Fifteen small economies appeal to extend export-subsidy

27 Apr '06

3 min read

World Trade Organization (WTO) announce fifteen small economies, on 25 April 2006, presented to the Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures a proposal to extend until 2018 their ability to maintain export-subsidy programmes.

The Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures provided for an eight-year transition period (until end 2002) for most developing countries to eliminate export subsidies.

Under procedures adopted in November 2001 at the Doha Ministerial Conference, the SCM Committee may grant annual extension to these countries until end 2007, subject to annual review of transparency and standstill obligations.

The 19 developing countries benefiting from the extended transition period are Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Jamaica, Jordan, Mauritius, Panama, Papua New Guinea, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Uruguay.

Barbados, on behalf of the other co-sponsors (Antigua and Barbuda; Belize; Dominica; Dominican Republic; El Salvador; Fiji; Grenada; Jamaica; Mauritius; Papua New Guinea; St. Kitts and Nevis; St. Lucia; and St. Vincent and the Grenadines), that as small and vulnerable economies, they need the policy space to maintain these programmes which it said are important components of their development strategies.

The Committee agreed that the incoming chair will hold informal consultations on this matter before the next regular meeting scheduled for late October 2006.

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