  
 
4 This reply was provided after the circulation of the second revision of this background paper and is 
included in document TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.2/Add.1 -TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.2/Add.1 . TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 40 - 
 
  Sixth, China has made significant contribution to resolving the cotton issue.  
China has been the largest cotton importer, and its share in the global cotton import has been 
consistently more than 50%, which creates a lot of market access for the export developing 
Members.  
China has been extensively importing a large amount of cotton fr om African cotton -producing 
Members, including the C -4. During the period 2001 to 2013, China's cotton imports from Africa 
increased from 3,700 tonnes to 442,000 tonnes.  
On the development assistance side, China has been committed to providing technical an d financial 
assistance to the C -4 to enhance their production and export capacity. China signed cooperation 
Communiqués with the C -4 members in 2011 and 2013, respectively, which cover the supplies of 
agriculture inputs, training courses, technology transf er, etc. In addition, China has also been 
providing various cotton -related assistance to the C -4 through bilateral channels.  
On the allocation of the cotton TRQ  
Regarding the allocation of TRQ of cotton, it is consistent with China's WTO commitment. Anothe r 
related question is about the import exceeding the import quota. In addition to the 894,000  tonnes, 
we import more than the TRQ subject to the sliding duties.  
On China's domestic support notification  
Regarding the notification, China has just updated its domestic support notification up to 2010, and 
preparation for new notifications is underway.  
On China's cotton stock  
Regarding China's cotton stock, the stock is real, as we have imported more cotton than our 
obligation. We import cotton for te xtile processing, but we are facing a lot of difficulties in the textile 
sector as just mentioned. The other reason for the huge stock is that the price for cotton is distorted 
by the subsidies from developed Members.  
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 41 - 
 
  ANNEX 5  
INFORMATION ON COTTON MARKETS AND POLICIES FROM  
THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM1 
1.1.  At the second dedicated discussion of the relevant trade -related developments for cotton, 
Members agreed that, in order to complement the revised background paper to be prepared by the 
WTO Secretariat, the Secretariat would compile information related to cotton markets and policies 
contained in the most recent Trade Policy Review (TPR) reports.2 
1.2.  The Secretariat searched the most recent TPR reports avail able by Governments and by the 
WTO Secretariat for the 33 Members identified in paragraphs 12 and 13 of this paper. Information 
that met the following two criteria has been included in this Annex: (1) information relevant to cotton 
markets and policies; an d (2) information not presented elsewhere in this background paper.  
1.3.  No relevant information was found for the following 14 Members :3 Bahrain, Kingdom of 
(November 2021); Canada (June  2019); Hong Kong, China (December  2023) ; Iceland 
(October  2017); Indonesia (December  2020); Japan (March  2023); Kenya (March  2019)4; Korea, 
Republic of (October  2021); Malaysia (February  2023); Mexico (October  2022); New Zealand 
(June  2022); Norway (June  2018); Switzerland (May  2022) and Chinese  Taipei (November  2023).  
1.4.  For the remaining Members, the relevant information found is presented below by Member. 
The date of the most recent TPR report available, as well as the type of report and the document 
symbol for the report, are indicated nex t to each Member. Updated information is provided for South 
Africa (October 2023) .5 
1.5.  Information is listed along with the headings of the chapters from which it is extracted, and 
"…" represents information left out from a table, a paragraph or a chap ter. 
1.6.  Information not directly linked to cotton markets and policies but which provides context for 
understanding the above -mentioned information may have also been included based on the 
Secretariat's own judgement and is without prejudice to informat ion excluded from this Annex.  
  
 
1 The purpose of the Trade Policy Review Mechanism ("TPRM") is to contribute to improved adherence 
by all Members to rules, disciplines and commitments made under the Multilateral Trade Agreement s and, 
where applicable, the Plurilateral Trade Agreements, and hence to the smoother functioning of the multilateral 
trading system, by achieving greater transparency in, and understanding of, the trade policies and practices of 
Members. Accordingly, the review mechanism enables the regular collective appreciation and evaluation of the 
full range of individual Members' trade policies and practices and their impact on the functioning of the 
multilateral trading system. It is not, however, intended to serve as a basis for the enforcement of specific 
obligations under the Agreements or for dispute settlement procedures, or to impose new policy commitments 
on Members (Annex 3 (A)(i) of the Marrakesh Agreement).  
2 Paragraph 13 of the Chairperson's report of the second dedicated discussion of the relevant 
trade -related developments for cotton ( TN/AG/29  and TN/AG/SCC/3 ). 
3 The date in brackets is that of the most recent TPR report available.  
4 Joint Trade Policy Review of the East African Community (EAC).  
5 Trade Pol icy Review of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 42 - 
 
  AUSTRALIA (MARCH  2020) - SECRETARIAT REPORT ( WT/TPR/S/396 ) 
4  TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
4.1  Agriculture and Fisheries  
4.1.1   Agriculture  
4.1.1.1   Main features  
… 
Australia's agricultural sector produces a wide variety of commodities. Ranked by gross value, the 
most important ar e cattle and calves, wheat, milk, and wool (Table 4.1). Furthermore, the annual 
production value normally exceeds AUD  1 billion also for crops such as fruit and nuts, vegetables, 
barley, canola, cut flowers and the like, cotton and sugar, and livestock ite ms such as lamb, poultry, 
pork, and sheep and sheep meat.  
Table 4.1 - Gross value of production for selected agricultural commodities, 2013 -18 
(AUD  million)  
 2013/14  2014/15  2015/16  2016/17  2017/18  
…      
Industrial crops       
Cotton  2,004  1,184  1,530  1,934  2,796  
… … … … … … 
Source:  Government, Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Commodities September  2019. 
https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/research -topics/agricultural -commodities/sep -2019. 
5  APPENDIX TABLES  
Table A1.1 - Merchandise exports by HS sections and main chapters, 2012 -18 
(USD  million and  %) 
Description  2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  
Total exports  256,653  253,714  240,086  187,963  192,280  231,029  257,748  
  (% of total exports)  
 … … … … … … … … 
 52. Cotton  1.1 1.0 0.8 0.4 0.6 0.7 0.7 
… … … … … … … … 
Note:  US dollar totals are obtained using the Australian Bureau of Statistics exchange rate (5368.0).  
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on data from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 
Trade statistical pivot tables.  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 43 - 
 
  BANGLADESH (APRIL  2019) - SECRETARIAT REPORT ( WT/TPR/S/385 ) 
Table A1.2 - Merchandise imports, by HS sections and major HS chapters/subheadings, 
2011 -17 
a. HS section/chapter/subheading  2011/12  2012/13  2013/14  2014/15  2015/16  2016/17  
Total (BDT  billion)  2,942.8  3,144.3  2,822.3  3,670.7  3,869.3  4,712.5  
Total (USD million)  37,205.4  39,336.8  36,313.0  47,257.4  49,439.9  59,562.0  
  (% of total imports)  
… … … … … … … 
 5201 Cotton, not carded or combed  5.3 5.8 6.4 5.0 4.6 4.7 
… … … … … … … 
Note:  Totals differ from imports by selected origins, shown in Table A1.4, because the totals in this table 
were taken from Bangladesh Bank online information.  
Source:  WTO calculations, based on online data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 44 - 
 
  BRAZIL ( NOVEMBER  2022) - SECRETARIAT REPORT ( WT/TPR/S/432/REV.1 ) 
4  TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
4.1  Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries  
4.1.4   Domestic support  
4.1.4.2   Minimum price guarantees  
4.40.  During the review period, Brazil maintained unchanged its 1966 policy of guaranteed 
minimu m prices (PGPM), an important pillar of its agricultural policy. The basic element of this policy 
remains the regionally -set minimum guaranteed prices that cover a broad range of crops from rice, 
wheat, maize, cotton, and soybeans, to regional crops like c assava, beans, açaí, guaraná, and sisal, 
as well as a few livestock products like cow and goat milk and honey (Table 4.6). On the basis of 
these minimum guaranteed prices, the Government implements several price support mechanisms 
(Table  4.6), including di rect government purchases (AGF); premiums to commercial buyers who pay 
minimum prices to supply producers (PEP, VEP); and public and private options contracts backed by 
private risk premium options (COV, PROP, PEPRO). In addition to these programmes, produ cers 
receive various reduced -interest marketing loans that enable them to withhold the sale of a product 
in anticipation of a higher market price (FPPG, FEPM, and FEE below). The state -owned National 
Food Supply Agency (CONAB) operates both the AGF set by the MAPA Secretary of Agricultural Policy 
(SPA) for commercial and small -scale farms, and the equivalent programme set by the Secretariat 
for Family Farming and Cooperatives for small -scale agriculture (PAA, Section 4.1.4.3) as well as 
the minimum prices p rogramme for family farms (PGPAF programme). The CONAB operates these 
programmes on behalf of MAPA. Guaranteed prices for small -scale farmers are based on the average 
regional production cost of family farms.  
Table 0.1 - Price support programmes, FY2019/20  
Price support programme/description  
Regulated by Decree No.  57,391, 12  December  1965, and Decree -Law No.  79, 19  December  1966. The PGPM 
fixes minimum guaranteed prices annually for some of Brazil's main crops. Prices are promulgated by the 
National Monetary Council (CMN) through Ordinances. Ordinance No.  854, 20  August  2014, fixes minimum 
prices for a number of products for the 2014/15 summer harvest. When determining minimum prices,  the CMN 
takes into account production costs in the different regions, as well as several factors affecting domestic and 
international market prices. The PGPM is implemented through credit lines (EGF and LEC) and commercialization 
instruments (AGF, PEP, VE P, PEPRO, COV and PROP; see below).  
The AGF allows producers and cooperatives to sell their products to the CONAB at a guaranteed minimum price, 
so as to support farmers' income stability and form public stocks. The instrument is applied on specific produ cts 
and regions, for up to 100% of a farmer's production. Products purchased under the AGF must be stored in 
warehouses accredited by the CONAB.  
The CONAB grants an equalization premium to wholesalers who agree to pay farmers a reference price. The 
premiu m is determined in public auctions and generally reflects the difference between the reference price and 
the market price. In addition to guaranteeing minimum prices for producers, the PEP is used to shift the supply 
of agricultural products across regions , so as to avoid shortages and prevent the accumulation of stocks. In 
theory, all products included in the PGPM can participate in the PEP; however, the programme has been used 
for only a few products so far, mainly cotton, corn, wheat, sisal, beans, rice,  and wine.  
As in the PEP, the VEP consists of payments of equalization premiums to buyers who agree to pay a minimum 
price to agricultural producers. The premiums are also determined in public auctions. However, in contrast with 
the PEP, where wholesalers  acquire products from private stocks, the VEP is used to dispose of government 
stocks.  
The Government offers option contracts to producers and cooperatives through public auctions. Winning bidders 
acquire the right to sell their products to the Governmen t at a future date, for a predetermined "execution 
price" (a minimum price plus storage and financial costs). If the execution price is lower than the market price 
on the due date, the option contract is not used. When it deems convenient, the Government m ay transfer its 
obligation to buy to another party. The scheme may be used for any product covered by the PGPM.  
Similar to the COV; the main difference is that the offer of option contracts comes from private entities. To 
limit the private -sector risk, the Government offers a risk premium. The value of the premium is determined in 
public auctions, with a maximum price set by the Government. Winning bidders are those willing to accept the 
lowest premium value.  
This scheme offers producers and coope ratives the possibility to sell their product at a premium, equal to the 
difference between reference and market prices, fixed through an auction. In contrast to the PEP, premiums 
are paid directly to producers.  
Note:  The use and costs of these programmes  were unavailable . 
Source:  MAPA, based  on CONAB data.  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  5  APPENDIX TABLES  
Table A1. 1 - Merchandise exports by HS section and major HS chapter/subheading, 
2017 -21 
HS Section/chapters/subheadings  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Total exports (USD  billion)  215.0  231.9  221.1  209.2  280.8  
 (% of total exports)  
 … … … … … … 
11 Textiles and textile articles  1.1 1.1 1.6 1.9 1.6 
 52 Cotton  0.7 0.8 1.3 1.6 1.3 
 … … … … … … 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on UN Comtrade database.  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  CHINA ( OCTOBER  2021) - SECRETARIAT REPORT ( WT/TPR/S/415 ) 
SUMMARY  
… 
 
China's state trading enterprises have the exclusive right to import or export the following products: 
wheat, maize, sugar, tobacco, rice, cotton, crude and processed oil, refined coal, chemical fertilizers, 
tungsten and tungstate products, antimony, and silver.  
 
… 
 
3  TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.2  Measures Directly Affecting Exports  
3.2.3   Export prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing  
Table 3.12 - Products subject to export quotas and licensing, 2020  
Products  Type of management  Comment  
Products subject to quotas and licensing    
Wheat, maize, rice, cotton, and coal  Export quota (licence)  The export quota is allocated by the 
NDRC and the licence issued by 
MOFCOM.  
… … … 
Source:  MOFCOM Announcement No.  47, 2019; and MOFCOM and GACC Announcement No.  66, 2019.  
3.3  Measures Affecting Production and Trade  
3.3.3   Sanitary and phytosanitary requirement  
3.3.3.3   Inspection and quarantine  
The Law on Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine and its Implementing Regulations regulate 
the inspection of animals, plants, and related products that enter, exit, or transit through China; 
containers, packing materials, and bedding materi als that contain or carry animals, plants, and 
related products; and means of transport from animal/plant epidemic or infected areas. The 
Catalogue of Entry -Exit Commodities Subject to Inspection and Quarantine list all the imports and 
exports subject to s tatutory inspection by the entry and exit inspection and quarantine authorities 
prior to their commercialization (or exit) into (from) China. The current catalogue is contained in 
GACC Announcement No.  220, 2019.6 During the review period, the GACC issued  revised measures 
for the supervision and/or inspection and/or quarantine of imports (and exports) of various products, 
including cultivation media; fruit; aquatic products, feed, and feed additives; cereals; genetically 
modified products; meat products, f ood, dairy products, and aquatic animals; propagation materials 
for entry plants; animals and plants; genetic materials of animals; cotton; and non -edible animal 
products.7 
3.3.3.4   Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)  
China has so far approved the certificates of import safety only for the following genetically 
engineered crops for processing as raw materials: soybeans, corn, rapeseed, cotton, beets, and 
papayas, and their products. …  
 
6 GACC Announcement No.  220, 2019. Viewed at: 
http://www.customs.gov.cn/customs/302249/302266/302267/2811876/in dex.html . 
7 GACC Decrees No.  240 and No.  243, 2018.  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  4  TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
4.1  Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries  
4.1.2   Agriculture  
4.1.2.1   Features and market development  
Table 4.2  - Agricultural production, 2015 -19 
 Value of production of 
agriculture and 
animal husbandry  Cerealsa Pork  Poultry  Fruits  Vegetables  Cotton  
CNY million        
2015 8,285,466  1,418,998  1,285,965  739,547  961,309  2,009,154  104,142  
2016 8,612,106  1,429,738  1,413,344  777,516  929,945  1,851,000  79,010  
2017 8,742,095  1,473,846  1,296,611  732,987  1,049,366  1,871,516  81,162  
2018 9,015,000  1,460,160  1,120,265  816,272  1,102,956  2,037,395  81,216  
2019 9,913,080  1,479,773  1,320,716  959,815  1,243,312  2,175,413  77,934  
'000 tonnes        
2015 .. 618,184  56,454  19,195  245,246  664,251  5,907  
2016 .. 616,665  54,255  20,017  244,052  674,342  5,343  
2017 .. 615,205  54,518  19,817  252,419  691,927  5,653  
2018 .. 610,036  54,037  19,937  256,884  703,467  6,103  
2019 .. 613,697  42,553  22,386  274,008  703,467  5,889  
.. Not available.  
a Main cereals produced are rice, wheat, and corn.  
Source:  National Bureau of Statistics, China Statistical Yearbook 2019 . Viewed at: 
http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/ndsj/2019/indexeh.htm ; WTO document WT/TPR/S/375/Rev.1 , 
14 September  2018; and data provided by the a uthorities.  
Chart 4.1  - Value of production of agriculture and animal husbandry, 2009 -19 
 
Source:  National Bureau of Statistics, China Statistical Yearbook 2019 . Viewed at: 
http://www.stats. gov.cn/tjsj/ndsj/2019/indexeh.htm ; and data provided by the authorities.  
01,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,0007,0008,0009,00010,000
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019Other
Cotton
Vegetables
Fruit and nuts
Poultry
Pork
CerealsChart 4.[CHN] Value of production of agriculture and animal husbandry, 2009 -19
Source: National Bureau of Statistics and data provided by the authorities.CNY trillionTN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  Chart 4.2  - Volume of production, 2009 -19 
 
Source:  National Bureau of Statistics, China Statistical Yearbook 2019 . Viewed at: 
http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/ndsj/2019/indexeh.htm ; and data provided by the authorities.  
Table 4.3  - Agricultural exports and imports, 2015 -20 
  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  
Exportsa (USD  million)  50,425.8  52,491.7  54,576.6  57,619.8  58,490.6  57,486.6  
… … … … … … … 
Importsa (USD  million)  108,526.1  102,992.2  115,441.9  123,793.3  132,583.1  157,424.1  
 % of total imports  5.8 6.5 6.5 6.3 5.8 6.4 
 Growth rate (%)  -5.1 -5.1 12.1 7.2 7.1 18.7 
Top 10 imports at HS 4 -digit level (% of total)  
 1201 Soya beans  32.1 33.0 34.3 30.8 26.7 25.1 
0203 Meat of swine, fresh, chilled or 
frozen  1.3 3.1 1.9 1.7 3.4 7.5 
 0202 Meat of bovine animals, frozen  2.1 2.4 2.6 3.8 6.0 6.2 
1901 Food preparations of cereals, flour or 
milk 2.7 3.4 3.9 4.4 4.4 3.7 
 1511 Palm oil and its fractions  3.4 2.8 3.0 2.7 3.1 2.6 
 0810 Fresh fruit, n.e.s.  in chapter 8  1.8 1.8 1.7 2.0 2.4 2.6 
 2106 Food preparations, n.e.s.  1.2 1.4 1.7 2.2 2.4 2.5 
 5201 Cotton, not carded or combed  2.4 1.5 1.9 2.6 2.7 2.3 
0207 Meat of poultry, fresh, chilled or 
frozen  0.9 1.2 0.9 0.9 1.5 2.2 
0402 Milk and cream, concentrated or 
containing added sugar  1.4 1.5 1.9 2.0 2.4 2.1 
a WTO definition.  
Note:  Top 10 agricultural exports and imports by HS 4 -digit level are sorted by the year 2020.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on trade figures from UN Comtrade database.  
4.1.2.2   Legal and institutional framework  
The Government is responsible for establishing the general agricultural policy framework and the 
rules for its implementation. As part of the Government's restructuring in 2018, various institutional 
changes were made. The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) was renamed the Ministry of Agriculture and 
Rural Affairs (MARA) and falls under the responsibility of the State Council. Its priorities are 
resolution of the "three -rights" issues (Section 4.1.2.1), agricultural and rural development, 
implementation of the rural revitalization strategy (Section 4.1.2.3), promotion of agricultural 
upgrading, farmer development, and acceleration of agricultural and rural modernization. MARA took 
over the responsibilities of the MOA, as well as the management responsibilities for the agricultural 
investment projects of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the 
comprehensive agricultural development pr ojects of the Ministry of Finance, the farmland investment 
projects of the Ministry of Land and Resources, and the farmland water conservancy construction 
projects of the Ministry of Water Resources. T he National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration 
(NAFRA) was also established under the purview of the NDRC, with a view to strengthening the 
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019708090100110120130140150
 Cereals
 Pork
 Poultry
 Fruit
 CottonChart 1.[CHN]  Volume of production, 2009 -2019
Source:  National Bureau of Statistics and data provided by the authorities.Index (2008=100)TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 49 - 
 
  overall planning and building of a unified national material reserves system, enhancing the 
supervision and management of the central grain and cotton reserves, an d improving the national 
reserve's capacity to respond to emergencies. The NAFRA is responsible for: (i)  implementing the 
purchase, storage, rotation, and management of emergency reserves in accordance with the overall 
development plan and the catalogue of  the national reserves system; (ii)  constructing and managing 
related infrastructure; and (iii)  supervising and inspecting government and enterprise reserves and 
the implementation of the reserve policies. It is also responsible for industry guidance of gr ain 
distribution and administrative management of the central reserves of grain and cotton. …  
4.1.2.4   Policy instruments  
4.1.2.4.1   Border measures  
… 
China continues to make use of tariff rate quotas (T RQs), which are administered through import 
licences (Section 3.1.5).8 Except for uncombed cotton, in -quota and out -of-quota tariff rates are ad 
valorem . China applies an interim rate in the form of a sliding duty to a certain amount of uncombed 
cotton (HS  5201.0000) imported out of quota, with the sliding duty rate capped at 40% (i.e. the 
bound rate for cotton). Taking 2021 as an example, the sliding duty rate in the year depends on the 
base price (CNY  14/kg). If the dutiable value of the cotton imported is equal to or higher than the 
base price, a specific duty of CNY  0.28/kg  is levied, and if the import price is lower than the base 
price, an ad valorem  rate based on the sliding -scale duty formula applies . … 
… 
The NDRC is responsible for allocating TRQs for grains and cotton, and MOFCOM allocates the rest. 
Some products subjec t to TRQs (i.e. grains, cotton, and sugar) are also subject to state trading. In 
these cases, one part of the quota is allocated to state trading enterprises and the other part to 
other enterprises. The administration methods of the TRQs as described by Ch ina in its notification 
to the WTO remained unchanged.9 
The importation of grain (wheat, maize, and rice), sugar, tobacco, and cotton is subject to state 
trading.10 
… 
4.1.2.4.2   Measures affecting exports  
… 
Exports of cotton, rice, maize, and tobacco are subject to state trading.11 These products, except for 
tobacco, are also subject to export quotas, which are managed by the NDRC and MOFCOM, and are 
allocated only to state trading enterprises. Wheat is also subject to export quotas (Table  4.6). 
Table 4.6 - Agricultural products subject to export quotas and licensing in 2020  
Products  Type of licence  Comment  
Goods subject to quota and licensing  
Rice, maize, wheat, and cotton  Export quota 
licence  The quota is allocated by the 
NDRC and MOFCOM, and the 
licence is issued by MOFCOM.  
Live cattle and swine (for export to Hong Kong, China and 
Macao, China); live chicken for export to Hong Kong, China; 
and flour of maize rice and wheat  Export quota 
licence  The quota is allocated by 
MOFCOM.  
Goods subject to l icensing    
Live cattle and swine (for markets other than Hong Kong, 
China or Macao, China) and chicken (for markets other than 
Hong Kong, China) and frozen and chilled beef, pork, and 
chicken meat  Export licence  A licence is granted if the 
exporter has the relevant export 
contract.  
Source:  Information provided by the authorities.  
 
8 WTO document G/LIC/N/3/CHN/18 , 30 January 2020.  
9 WTO document G/AG/N/CHN/2 , 25 September 2003, Table MA:1.  
10 WTO documents G/STR/N/16/CHN  and G/STR/N/17/CHN , 24 July 2018. The period covered by the 
notification is 2015 -17. The authorities confirm th at this remains the case as at early 2021.  
11 WTO documents G/STR/N/16/CHN  and G/STR/N/17/CHN , 24 July 2018.  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  COLOMBIA ( JUNE  2018) - SECRETARIAT REPORT ( WT/TPR/S/372 ) 
SUMMARY  
… 
… Colombia promotes the use of Price Stabilization Funds (FEPs) in order to deal with fluctuations in 
world prices for certain agricultural products. The resources for these funds come from parafiscal 
charges, mainly charges levied on producers which remain outside the national budget and are 
reinvested by the private sector in programmes o f benefit to the activity from which they are 
sourced. In 2017, there were FEPs for cotton, sugar, cocoa, meat, milk and products thereof; and 
palm oil.  
… 
3  TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.1  Measures directly affecting imports  
3.1.3   Tariffs  
3.1.3.5   Tariff concessions  
 
… 
Given the insufficient level of domestic cotton production and in order to boost the textiles and 
clothing sector, through Decrees No.  2.530 of 12  December  2014 and No.  1.347 of 22  August  2016 
the Government temporarily authori zed the use of zero tariff quotas on cotton imports for a specified 
number of tonnes according to industry needs. …  
… 
4  TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
4.1  Agriculture, forestry and fisheries  
4.1.3   Domestic support, subsidies and other support schemes  
… 
Colombia makes use of price stabilization mechanisms in order to deal with fluctuations in world 
prices for certain agricultural products. The Price Stabilization Funds (FEPs), created by Law No.  101 
of 1993, are intended to guarantee producers' incomes, r egulate domestic production, and prevent 
price speculation, in addition to promoting agricultural exports. The resources for these funds come 
from parafiscal charges: these are charges levied on producers which remain outside the national 
budget and are re invested by the private sector in programmes of benefit to the activity from which 
they are sourced. In 2017, there were FEPs for cotton, sugar, cocoa, meat, milk and products 
thereof; and palm oil.12 Each FEP has a Steering Committee, composed of producer s and officials 
from the National Government, which establishes the methodology for calculating a reference price 
based on the most representative international market quotation for each product. Producers and/or 
exporters make "transfers" to the respectiv e FEP when the market price falls below the reference 
price, or receive compensation from the FEP when the price is above the reference price.  
… 
Pursuant to Article 7 of Law No.  101 of 1993, the Government may provide selective and temporary 
incentives or support to producers, for agricultural production, protecting rural income and 
maintaining peace. In this context, the Guaranteed Minimum Price  (PMG) scheme for cotton protects 
Colombian farmers' incomes from fluctuations in international prices by offerin g compensation for 
the price differential between market prices (New York Exchange) and a minimum guaranteed price 
 
12 The FEP for cotton, which is managed by the Colombian Cotton Confederation (CONALGODON); the 
FEP for centrifugal sugars, molasses obtai ned by extracting or refining sugar, and sugar syrups, managed by 
the Colombian Sugar Cane Growers' Association (ASOCAÑA); the FEP for cocoa, managed by the National 
Federation of Cocoa Growers (FEDECACAO); the FEP for promoting the export of meat, milk an d products 
thereof, managed by the Colombian Cattle Breeders' Federation (FEDEGAN); and the FEP for palm kernel oil, 
palm oil and fractions thereof, managed by the National Federation of Palm Oil Producers (FEDEPALMA).  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  per tonne of lint. In 2016, the MADR allocated COL$8,920  million of resources to protect growers' 
incomes by granting indemnities to cotton f armers in respect of the two harvests in 2016, for a total 
of 12,968 tonnes of lint marketed. The PMG policy agreed with the Government expired in 2017 and 
the scheme ceased to operate. …  
4.1.4   Financing and insurance  
4.1.4.5   Other financing schemes  
In addition to the loan programmes implemented by FINAGRO and the support given by the FAG, 
the sector is supported by other schemes, too, such as the Agricultural Development Fund and the 
Agricultural Solidarity Fund (FONSA).  
FONSA, created by Law No.  302 of 1996, partially amended by Law No.  1.731 of 2014, is an MADR 
fund, administered by FINAGRO, whose purpose is to provide economic support to small -scale 
agricultural producers and fishermen to tackle and partially or fully alleviate their debts when in the 
course of their activities they encounter crisis situations which severely affect crops or the quality, 
volume and marketing of agricultural products. Law No.  1.694 of 2013 and its regulations in Decree 
No. 355 of 2014 expanded the scope of the Fund to enc ompass instances of significant and sustained 
variations in prices of agricultural products or inputs that cause severe and sustained falls in income 
for producers. Up to 2017, producers of cotton, cocoa, coffee, sugar cane, bulb onion, beans, milk, 
maize,  oil palm and potatoes benefited from FONSA on account of falling prices.13 
… 
  
 
13 Under Law No.  1.731 of 2014, for th e purposes of FONSA small producers are considered to be 
natural persons: (a) whose total assets do not exceed 250 SMLMVs; (b) no less than two thirds of whose 
income stems from agricultural and/or fishing activity or who have at least 75% of their assets invested in the 
agricultural sector. Medium -sized producers for FONSA purposes are natural persons with total assets not 
exceeding 700 SMLMVs. MADR (2017), Memorias al Congreso de la República, 2016 -2017. Viewed at: 
https://www.minagricultura.gov.co/planeacion -control -
gestion/Gestin/MEMORIA S%20AL%20CONGRESO%20DE%20LA%20REPUBLICA/Memorias_al_Congreso_de_la
_Republica_%202016_2017.pdf . TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  EGYPT (FEBRUARY  2018) - SECRETARIAT REPORT ( WT/TPR/S/367 ) 
SUMMARY  
… 
… It has also discouraged the production of crops that use water intensively, such as cotton and 
sugar. …  
… 
3  TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.1  Measures Directly Affecting Imports  
3.1.5   Anti-dumping, countervailing, and safeguard measures  
3.1.5.3   Safeguards  
… 
Since its last TPR in 2005, Egypt has initiated 14 safeguard investigations, imposed provisional 
measures in all of them and final safeguard measures on three products: blankets, steel rebar, 
cotton and mixed yarns (Table 3.19). Although few final measures were adopted, the application of 
provisional measures could have acted as a deterrent to trade.  
Table 3.19 - Safeguard measures imposed, 2005 -June  2017  
Product  Countries 
concerned  Domestic legal 
instrument  Imposed duties 
(c.i.f. basis)  Notification  Situation as 
at 
30/06/17  
… … … … … … 
Cotton and 
mixed yarns 
(other than 
sewing 
threads)  All Ministerial Decree 
No. 19/2009  25% of c.i.f. value 
for a period of one 
year or not less 
than USD  1/kg  Duties 
eliminated 
by Decree 
336/2009  
Woven cotton 
or mixed 
yarns  All Ministerial Decree 
No. 20/2009  25% of c.i.f. value 
for one year 
period or not less 
than USD  1/kg  Duties 
eliminated 
by Decree 
336/2009  
… … … … … … 
Cotton and 
mixed yarns 
(other than 
sewing 
threads)  All Ministerial Decree 
No. 736/2011  
(provisional) 
Ministerial Decree 
No. 589/2012 
(definitive)  3.33 LE/kg for 
200 days 
(provisional)  
LE 3.48 kg from 
18/7/2012 until 
30/12/2012, and 
LE 3.13/kg from 
31/12/2012 until 
30/12/2013, and 
LE 2/kg from 
31/12/2013 until 
30/12/2014  G/SG/N/6/EGY/5 , 
5 December  2011 
G/SG/N/7/EGY/5/S uppl.1 , 
24 September  2012 
G/SG/N/7/EGY/4 , G/SG/N/11/EGY/4 , 
9 January  2012 
G/SG/N/6/EGY/6 , G/SG/N/7/EGY/5 , 
G/SG/N/11/EGY/3 , 
5 March  2012 
G/SG/N/8/EGY/6 , G/SG/N/10/EGY/6 , 
G/SG/N/11/EGY/5 , 
20 July 2012 
G/SG/N/8/EGY/6/Corr.1 , 
G/SG/N/10/EGY/6/Corr.1 , 
G/SG/N/11/EGY/5/Corr.1 , 
8 August  2012 Duties 
expired on 
30/12/2014  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  Product  Countries 
concerned  Domestic legal 
instrument  Imposed duties 
(c.i.f. basis)  Notification  Situation as 
at 
30/06/17  
Woven cotton 
or mixed 
yarns  All Ministerial Decree 
No. 116/2012 
(provisional)  10% of c.i.f. value 
and not less than 
LE 3.33/kg  G/SG/N/6/EGY/5 , 
5 December  2011 
G/SG/N/7/EGY/5/Suppl.1 , 
24 September  2012 
G/SG/N/7/EGY/4 , G/SG/N/11/EGY/2 , 
9 January  2012 
G/SG/N/6/EGY/6 , G/SG/N/7/EGY/5 , 
G/SG/N/11/EGY/3 , 
5 March  2012 
G/SG/N/8/EGY/6 , G/SG/N/10/EGY/6 , 
G/SG/N/11/EGY/5 , 
20 July 2012 
G/SG/N/8/EGY/6/Corr.1 , 
G/SG/N/10/EGY/6/Corr.1 , 
G/SG/N/11/EGY/5/Corr.1 , 
8 August  2012 Duties 
eliminated 
by Decree 
693/2012  
… … … … … … 
Source:  Ministry of Trade and Industry and WTO notifications.  
4  TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
4.1  Agriculture and Fisheries  
4.1.1   Agriculture  
4.1.1.1   Main features  
… 
Table 4.2 describes land use by crops between 2005 and 2016. The use of land for the production 
of wheat has increased, by some 12%, and so has the use of land for the production of maize, by 
14.4%, while for sugar beet it has risen by more than 235% . On t he other hand, land dedicated to 
the production of sugar cane has remained stable, while there has been a decline in areas used to 
grow rice mainly in order to rationalize the use of irrigation water. The land use for cotton has also 
declined.  
Table 4.2 - Land use by crop, 2005 -16 
(Thousand feddansa) 
Crop   2005  2006  2007  2008  2009  2010  2011  2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  
…  … … … … … … … … … … … … 
Cotton   657 536 575 313 284 369 520 333 287 369 241 131 
a 1 feddan is equivalent to 0.42 hectares.  
Source:  Information provided by the authorities.  
Table 4.3 describes the evolution of the production of the most important agricultural crops in Egypt 
between 2005 and 2016. As can be seen, the production of sugar beet has almost quadrupled during 
the period; the production of wheat has increased by 15%, and the production of meat, fruit and 
vegetables has also followed an upward path. However, during the period, Egypt has experienced a 
decline in the production of some traditional crops such as cotton and rice.  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  Table 4.3 - Agricultural outputs, 2005 -16 
('000 tonnes)  
 2005  2006  2007  2008  2009  2010  2011  2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  
… … … … … … … … … … … … … 
Cotton lint  202 602 222 364 95 137 181 109 94 113 160 114 
… … … … … … … … … … … … … 
Source:  Information provided by the authorities.  
Table A3.4 - Egypt's notifications to the SPS Committee, 2005 -November  2017  
Agency 
responsible  Legal basis  Description  Date  Notification  
… … … … … 
CAPQ   Import requirements of cotton lint  5 January  2011 G/SPS/N/EGY/42  
… … … … … 
Note:  GOVS stands for General Organization for Veterinary Services; CAPQ stands for Central 
Administration of Plant Quarantine; EOS stands for Egyptian Organization for Standardization; MALR 
stands for Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation and NFSA  stands  for National Food Safety 
Authority.  
Source:  Ministry of Trade and Industry and WTO notifications.  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  EUROPEAN UNION ( JUNE  2023) - SECRETARIAT REPORT ( WT/TPR/S/442 ) 
4  TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
4.1  Agriculture and Fisheries  
4.1.3   Domestic Support  
4.1.3.1   Direct payments  
g) Voluntary coupled support (VCS) and payments for cotton  
4.41.  All member States, except Germany, apply the VCS scheme, a production -limiting scheme 
applying annual payments based on fixed areas and yields or on a fixed number of animals.14 On 
average, member States allocate around 11% of their national ceiling to this scheme, with a number 
of member States reviewing this all ocation during the review period as permitted following changes 
outlined in the previous Review. However, the levels of support allocated to the scheme have not 
changed fundamentally from the previous Review, with 10  member States still allocating the 
maximum percentage allowed (13%), three having received a Commission approval to exceed this 
maximum, and Malta using a derogation allowing member States to use up to EUR  3 million for the 
scheme, resulting in 57.2% of its national envelope being allocated to the scheme in 2022. As 
in 2021, 11  member States made use of the option to apply an additional top -up of up to 2% for 
protein crops to increase their VCS ceiling of 13% (+2%) in 2022 (Table  4.4).15 
4.42.  … 
4.43.  In addition to the VCS scheme, the European  Union continued to provide payments for cotton 
in Bulgaria, Greece, and Spain. Payments are limited to a maximum base area and are calculated 
using a fixed yield and reference amounts (lower in 2021 and 2022, compared to 2020).16 
 
14 Regulation 1307/2013, Article  52. 
15 European Commission (2021), Direct Payments 2015 -2021 – Decisions taken by Member State s: 
State of Play as from June  2021. 
16 The reference amounts declined, in EUR/ha, for Bulgaria from 649.15 to 636.13, for Greece from 
234.18 to 229.37, for Portugal from 228.00 to 223.32, and for Spain from 362.15 to 354.73. See 
Regulation  1307/2013, Articl e 58. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  INDIA ( JANUARY  2021) - SECRETARIAT REPORT ( WT/TPR/S/403/REV.1 ) 
 
3  TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.2  Measures Directly Affecting Exports  
3.2.2   Taxes, charges, and levies  
The Second Schedule of India's Customs Tariff Act lists all goods that are subject to export taxes. 
The Schedule lists some 50 products at the HS four -, six-, or eight -digit level, including basmati rice, 
coffee, tea, sugar, specified ores, raw wool and cotton, and iron -related products. However, at 
present, most of these products bear a duty of 0%; expo rt taxes apply solely to some minerals and 
hides, skins and leather (Table 3.16) …  
3.3  Measures Affecting Production and Trade  
3.3.4   Competition policy and price controls  
3.3.4.2   Price control  
India continues to control the price of some crops to ensure  that farmers can sell at a minimum 
support price (MSP) and to procure food for the public distribution system (PDS). In 2019, 24 crops 
were subject to MSPs (Table 3.34). MSPs are established before the two planting/sowing seasons 
(i.e. kharif and rabi) by  the Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers' Welfare (DAC&FC), 
following recommendations made by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). MSPs 
are set for the country as a whole; however, since the variables used to determine MSP s, specifically 
the production costs, may vary from state to state, the CACP uses an all -India weighted average 
cost of production when making its recommendations to establish the MSPs.17 An extra payment 
(bonus) above the MSPs, may also be given to encour age farming of certain crops in certain years 
(e.g. oilseeds and pulses 2016/17)18; in 2019/20, no bonuses were paid.19 
Table 3.34 - Crops subject to minimum support prices, 2019/20  
Kharif crops  Arhar ; bajra; cotton; groundnuts (in shell); jowar; maize; moong; niger seed; paddy; 
ragi; sesame; soyabeans (yellow); sunflower seeds; and urad  
Rabi crops  Barley; gram; masur (lentils); rapeseed/mustard seeds; safflower seeds; toria; and 
wheat  
Other crops  Copra; de -husked coconut; and jute  
Source:  DAC&FC, Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for Kharif Crops of 2019 -20 Season . Viewed at: 
http://agricoop.nic.in/sites/default/files/MSP_2019 -20%20  per cent28English  per cent29.pdf . 
Farmers may sell to central and state procurement agencies at MSP s20, or on the open market when 
market prices are higher. If market prices fall below the MSPs, the states/UTs may implement three 
schemes: (i) the Price Support Scheme (PSS); (ii) the Price Deficiency Payment System (PDPS); 
and (iii) the Pilot of Private Procurement and Stockist Scheme (PPPS).  
The PSS applies to some crops subject to MSPs, if they comply with "fair average quality" norms. 
This Scheme is in place to ensure that farmers may sell their produce at the MSPs. Under the PSS, 
procurement agencies purchase at the MSP.21 The Scheme is fully financed by the Central 
 
17 CACP, Determinants of MSP . Viewed at: http://cacp.dacnet.nic.in/content.aspx?pid=62 . 
18 Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1589, 25 July 2017 . Viewed at: 
http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/file/growth%20of%20farm%20income.pdf . 
19 MSPs are published online CACP, Deter minants of MSP . Viewed at: 
http://cacp.dacnet.nic.in/content.aspx?pid=62 ; Farmers' Portal, Minimum Support Prices. Viewed at: 
https://farmer.gov.in/mspstatements.aspx ; DAC&FW, Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for Kharif Crops of 
2019-20 season. Viewed at: http://agricoop.nic.in/recentinitiatives/minimum -support -pricesmsps -kharif -crops -
2019-20-season ; and DAC&FW, Minimum Support Prices of Rabi Crops of 2 019-20 season to be marketed in 
2019-20. Viewed at: http://www.agricoop.nic.in/recentinitiatives/minimum -support -price-rabi-crops -2018-19-
season -be-marketed -2019-20. 
20 Central procurement agencies are the Central Warehousing Corporation, the Cotton Corporation of 
India, the Food Corporation of India, the Jute Corporation of India, the National Agr icultural Cooperative 
Marketing Federation of India, the National Consumer Cooperative Federation of India, and the Small Farmers 
Agro Consortium.  
21 OECD/ICRIER (2018), Trends and Evaluation of Agricultural Policies in India, Agricultural Policies in 
India, OECD Publishing. Viewed at: https://www.oecd -ilibrary.org/agriculture -and-food/agricultural -policies -in-
india_9789264302334 -en. TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  Government.22 During the period under review, the list of crops covered by the PSS was revised, 
and the maximum statutory quantity that may be procured was increased (Table  3.35).  
Table 3.3 5 - Changes to the Price Support Scheme (PSS) over the review period  
 2014 Guidelines  2018 Guidelines  
MSP crops covered by the PSS  Cotton, oilseeds, and pulses  Copra, oilseeds, and pulses  
MSP crops not covered by the PSS  Copra, coarse grains, de -husked 
coconut, jute, paddy, and wheat  Cotton, coarse grains, de-husked 
coconut, jute, paddy, and wheat  
Duration of the PSS  Maximum 90 days (term may be 
extended)  Maximum 90 days; 6 months for 
copra (terms may be extended)  
Daily procurement threshold  50 kg per day and per farmer  50 kg per day and per farmer  
Maximum procurement quantity  25% of the production  40% of the production  
Support granted to encourage 
procurement  Exemption of the states' mandi taxa and 
logistic arr angements  Exemption of all states' taxes and 
logistic arrangements  
a A fee on the sale and purchase of agricultural produce.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat, based on Guidelines for Price Support Scheme (PSS) (Oilseeds, Pulses and Cotton), 
2014. Viewed at: http://agricoop.nic.in/sites/default/files/PSS%20GUIDELINES%20final.pdf ; and 
Amended Guidelines for Price Support Scheme ( PSS) (Pulses, Oilseeds and Copra) under PM -AASHA, 
2018. Viewed at: http://fci.gov.in/app/webroot/upload/Procurement/PSS%20Guidelines.pdf . 
The PDPS and the PPPS are two new schemes introduced in 2018/19. The PDPS is an alternative to 
the PSS. Under this System, the Government does not purchase; a cash transfer equal to the 
difference between the market price and the MSP is made to the farme rs.23 Under the PPPS, an 
alternative to the PSS and the PDPS, private procurement agencies purchase, at the MSP price, 
directly from farmers.24 The private procurement agencies are compensated by a maximum of 15% 
of the MSP of its services; thus, the priva te agency bears some of the losses associated with the 
Scheme.  
The Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) is implemented on request by the states/UTs, when there is 
a decrease in prices caused by a bumper crop. The MIS applies to perishable crops for which there  
is no MSP. It is implemented if there is a 10% decrease in market price or a 10% increase in 
production over the previous year. Under the MIS, perishable crops are purchased by procurement 
agencies at a pre -determined market intervention price that covers  production costs. The MIS is 
implemented for a specific period or until the market prices stabilize (whichever is earlier).25 
… 
4  TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
4.1  Agriculture  
Table 4.1 - Agriculture, selected indicators, 2013 -19 
 2013/14  2014/15  2015/16  2016/17  2017/18  2018/19  
GDP at constant 
(2011/12 prices, 
growth rate %)a 5.6 -0.2 0.6 6.3 5.0 2.7 
Agriculture as share of 
current GDP (%)  18.6 18.2 17.7 17.9 17.2 16.0 
Major agricultural production (million tonnes)b 
… … … … … … … 
 
22 Amended Guidelines for Price Support Scheme (PSS) (Pulses, Oilseeds and Copra) under PM -AASHA, 
2018. Viewed at: http://fci.gov.in/app/webroot/uploa d/Procurement/PSS%20Guidelines.pdf . 
23 Department of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Guideline for PDPS . Viewed at: 
http://agricoop.nic.in/site s/default/files/Guidelines%20PDPS.pdf ; and CACP (2018), Price Policy for Kharif 
Crops: The Marketing Season 2018 -19. Viewed at: 
http://cacp.dacnet.nic.in/ViewReports.aspx?Input=2&PageId=39&KeyId=615 . 
24 CACP (2019), Price Policy for Kharif Crops: The Marketing Seaso n 2019 -20. Viewed at: 
http://cacp.dacnet.nic.in/ViewReports.aspx?Input=2&PageId=39&KeyId=669 . 
25 MIS. Viewed at: http://agricoop.nic.in/sites/default/files/MIS_0.pdf ; and Arthapedia, Market 
Intervention Scheme (MIS) . Viewed at: 
http://www.arthapedia.in/index.php?title=Market_Intervention_Scheme_(MIS) . TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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   2013/14  2014/15  2015/16  2016/17  2017/18  2018/19  
Cotton (million bales 
of 170 kg each)  35.90  34.81  30.01  32.58  32.81  28.71  
Agricultural exports 
(value in 
USD million)  43,433.09  39,199.69  32,900.77  33,792.31  39,027.03  .. 
% of total exports  13.79  12.64  12.55  12.26  12.86  11.90  
… … … … … … … 
Cotton, raw (incl. 
waste)  3,692.09  1,904.15  1,958.37  1,626.21  1,892.69  .. 
… … … … … … … 
Agricultural imports 
(value in 
USD million)  14,169.35  19,841.65  21,428.51  24,559.69  23,595.69  .. 
… … … … … … … 
Cotton, raw (incl. 
waste)  392.68  507.32  391.98  945.09  978.42  .. 
… … … … … … … 
.. Not available.  
a Includes agriculture, forestry and fisheries.  
b 2017/18 figures are 4th advance estimates.  
Source:  Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers' Welfare, Directorate of Economics and 
Statistics, Agricultural Statistics at a Glance 2018.  
4.1.3   Measures affecting production  
4.1.3.2   Support prices  
Table 4.3 - Minimum support prices, 2014 –20 
(INR per quintal)  
Commodity/variety  2014/15  2018/19  2019/20  
… … … … 
Cotton     
- medium staple  3,750  5,150  5,255  
- long staple  4,050  5,450  5,550  
… … … … 
Source:  Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Directorate of Economics and Statistics.  
 
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  MAURITIUS (OCTOBER  2021) – GOVERNMENT REPORT ( WT/TPR/G/417 ) 
6  MULTILATERAL TRADE AND REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS  
6.3  Regional Trade (SADC, COMESA, TRIPARTITE, AfCFTA)  
6.3.1   SADC Free Trade Area  
… 
 
Mauritius has also started to export "Uncombed single cotton yarn" to Eswatini since 2017. …  
 
Mauritius continued to import mainly from South Africa, Madagascar and Seychelles. However, since 
2015, imports of cotton from Zambia and Zimbabwe (around 14.2%) have increased.  
 
… 
 
6.3.2   COMESA Free Trade Area  
… 
 
Diversification of Exports and Imports  
 
Mauritius' top exports in 2014 were looped piled and plain -woven cotton fabrics, batteries and cells, 
uncooked pasta and animal feed. Between 2014 and 2019, Mauritius has diversified its exports which 
now include raw cane sugar, dyed cotton fabrics, TV appa ratuses, and telephones among others.  
 
On the other hand, the top imports for 2014 were cigarettes, frozen tunas, cotton, bars and rods 
and food preparations. Between 2014 and 2019, the imports of Mauritius from COMESA have 
expanded to include vanilla, soy abean and sunflower oil, pine and sanitary towels.  
 
SECRETARIAT REPORT ( WT/TPR/S/417 ) 
3  TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.1  Measures Directly Affecting Imports  
3.1.3   Tariffs and other import taxes  
3.1.3.6   Value added tax (VAT)  
Table 3.8 - VAT-exempt supplies, 2021  
(Bold: items added to the list since 2014)  
Item  
Wheat; cereal flours (excluding wheat flour)  
Animal or vegetable fats and oils other than ghee produced in Mauritius  and edible oils  
Food preparations for infant use put up for retail sale  
Breakfast cereals  
Common salt other than common salt produced in Mauritius  
Invalid carriages; orthopaedic or other appliances  
Educational and training services provided by Mauritius Qualification Authority -registered institutions  
Journals and periodicals  
Goods reimported in respect of which no refund wa s made on exportation  
Goods imported under the transhipment procedure  
Articles reimported after repairs  
Bona fide passenger baggage, household and personal effects  
Goods (excluding merchandise for sale, tobacco in any form, wines, spirits, arms and ammunition) imported 
by post of a value for duty purposes not exceeding MUR  1,000  
Green house, shade screens, and irrigation systems imported for use in agriculture  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 60 - 
 
  Item  
Charges under a hire purchase agreement or under a finance lease agreement; postal services  
Vegetable seeds, fruit and flower seeds, bulbs and plants, used for sowing or planting  
Renting of fixed telephone lines; Internet services charges up to MUR  100 per  billing period  
Aircraft leasing, aircrafts of heading  88.02  
Ships for the transport of persons or goods or both persons and goods falling under heading 89.01  
Fishing vessels, factory ships and other vessels for processing or preserving fishery products  
Works of art, collectors' pieces and antiques  
Cargo handling services  
Entrance fees to any sports event  
The renting of accommodation for a continuous term exceeds 90 days  
Grant, assignment or surrender of any interest in or right over land or of any licence to occupy land  
Sale or transfer of immovable property by a VAT registered property developer to a VAT registered person  
Burial and cremation services and coffins  
The following financial services: (i) banking services; (ii) services provided by foreign exchange 
dealers and money changers; (iii) the issue, transfer or receipt of, or dealing with any stocks, 
bonds, shares, debentures and other securities; (iv) the iss ue or transfer of ownership of a unit 
under any unit trust; (v) the management of investment funds and pension funds; (vi) the 
arrangement, provision or transfer of ownership of any contract of insurance or reinsurance under 
the Insurance Act; (vii) the ma king of loans between entities within the same group; and (viii) 
such other financial services as may be prescribed  
… 
Cotton of headings 52.01, 52.02 and 52.03  
… 
Source:  Mauritius Revenue Authority, Value Added Tax Act (Consolidated Version up to Finance Act 2020), 
Fifth Schedule. Viewed at: https://www.mra.mu/download/VATAct.pdf . 
3.3  Measures Affecting Production and Trade  
3.3.4   Incentives  
The Government continued during the review period to provide a large variety of incentive schemes 
to its companies and potential investors. This intensified with the COVID -19 crisis. Selected schemes 
are presented in Table 3.17. …  
… 
Table 3.17 - Incentives offered under selected support programmes, 2021  
Incentives offered  Description of Scheme  
… 
National Equity Fund (NEF) – Provider: State Investment Corporation (SIC) and DBM – Total equity: 
MUR 150 million (USD  3.75 million) - Inactive since 2016  
Equity investments  The objective of this 10 -year closed -end fund was to invest in, and enhance the 
performance of, companies with meaningful growth potential. The Fund purchased 
equity capital of existing and new ventures in sectors considered strategic, including 
biotechnology, cotton spinning, information and communications technology, textiles, 
and tourism. SIC Fund Management managed the NEF's investments. It has been 
replaced by the SME Equity Fund.  
… 
Source:  Government of Mauritius.  
 TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  MOROCCO ( MARCH  2024 ) - SECRETARIAT REPORT ( WT/TPR/S/453 ) 
2  TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES  
2.3  Trade agreements and arrangements  
2.3.3   Other agreements and arrangements  
2.30.  Morocco currently grants preferential access to certain products originating in and coming 
directly from 33 African LDCs.26 The list of products that are fully exempt from import duty was 
amended in March 2023, and includes: fish; shrimp; coconut; edible fruit; coffee; tea; spices; 
prepared or preserved  fish; cocoa; tobacco; ores; natural rubber; hides; wood; wool, not carded or 
combed; cotton; diamonds; gold; cobalt mattes; seeds; gum Arabic; and shea butter.27 
 
… 
 
5  APPENDIX TABLES  
Table A1.2  - Imports by HS section and main products, 2015 -22 
(USD  millio n and % ) 
Products  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019 2020  2021  2022  
Imports  38,146  41,696  45,039  51,299  51,049  44,526  58,678  72,578  
(% of imports)  
11 - Textiles and textile articles  7.5 7.5 7.4 7.2 7.3 7.0 7.3 6.0 
… … … … … … … …  
52. Cotton  1.3 1.3 1.2 1.0 0.9 0.9 1.0 0.9 
… … … … … … … … … 
 
Source:  Foreign Exchange Board, statistical series.  
 
  
 
26 Finance Laws No. 55 -00 and No. 45 -02 for the fiscal years 2001 and 2003, respectively; Order 
No. 2754.22 of the Minis try of the Economy and Finance; Customs and Indirect Taxes Administration Circulars 
No. 4666/20, No. 6281/221, No. 6417/211; and WTO document G/C/6  of 9 May 2001 . 
27 Customs and Indirect Taxes Administration Circular No. 6431/221, 8 March 2023. Viewed at: 
https://www.douane.gov.ma/dms/loadDocument?documentId=91698&applicati on=circulaire . TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  PAKISTAN ( APRIL  2022) - SECRETARIAT REPORT ( WT/TPR/S/424 ) 
2  TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES  
2.2  Trade Policy Formulation and Objectives  
2.2.3   Trade Laws and Regulations  
The regulatory framework continues to consist of laws, regulations, and ordinances. Trade -related 
measures are contained in laws (acts), ordinances, and regulations, including Import and Export 
Policy orders, and SROs (Table 2.2 and Sections 3.1, 4.1,  and 4.3). SROs are statutory 
instruments/directives of delegated legislation in the form of no tifications issued by ministries and 
departments to alter on an ad hoc basis the existing regulatory and fiscal framework.28 … 
Table 2.2 - Main trade -related legislation, 2021  
Area  Legislation  
… … 
Standards (imports and 
exports)  Import Policy Order, 2020; Export Policy Order, 2020; Cotton Standardization 
Ordinance, 2002  
… … 
Source:  WTO Secretariat; and information provided by the authorities.  
3  TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.2  Measures Directly Affecting Exports  
3.2.3   Export pro hibitions, restrictions, and licensing  
3.2.3.2   Export restrictions and licensing  
According to the authorities, Pakistan does not maintain an export licensing regime. However, the 
export of certain products is restricted, and those products can only be exp orted if certain conditions 
are met. These are detailed in Schedule  II of the Export Policy Order 2020 (Table 3.7).  
Table 3.7 - Restricted exports  
 HS Code  Item/goods  Condition/procedure/formalities  
… … … … 
8 1516.1000  
1516.2010  
1516.2020  
1518.0000  Vegetable ghee and cooking 
oil 
 (i) Export shall be allowed (excluding that manufactured in 
manufacturing bonds and export -oriented units in case of 
exports to Afghanistan only) provided there is value addition of 
15% for edible uses in packs up to 25 litres for cooking oil and 
25 kilograms for vegetable ghee. However, 50% value addition 
in ghee and cooking oil in non -edible uses in packs up to half 
litre or half kilogram;  
(ii) Containers  or packages exported to Afghanistan must 
contain ingredient  information printed in Dari and Pushto 
languages;  
(iii) Bulk export of indigenous oils (sunflower, canola, and 
cotton seed)  
… … … … 
Source:  Export Policy Order 2020, Ministry of Commerce.  
3.2.4   Export support and promotion  
Export Facilitation Scheme  
… 
 
28 At the time of the previous Review, it was indicated that SROs were to be incorporated into regular 
laws and gradually phased out. WTO document WT/TPR/S/311/Rev.1 , 2 June 2015.  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 63 - 
 
  In January  2017, the Government announced a PKR  180 billion incentive package for exporters. The 
package included the removal of customs duty and sales tax on the import of cotton, man -made 
fibres other than polyester, and textile machinery. …  
3.3  Measures Affecting Production and Trade  
3.3.3   Sanitary and phytosanitary requirements  
… 
 
Under the legislation, import of any seed, including cotton seed, requires a permit (Controlled Import 
Permit) from the DPP. For first -time imports of cotton seed, the DPP allows a maximum quantity of 
1 kg.  After importation, the DPP tests for invasive and alien biosecurity risks in a DPP -approved 
post-entry quarantine facility for one crop season. If the seed variety is cleared, the seed  can be put 
through Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department (FSCRD) trials prior to registration 
and entry in the Federal Seed Register. Once registered, seeds can be imported on a commercial 
basis. If the importable cotton seed is character ized as either a living modified organism (LMO) or a 
genetically modified organism (GMO), a licence from the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency 
is also required. The National Biosafety Committee under the Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) 
evaluates a pplication for import of LMO or GMO.  
3.3.5   Competition policy and price controls  
Price controls  
With a view to curbing inflation and ensuring the supply of essential commodities at affordable prices, 
the Government issued the Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding Order 2021 in 
August  2021, which is based on the Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding Act, 
1977.29 Under the Order, the Government has the authority to fix and structure maximum prices for 
50 goods deemed e ssential in the case of an "uncontrolled price hike", these include, inter alia , tea, 
milk, sugar, edible oils, meat and wheat, and industrial and agricultural inputs ranging from caustic 
soda, soda ash, cement, automobiles, tractors, chemicals like pestic ides and fertilizers, steel, and 
cotton lint. …  
4  TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
4.1  Agriculture and Livestock  
4.1.1   Main features and recent developments  
According to UN Comtrade data, in 2020, Pakistan imported USD  8.4 billion agricultural products 
(18.3% o f total merchandise imports) and exported USD  4.4 billion (19.6% of total merchandise  
exports) (Table 4.1). It maintains a trade surplus in meat and bovine animals; dates, figs, and 
mangoes; and citrus fruit, but a trade deficit in tea, soya beans, and cotton not carded or combed. 
Rice is by far the most important export product in terms o f its share of total exports, while palm 
oil, cotton not carded or combed, and soya beans are the most important import products.  
Table 4.1 - Agriculture exports and imports, 2015 -20 
(USD  million and  %) 
 2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  
Exportsa 4,600.3  3,869.6  4,173.8  5,054.5  4,821.9  4,353.8  
% of total exports  20.8 18.8 19.1 21.4 20.3 19.6 
Top 10 exports at HS 4 -digit level (% of 
total)b:       
… … … … … … … 
5202 Cotton waste (including yarn waste 
and garneted stock)  1.0 1.2 1.4 1.1 0.9 1.3 
 
29 Government  of Pakistan, Industries and Production Division, Notification SRO 1062(I)/2021, 
24 August 2021. Viewed at: 
http://www.moip .gov.pk/userfiles1/file/Rules%20under%20the%20Price%20Control%20Act%202021%20(KA
A-HA)%20FINAL -FINAL.pdf ; and Notification SRO 1065(I)/2021, Schedule, 24  August  2021. 
http://www.moip.gov.pk/userfiles1/file/Rules%20under%20the%20Price%20Control%20Act%202021%20(KA
A-HA)%20FINAL -FINAL1.pdf . TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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   2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  
Importsa 6,076.1  6,677.4  7,758.8  7,302.8  6,282.0  8,378.4  
% of total imports  13.8 14.2 13.5 12.1 12.5 18.3 
Top 10 imports at HS 4 -digit level (% of 
total):        
… … … … … … … 
5201 Cotton, not carded or combed  8.9 8.7 9.8 14.4 11.3 15.7 
… … … … … … … 
a WTO definition.  
b Top 10 agricultural exports and imports by HS 4 -digit in 2020.  
c Ethyl alcohol undenatured; of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80% vol. or higher; ethyl alcohol 
and other spirits, denatured, of any strength.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on trade figures from UN Comtrade database.  
… 
Pakistan is among the world's top 10 producers of wheat, cotton, sugar  cane, mango, dates, and 
kinnow oranges, and is ranked 9th in rice production. …  
In FY2020/21, the agriculture sector grew by 2.77% against a target of 2.8%. The growth rate of 
"important" crops (wheat, rice, sugar  cane, maize, and cotton) was 4.65%, reflecting sufficient 
availability of agricultural inputs (water, subsidized fertilizers, certified seed s, pesticides, and 
agriculture credit).30 Other crops grew by 1.41% because of an increase in the production of fodder, 
vegetables, and fruits. Cotton ginning declined by 15.58%, due to fall in the production of the cotton 
crop. …  
Table 4.2 - Agriculture s ector growth rates, 2014/15 -2020/21  
(Agriculture growth (base = FY2005/06))  
 FY2014/15  FY2015/16  FY2016/17  FY2017/18  FY2018/19  FY2019/20  FY2020/21  
Agriculture  2.13 0.15 2.18 4.00 0.56 3.31 2.77 
… … … … … … … … 
Cotton ginning  7.24 -22.12  5.58 8.80 -12.74  -4.82 -15.58  
… … … … … … … … 
Source:  Finance Division (2021), Pakistan Economic Survey 2020 -21. Viewed at: 
https://www.pc.gov.pk/uploads/cpec/PES_2020_21.pdf . 
4.1.2   Policy, institutional, and regulatory developments  
4.1.2.2   Domestic measures  
4.1.2.2.2   Other support  
… For cotton and sugar, indicative benchmark prices are announced by the Government. For 
example, the Federal Government recently announced the indicative price for seed cotton for 
2021/22. The TCP is required to purchase seed cotton from farmers if the pr ice falls below this 
indicative price. A cotton review committee was set up in August  2021 to monitor market dynamics 
and intervene if required. The authorities state that this committee is temporary in nature. …  
… 
 
30 Finance Division (2021), Pakistan Economic Survey 2020 -21. Viewed at: 
https://www.pc.gov.pk/uploads/cpec/PES_2020_21.pdf . TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 65 - 
 
  In the wake of COVID -19 pandemic, the Gov ernment announced a fiscal package of over 
PKR 1,200  billion, of which PKR  50 billion was earmarked for the agriculture sector, covering :31 
• … 
• subsidy on whitefly pesticides and cotton seeds: PKR  6 billion on the purchase of 
whitefly -related pesticides, and PKR  2 billion on cotton seeds during its sowing season in 
2021; and  
• … 
4.1.3   Key subsectors  
4.1.3.1   Crops  
Table 4.6 - Area and production of important crops, FY2015/16 –FY2020/21  
(Area: '000 hectares; production: '000 tonnes)  
Crops  FY2015/1 6 FY2016/17  FY2017/18  FY2018/19  FY2019/20  FY2020/21  Area  
Production  
Area  
Production  
Area  
Production  
Area  
Production  
Area  
Production  
Area  
Production  
… … … … … … … … … … … .. .. 
Cottona 2,902  9,917  2,489  10,671  2,700  11,946  2,373  9,861  2,517  9,148  2,079  7,064  
… … … … … … … … … … … .. .. 
.. Not available.  
a Cotton production is in '000 bales (375  lbs per bale).  
b The oil seeds category includes sesamum, groundnut, soya  bean, safflower, sunflower, R&M seeds 
(including canola), and cottonseeds.  
Source:  Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.  
4.1.3.1.4   Cotton  
In 2019/20, Pakistan was ranked the fifth -largest cotton producer in the world by the International 
Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC).32 Cotton is not only an important crop in agricultur e, but also 
an essential input for the domestic textiles industry.  
Since FY2017/18, the cultivated area for cotton has been declining in general, which led to reduced 
production (Chart 4.4). According to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2020 -21, the shrinking acreage 
of cotton reflects the non -profitability of the crop as compared to maize, paddy, and sugar  cane. 
Other factors include pests such as white flies and pink bollworms; climate change, heat stresses, 
and extreme rainfalls; poor agricultural practices and unnecessary use of pesticides; and high costs 
of inputs including fertilizers, pesticides, and seeds.33 
 
31 MNFSR (2020), Year Book 2019 -20. Viewed at: http://www.mnfsr.gov.pk/frmDetails.aspx . 
32 ICAC data portal. Viewed at: https://www.icac.org/DataPortal/DataPortal/?menuId=23 . 
33 Finance Division (2021), Pakistan Economic Survey 2020 -21. Viewed at: 
https://www.pc.gov.pk/uploads/cpec/PES_2020_21.pdf . TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 66 - 
 
  Chart 4.4 - Cotton, 2015/16 -2020/21  
 
Source:  Finance Division (2021), Pakistan Economic Survey 2020 -21. Viewed at: 
https://www.pc.gov.pk/uploads/cpec/PES_2020_21.pdf . 
Exports of raw cotton fell dramatically from USD  217 million in 2013 to USD  2.2 million in  2020 
(Table 4.10), whereas exports of cotton yarn (which does not fall under WTO agriculture) dropped 
from USD  2.2 billion to USD  0.8 billion during the same period. The authorities state that the reason 
is the continuous decline in the domestic production of cotton. Pakistan imports high -quality cotton 
to blend with domestic cotton to produce quality fabrics; imports amounted to USD  1.3 billion of raw 
cotton and USD  64.9 million of cotton yarn in 2020 (USD  757 million of raw cotton and 
USD 151 million of cotton yarn in 2013). The import tariff  on cotton is zero. With an intention of 
encouraging domestic processing, the tariff on cotton yarn is 11%. According to the authorities, 
tariff on cotton yarn was revised to 5%.  
Table 4.10 - Cotton trade, 2013 -20 
(USD  million)  
HS 5201 Cotton; not carded 
or combed  Exports  Imports  
2013 217.2  757 
2014 180.9  521.6  
2015 105.6  543.7  
2016 40.9 580.5  
2017 60.9 761.5  
2018 19.4 1,049.0  
2019 22.2 708.5  
2020 2.2 1,315.5  
Source:  UN Comtrade data.  
Export contracts on cotton must be registered with the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan 
(TDAP) under the MoC, with exports being subject to mandatory quality inspection and 
certification.34 
The Government is trying to boost the production of cotton.  The ATP aims to amend relevant laws 
to fast -track release of new cotton varieties with novel technologies. Track and traceability of quality 
certified seed to farmers has also been initiated, and organic farming started in some parts of 
Pakistan. The Paki stan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC), a semi -autonomous body in the MNFSR, 
has as an objective to improve the sector's productivity.  
  
 
34 WTO document WT/TPR/S/311/Rev.1 , 2 June 2015.  
05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,0003,500
02,0004,0006,0008,00010,00012,00014,000
2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21Area ('000 hectare) [right-hand scale]
Production ('000 bales) [left-hand scale]Chart 4.[PAK] Cotton, 2015 -2021
Source:   Finance Division, Government of Pakistan (2021), Pakistan Economic Survey 2020 -21. 
Viewed at: https://www.pc.gov.pk/uploads/cpec/PES_2020_21.pdfTN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 67 - 
 
  Table A1.2 - Merchandise imports by HS section and major HS chapter/subheading, 
2014 -20 
HS Section/chapter/subheading  2014 2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  
Total imports (USD  billion)  47.5 44.0 47.0 57.4 60.2 50.1 45.8 
 (% of total imports)  
… … … … … … … … 
11 Textiles and textile articles  6.1 6.9 6.6 6.2 6.3 5.8 7.1 
52 Cotton  1.6 1.5 1.5 1.7 2.1 1.7 3.0 
5201 Cotton, not carded or combed  1.1 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.7 1.4 2.9 
… … … … … … … … 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on UN Comtrade database.  
Table A3.2 - Prohibited imports, 2020  
Description  
… 
Factory rejects and goods of job lot/stock lot or substandard quality except those mentioned below:  
1. Waste, seconds and cutting of:  
 iron and steel sheets and plates in cut length or coils;  
 tin sheets and plates of one side not less than 45.7 cm (18 inch);  
 stainless steel sheets, coils, plates and cir cles of AISI-200, AISI-300 and or AISI -400 series only;  
 Cotton waste (HS No.  5202.0000); and  
 Granules made by the recycling of plastics waste.  
2. Re -rollable scrap (7204.1010, 7204.4910)  
The scrap having width not exceeding 1000 mm with thickness 6 mm and above and a length not exceeding 
2.5 metres, consisting of mill rejects and crop ends of ingots, billets, slabs, blooms and including cuttings of sheets 
and plates, pipes and bars whether in pieces or in rolled strips, cuttings of ships plates, used and pitted rails and 
girders, whereas in case of girders and pipes length shall be 1.5 metres  
… 
Source:  Ministry of Commerce, Import Policy Order 2020, Appendix A.  
Table A3.3 - Restricted imports, 2020  
Commodity description  Conditions  
Part 1 Health and Safety Requirements  
… …  
Cotton seed  Importable with prior approval of the Ministry of National Food Security & 
Research, Government of Pakistan  
… (i) …  
Source:  Ministry of Commerce, Import Policy Order 2020.   TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SC C/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  PERU ( OCTOBER  2019) - SECRETARIAT REPORT ( WT/TPR/S/393 ) 
APPENDIX TABLES  
Table A1.2 - Total merchandise imports by HS section, 2012 -18 
(USD  million and  %) 
Description  2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  
Total imports  42,169  43,327  42,184  38,036  36,153  39,788  43,136  
 (% of imports)  
… … … … … … … … 
52. Cotton  0.9 0.8 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.8 0.8 
… … … … … … … … 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on data provided by the authorities.  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  RUSSIAN FEDERATION (OCTOBER 2021) - SECRETARIAT REPORT ( WT/TPR/S/416 ) 
3  TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.2  Measures Directly Affecting Exports  
3.2.3   Export prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing  
… 
 
On 24  March  2020, the EAEU imposed temporary export prohibitions on a range of medical products, 
devices, and personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent critical shortages in response to the 
COVID -19 pandemic. They applied mainly to cotton wool, gauze, bandages, masks, half masks, 
respirator masks, respirators, filters for PPE for respir atory devices, goggles, disinfectants, shoe 
covers, certain types of clothing and accessories, and gloves.35 These temporary export prohibitions 
were eliminated on 1  October  2020. 
 
 
 
35 Amendments to EEC Board Decision No.  30 of 21 April 2015 on Measures of Non -tariff Regulation. 
EEC Board Decision No.  41 of 24  March  2020. Viewed at: https://docs.eaeunion.org/docs/ru -
ru/01425254/err_26032020_41 .  
  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev .20/Add.1  
 
- 70 - SOUTH AFRICA (OCTOBER 2023) - SECRETARIAT REPORT ( WT/TPR/S/447 )36 
SOUTHERN  AFRICAN  CUSTOMS  UNION  
Table  A3.1 - Preferential tariff rates, 2023  
  Simple average (%)  Share of duty -free lines (%)  
  Applied 
MFN AfCFTA  EFTA  European  Union & the 
United  Kingdom  Mercosura SADC  Applied 
MFN AfCFTA  EFTA  European  Union & the 
United  Kingdom  Mercosura SADC  
Total  8.5 7.7 3.5 2.4 8.2 0.1 53.8 54.2 77.4 86.2 54.5 99.8 
By WTO category  
WTO agricultural products  10.1 9.2 8.2 2.0 9.8 0.1 39.2 39.2 51.3 91.8 41.2 99.6 
… … … … … … … … … … … … … 
 Cotton  4.8 3.8 4.8 0.0 4.8 0.0 57.1 57.1 57.1 100.0  57.1 100.0  
… … … … … … … … … … … … … 
The AfCFTA has not been implemented yet. SACU's offer is under verification by the AfCFTA Secretariat.  
a Certain clothing items imported only from Paraguay and Uruguay are subject to preferential rates. These items refer to tariff codes 61032200, 61034210 (with a 
Mercosur rate of 36%, instead of the applied MFN rate of 40%), 61034220, 61034290, 61044200, and 61051000 (with a Mercosur ra te of 40.5%, i nstead of the applied 
MFN rate of 45%). The MFN rates applied to these items are taken into account in the calculations.  
Note:  Calculations for averages are based on the national 8 -digit tariff -line level. Tariff schedule is based on HS22.  
Source:  WTO Secr etariat calculations based on tariff information from SARS.  
SOUTH  AFRICA  
3  TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.3  MEASURES AFFECTING PRODUCTION AND TRADE  
3.3.3   SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY REQUIREMENTS  
… 
The Genetically Modified Organisms Act, 1997 (Act No.  15 of 1997), as amended by Genetically Modified Organisms Act,  2006 (Act No.  23 of 2006), regulates 
the development and use of GMOs. There has been no amendment to the GMO Act since 2014.  
 
36 Trade Policy Review of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) . TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 71 - 
 
  Under the GMO Act, any activity with GMOs, including importation, exportation, transit, 
development, production, release, and distri bution, is not allowed in South  Africa without a permit. 
In 2022, South  Africa published a list of GMO approved activities, where clearance and approval are 
granted for importation for use as food or feed. From 2001 to 2022, a total of 105 approvals were 
granted, related mainly to maize (75  approvals), soybean  (22), and cotton (4). One approval each 
was granted to the importation of canola, oilseed rape, rice, and wheat.37 
… 
4  TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
4.1  AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, AND FISHERIES  
4.1.1   AGRIC ULTURE  
4.1.1.2   INSTITUTIONAL, LEGISLATIVE, AND POLICY FRAMEWORK  
… 
As indicated in the previous Review, levies apply to the export and/or production of the following 
products: citrus, cotton, certain dairy products, deciduous fruits, dried fruits, fynbos (protea), 
lucerne, mango, olives, pecan nuts, potatoes, pork, poultry, red meat, sorghum, table grapes, wine 
grapes, and winter cereals. Levies are collected at the first point of sale by the various agricultural 
associations to fund their activitie s; the rates are published on a regular basis in the Government 
Gazette. Under the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act, guideline prices are established based on 
average market prices for all products to which levies are applicable. According to the aut horities, 
these prices are for administrative purposes and to ensure the levy does not exceed 5% of the actual 
market price. The guideline price is the average price at the first point of sale and has no impact on 
the market price.38 There were no changes over the review period in this regard.  
… 
  
 
37 DALRRD, Commodity Clearance Approvals . Viewed  at: 
http://www.old.dalrrd.gov.z a/doc/Commodity%20Clearance%20Approvals%20_GMO%20Act%2015%201997.
pdf. 
38 WTO document WT/TPR/S/324/Rev.1 , 5 February  2016.  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  THAILAND ( NOVEMBER  2020) - SECRETARIAT REPORT ( WT/TPR/S/400 ) 
3  TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.3  Measures Affecting Production and Trade  
3.3.6   Competition policy and price reg ulation  
3.3.6.4   Price regulation and control  
The legal and institutional framework for price regulation has not changed since the previous Review. 
The Price of Goods and Services Act B.E. 2542 (1999) is the main piece of legislation in this regard.39 
The purpose of the Act is to ensure the fair price of goods and services, and their adequate supply. 
The Central Commission on Prices of Goods and Services (CCP), established in accordance with the 
Act and located in the Department of Internal Trade at th e Ministry of Commerce, is the competent 
authority for implementing relevant policies under the Act. The main responsibilities of the CCP 
include: (i) to designate controlled goods or services; (ii) to prescribe price controls and/or other 
control measures  for such goods or services; (iii) to enforce the measures and monitor 
implementation; and (iv) to review complaints and make appropriate decisions thereon. In addition 
to the CPP, provincial commissions were established under the Act to monitor  prices loc ally. 
Once the CPP, with the approval of the Cabinet, issues a notification designating controlled goods or 
services, it has the power to fix or maintain the price of such goods or services or to fix the 
distributor's maximum per unit profit rate. It also has the power to prescribe rules, procedures and 
conditions with regard to the production, import, export, purchase, distribution or storage of the 
controlled goods or services, and to prescribe measures to prevent hoarding of such goods or 
services.40 In addition, the CPP may require business operators to display the prices of their goods 
or services.41 
The CCP maintains two types of lists: one list contains goods and services under  price monitoring 
(Table 3.26), and the other contains goods and services s ubject to price control (Table  3.27). Both 
lists are updated regularly.  
Table 3.26 - Goods and services subject to price monitoring, March  2020  
List Products  
Goods  
Sensitive list  1. sugar, 2. vegetable oil, 3. diesel, 4. medical masks  
Priority watch list  1. pesticides and fungicides, 2. products that contain ethyl alcohol as a component for hand 
hygiene, 3. scrap paper and recycled paper  
Watch list  … 85. cotton buds …  
Services  
… … 
Source:  Information provided by the authorities.  
4  TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
4.1  Agriculture  
4.1.2   Trade  
Table 4.3 - Imports of selected agricultural products, 2015 -19 
HS code   
2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  
… … … … … … …       
5201 Cotton, not carded or combed  USD million  534.1  430.7  484.2  521.0  387.7  
'000 tonnes  503.9  256.8  254.7  258.9  205.1  
… … … … … … … 
.. Not available.  
Source:  Ministry of Commerce; and the Customs Department.  
 
39 Price of Goods and Services Act, B.E. 2542 (1999) (English translation). Viewed at: 
https://www.dit.go.th/en/backoffice/uploadfile/255609171740127152262.pdf . 
40 Section 25, Price of Goods and Services Act, B.E. 2542 (1 999).  
41 Section 28, Price of Goods and Services Act, B.E. 2542 (1999).  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  TÜRKIYE ( NOVEMBER  2023 ) - SECRETARIAT REPORT ( WT/TPR/S/439/REV.1 ) 
3  TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.2  Measures directly affecting exports  
3.2.1   Customs procedures and requirements  
… Export registration is required for several goods for monitoring purposes  (Box 3.1)42; the customs 
declarations of these goods are registered by the General Secretariat of the relevant exporters 
association. …  
Box 0.1 - Goods subject to export registration  
…; cotton (not carded or combed); cotton scraps; cotton carded or combed; …  
 
4  TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
4.1  Agriculture  
4.1.2   Production  
The largest earners were stone fruits and hazelnuts (Table  4.1) 
Table 4.1 - Major crop production, 201 6-21 
(TRY million)  
 Production value (TL  million)  (% of total)  
2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  a 2016  2021  
Crop production (Total)  117,639  135,885  159,142  197,455  246,017  306,373  100 100 
       
  
  
…  …  …  …  …  …  … …  …  
Raw materials used in textiles, 
cotton (raw)  3,850  5,329  6,991  7,111  6,820  16,861  3.3 5.5 
…  …  …  …  …  …   …  …  
a 2021 data are provisional.  
Sources:  Turkish Statistical Institute, Data Portal for Statistics: Agriculture. Viewed at: 
https://data.tuik.gov.tr/ . 
4.1.3   Trade  
4.1.3.1   Overview  
… 
By contrast, exports of other top 10 products in 2020, such as citrus fruit, fresh or dried; fruit, nuts 
and other edible parts of plants; sunflower -seed, safflower or cotton -seed oil; and pasta, saw a 
marked increase (Table 4.3) . … 
… 
Table 4.3 - Exports of agricultural products, 201 6-21 
(USD  million, %)  
 2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  Average 
value  
2016 -21 
Total agriculture exports  17,572  18,148  18,778  19,105  19,955  24,252  19,635  
Total exports  149,247  164,495  177,169  180,833  169,658  225,234  177,772  
(% of total exports)  11.8 11.0 10.6 10.6 11.8 10.8 11.0 
… … … … … … … … … 
1512 Sunflower -seed, safflower or 
cotton -seed oil and fractions 
thereof  666 582 449 501 737 937 645 
… … … … … … … … … 
Note:  WTO definition of agriculture.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on UN Comtrade database.  
 
42 The legislative basis for this requirement is Communiqué 2006/7 Regarding Goods Subject to Export 
Registration, Official Gazette  (2006), No.  26190, 6 June.  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 74 - 
 
  … 
Table 4.4 - Imports of agricultural products, 2016 -21 
(USD  million, %)  
 2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  Average 
value  
2016 -21 
Total agricultural imports  13,839  16,179  15,980  16,188  16,833  20,283  16,550  
(% of total imports)  6.8 6.8 6.9 7.7 7.7 7.5 7.2 
… … … … … … … … … 
5201 Cotton, not carded or combed  1,333  1,754  1,545  1,586  1,653  2,413  1,714  
… … … … … … … … … 
1512 Sunflower -seed, safflower or 
cotton -seed oil and fractions 
thereof  896 658 417 438 709 1,205  721 
… … … … … … … … … 
Note:  WTO definition of agriculture.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on UN Comtrade database.  
4.2  Support programmes  
Table 4.8 - Total PSE and SCT values for selected commodities, 2016 -21 
(TRY million , %) 
  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Total value of production at farm gate  184,143  214,842  253,550  304,403  366,621  423,491  
Total PSE (PSE)  57,020  53,712  40,353  55,603  109,845  66,159  
…  …  …  …  …  …  … 
 % of gross receipts  62.6 53.1 40.1 41.0 30.6 -1.6 
Cotton   
 SCT (TRY  million)  1,608  1,831  1,952  2,200  2,229  1,757  
 % of gross receipts  31.1 27.1 24.2 27.1 29.4 14.1 
… 
Source:  OECD, PSE.   TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  UNITED STATES (DECEMBER  2022) - SECRETARIAT REPORT ( WT/TPR/S/434 ) 
3  TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.1  Measures Directly Affecting Imports  
3.1.5   Import prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing  
3.1.5.1   Prohibitions, restrictions, and quantitative measures  
3.63.  In addition to measures applied m ultilaterally, the United States also maintains a number of 
quantitative restrictions or prohibitions on a bilateral or plurilateral basis.43 
 
4  TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
4.1  Agriculture , Forestry, and Fisheries  
4.1.1   Main features  
 
Table  0.1 - Value of production, 2016 -20 
(USD  billion and  %) 
 2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  % of totala 
Total  355.5  369.3  365.4  356.0  373.5   
… … … … … … … 
Cotton  5.8 7.2 6.4 5.9 4.7 1.3 
… … … … … … … 
a Percentage of total for the year 2020.  
Source:  USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. Viewed at: https://quickstats.nass.usda.gov/ ; USDA 
National Agricultural Statis tics Service, Poultry – Production and Value , different bulletins. Viewed 
at: https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Todays_Reports/reports/plva0422.pdf  (most recent) 
and OECD Stats, Agriculture Policy Indicators, 2022 Monitoring and Evaluation: Reference Tables.  
4.4.  The United  States is the world's largest producer of soybeans, maize, beef, and chicken and 
Türkiye, and a major producer of pig meat and cotton (Table  4.2). Although the agricultural 
producers benefit from a large domestic market to absorb their output, the US farm sector is also 
characterized by significant export orientation for certain commodities. Overall, about  one fifth of 
US agricultural production goes to foreign markets, with particularly high export shares for cotton 
(more than 75%), and wheat and soybeans (about 50%).44 
Table  0.2 - US and world production and trade of selected commodities, 
FY2017/18 -2021/22  
('000 tons, unless otherwise indicated)  
Marketing year  2017/18  2018/19  2019/20  2020/21  2021/22  
… … … … … … … 
Cotton ('000 480 lb bales)       
Production  United  States  20,923  18,367  19,913  14,608  17,624   
% of world  16.9 15.5 16.5 13.1 14.6 
Exports  United  States  16,281  14,833  15,512  16,371  15,000   
% of world  39.1 35.7 37.7 33.6 32.2 
… … … … … … … 
Source:  USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), Production, Supply and Distribution database. Viewed at: 
https://apps.fas.usda.gov/psdonline/app/index.html#/app/advQuery . 
 
43 Temporary legislation has existed since 1991 providing for import quotas on upland cotton when a 
price mechanism is triggered in order to allow imports to enter at lower cost. During the review period, the 
quota has been opened on many occasions but rarely  utilized. CBP, Calendar Year End Commodity Status 
Report, 2018, 2019, and 2020. Viewed at: https://www.cbp.go v/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2021 - 
Feb/2020%20Calendar%20Year%20End%20Commodity%20Status%20Report.pdf ; 
https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2019 - 
Nov/Quota%20Status%20Report%20Year%20End%202018%20V2_0.pdf ; and 
https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2020 -Feb/Quota -Status -Report -Year-End-2019.pdf . 
44 Congressional Research Service (CRS) (2021), U.S. Agricultu ral Export Programs: Background and 
Issues , R46760, April. Viewed at: https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R46760 . TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 76 - 
 
  4.1.1.1   Major support programs  
4.1.1.1.2   Price Loss Coverage (PLC)  
 
4.11.  The PLC program provides payments on 85% of historical base acres multiplied by historical 
yields for each historically produced covered commodity on a farm when the national price (defined 
in legislation) is less than the statutory effective reference price for the commodity. There is no 
requirement to produce the covered commodity, or any other commodity, to be eligible for 
payments. Cove red commodities include maize, soybeans, wheat, other feed grains, other oilseeds, 
peanuts, pulses, rice, and seed cotton. Payments are made no earlier than 1  October after the end 
of the applicable marketing year for the covered commodity.  
 
4.12.  USDA Farm Service Agency data indicates that PLC payments to nearly 1.4  million farms 
totalled  USD 4.95 billion for the 2019 crop year, and USD  2.07 billion in the 2020 crop year to 
800,000 farms.5 Over the two years combined, the highest PLC payments were  paid on base acres 
with historical production of wheat (USD  2,529  million), seed cotton (USD  1,439  million), maize 
(USD  1,099  million), peanuts (USD  779 million), and long grain rice (USD  626 million).  
 
4.1.1.1.3   Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC)  
 
4.13.  The revenue guarantee of the ARC, an income support program tied to benchmark 
guarantees, may be determined at the farm level (individual ARC or ARC -IC) or on a 
commodity -by-commodity basis at the county level (ARC -CO). Covered commodities are the same 
as for the PLC program and include wheat, feed grains, soybeans, peanuts, other oilseeds, rice, seed 
cotton, and pulses.  
 
4.1.1.1.4   Marketing assistance loans  
 
… 
 
4.19.  The 2018 Farm Act extended most provisions applicable to marketing assistance loans under  
the 2014 Farm Act, including the statutory loan rates for non -recourse marketing assistance loans 
through crop year 2023. However, the loan rates were either unchanged or increased by amounts 
ranging from 7.7% to 43.9% above the earlier statutory loan rat es, but generally remain below 
market prices (Table 4.3). MLGs and LDPs totaled USD  223 million in 2019, paid on cotton, wool, 
and pulses, and USD  12 million in 2020, paid on cotton and wool.  
Table  0.3 - Comm odity Loan Rates, 2018 and 2021  
Covered commodities  Marketing loan program  
Commodity loan rates, 2014 
Farm Act (as amended)  National average 
loan rates, 2021  Percentage 
change  
… … … … 
Extra -long staple cotton (lb)  0.7977  0.95 19.1 
Seed cotton (lb)  0.25b 0.25b 0.0 
Upland cotton  0.52   
a "Other oilseeds" include canola, crambe, flaxseed, mustard seed, rapeseed, safflower seed, sesame 
seed and sunflower (oil and non -oil types).  
b Seed cotton is not a covered commodity under the marketing assistance loan program. The loan rate 
has been set only for the purposes of determining the effective prices for seed cotton under the Price 
Loss Coverage program.  
Source:  USDA FSA, The Agricultural Act of 2014, as amended. Viewed at: 
https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA -FSA-Public/usdafiles/Price -Support/pdf/Cotton -2021-rates/2
021%20National%20Average%20L oan%20Rates.pdf , and 
https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA -FSA-Public/usdafiles/ Price-Support/pdf/2019/2019%20Crop
%20Year%20Sugar%20Loan%20Rates.pdf , and WTO Secretariat calculations.  
4.1.1.1.5   Crop insurance  
 
… TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
- 77 - 
 
  4.21.  Insurance policies under the FCIP cover nearly 130 crops, including specialty crops, under 
approximately 20 types of insurance policies. The four major crops – maize, soybeans, wheat, and 
cotton – dominate in terms of area enrolled and as a result of claims paid. …  
… 
4.24.  The 2018 Farm Act continued existing programs with limited changes in products and policies, 
including some expanded coverage of existing products, clarity on conservation practices such as 
cover crops and good farming practices, and new offerings.45… 
… 
4.1.1.1.9   Ad hoc assistance for loss o f traditional export markets  
… 
4.49.  The MFP provided direct payments to eligible producers using CCC Charter Act authorities. In 
2018, commodity -specific payment rates, paid on actual production, were established for almonds, 
fresh sweet cherries, maize,  cotton, milk, hogs, soybeans, sorghum, and wheat, based on the level 
of estimated trade lost due to retaliation. Milk payments were made on production during a specified 
historical period, while hog payments were made on the number of hogs in a specific t ime period. 
The MFP covered additional specialty and non -specialty crops in 2019.46 
4.1.1.1.10   COVID -19 measures  
4.53.  The USDA initially received funding through the CARES Act and the Families First Coronavirus 
Response Act for measures to mitigate or p revent effects of the COVID -19 pandemic. …  
4.54.   Specifically, the CARES Act provided the USDA with additional funding of USD  9.5 billion in 
support of agricultural producers and USD  14 billion in enhanced borrowing authority for the CCC 
(available after  June 2020). The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) announced in 
April 2020 had two major components: (i)  USD 16 billion in direct support to farmers and ranchers 
affected by price declines and supply chain disruptions; and (ii)  USD 3 billion provi ded to purchase 
dairy, meat, and fresh produce to donate to people in need. Eligible producers were persons and 
legal entities of specified agricultural commodities who faced market disruptions and marketing costs 
due to the COVID -19 pandemic. Moreover, to  be eligible for payments, the producer had to have 
either average gross income of less than USD  900,000 in the tax years 2016, 2017, and 2018 or 
derive at least 75% of their adjusted gross income from farming, ranching, or forestry.47 Eligible 
commodities  included livestock, dairy, wool, certain non -specialty crops (malting barley, canola, 
maize, upland cotton, millet, oats, soybeans, sorghum, sunflowers, durum wheat, and hard red 
spring wheat), and specialty crops (various fruit and vegetables, nuts, bean s, and mushrooms). …  
5  APPENDIX TABLES  
Table  A1.2 - Merchandise exports by HS section and main chapter, 2017 -21 
(USD  million and  %) 
Description  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Total exports  1,545,810  1,665,303  1,644,276  1,430,254  1,753,137    
(% of total exports)   
… … … … … … 
11 – Textiles and textile articles  1.7 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.5  
52. Cotton.  0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.4 
… … … … … … 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on UN Comtrade database.  
 
45 The Supplemental Coverage O ption (SCO) and the Stacked Income Protection Plan (STAX), a cotton -
specific supplemental crop insurance program, are both reauthorized.  
46 Covered non -specialty crops were alfalfa hay, barley, canola, maize, crambe, dried beans, dry peas, 
extra-long staple  cotton, flaxseed, lentils, rice (long - and medium -grain), millet, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, 
rapeseed, rye safflower, sesame seed, chickpeas (small and large), sorghum, soybeans, sunflower seed, 
temperate japonica rice, triticale, upland cotton, and whe at. 
47 Recipients would also have to comply with provisions of the "Highly Erodible Land and Wetland 
Conservation" regulations and not have a controlled substance violation. Recipients that were foreign persons, 
needed to provide land, capital, and a substa ntial amount of active personal labour  to the farming operation.  TN/AG/GEN/34/Rev.20/Add.1 • TN/AG/SCC/GEN/13/Rev.20/Add.1  
 
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  VIET NAM ( APRIL  2021) - SECRETARIAT REPORT ( WT/TP R/S/410 ) 
2  TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES  
2.3  Trade Agreements and Arrangements  
2.3.2   Regional and preferential agreements  
2.3.2.2   Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans -Pacific Partnership 
(CPTPP)  
Viet Nam signed the CPTPP on 8  March  2018.48 It was ratified by the National Assembly on 
12 November  2018, and entered into force on 14  January  2019.49 
Viet Nam adopted a phased approach to reducing tariffs for goods originating from CPTPP contracting 
parties over a period of 10 years. Upon entry into force, about 66% of total Vietnamese tariff lines 
were zero -rated, which covered products such as, inter alia,  animal feed, dairy products, grains, 
rice, cotton, leather and leather products, textiles and mate rials for textiles, footwear, rubber and 
rubber products, furniture, wood and wood products, plastics, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, 
chemicals, fertilizers, perfume, cosmetics, machinery and equipment, and electronic accessories. 
Approximately 86.5% of tota l lines are to be zero -rated within three years of the agreement's entry 
into force. For the remainder, tariff reductions will be implemented over a period of between five 
and 10 years.  
4  TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
4.1  Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries  
4.1.2   Features  
Table 4.2 - Exports and imports of agricultural products, 2013 -19 
HS 
2002    2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  
Exports  
 TOTAL  
(not including rubber)  13,157.3  15,213.2  15,390.6  16,458.8  18,631.7  18,196.9  17,632.8  
… … … … … … … … … … 
Imports  
 TOTAL (not including 
rubber)  11,876.3  13,671.7  15,162.8  16,427.7  18,639.1  20,812.5  20,788.6  
5201 Cotton, not 
carded or 
combed  '000 
tonnes  571.7  742.2  999.3  1,018.2  1,269.3  1,398.5  1,340.7  
USD millio
n 1,154.6  1,422.7  1,607.2  1,643.3  2,331.8  2,727.5  2,400.2  
… … … … … … … … … … 
… … … … … … … … 
Source:  UN Comtrade database.  
5  APPENDIX TABLES  
Table A1.2 - Merchandise imports by HS sections and major HS chapters, 2012 -19 
(USD  billion)  
HS section/chapter/subheading  2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  
Total imports  113.8  132.0  147.8  165.8  175.0  213.2  236.9  253.4  
  % of total imports  
11 Textiles and textile articles  9.6 9.7 9.8 9.3 9.2 8.4 8.6 8.2 
 52 Cotton  2.1 2.2 2.2 2.1 1.9 1.9 2.0 1.7 
… … … … … … … … … 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on UN Comtrade database.  
__________  
 
 
48 Contracting parties of the CPTPP include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, 
Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Viet  Nam.  
49 Six other countries also ratified the CPTPP: Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, and 
Singapore.  