  
  
G/SCM/Q2/SAU/4  
26 January  2021 
(21-0722) Page: 1/1 
Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures  Original:  English  
 
  
SUBSIDIES  
QUESTIONS FROM CANADA  REGARDING THE  NEW AND FULL  
NOTIFICATION OF THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA1 
The following communication, dated 2 5 January  2021, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Canada . 
 
_______________  
 
 
Canada would like to ask the following questions regarding non -notified measures.  
In May 2020, the Saudi Press Agency reported that the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Re sources 
announced measures to help industrial and mining enterprises and investors affected by the 
COVID -19 pandemic .2 These measures appear to include "financial contributions " as defined by the 
WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, e.g. loan deferrals and restructuring ; 
exemptions, reduction or postponement of fees due to the Ministry ; development of a new products 
to support working capital ; and discounts on electricity bills . It is also reported that measures include 
a plan to speed -up local content requirements for companies that are majority owned -by the 
Government (i.e. through the Public Investment Fund).  
Question 1  
Could the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia pleas e provide details on the various measures that were 
implemented to support the industrial and mining industry?  
Question 2 
Could you please explain which companies are subject to local content requirements and what are 
the specific requirements that have to be met?  Is meeting the requirements a condition for the 
companies to receive support?  
In June 2020, Arab News reported th at the Government had approved a new Mining Investment Law 
that would, among other things, establish a new Mining Fund to provide sustainable finance to the 
sector.3 
Question 3 
Has the new Mining Fund been implemented yet ? If so, please provide details on  the terms and 
conditions of funding.  
Question 4 
Does the Mining Investment Law include any other support measures that confers a benefit to the 
mining sector?  If so, please provide more information on what these support measures entail.  
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1 G/SCM/N/343/SAU.  
2 https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2082598 . 
3 https://www.arabnews.com/node/1757021/ business -economy . 