TARIFF
QUOTA ADMINISTRATION METHODS AND FILL RATES
2007-2016
Background Paper by the Secretariat[1]
1.
At the Ninth
Session of the Ministerial Conference, Ministers adopted the Decision on
"Understanding of Tariff Rate Quota Administration Provisions of
Agricultural Products, as defined in Article 2 of the Agreement on
Agriculture" (WT/MIN(13)/39). Ministers instructed the Committee to review
the operation of this Decision, commencing no later than 2017, taking into
account experience gained up to that time.[2]
The Review discussions commenced at the October 2017 meeting of the Committee.[3]
At the February 2018 meeting, the Committee agreed to the process and timelines
to conduct the Review in document G/AG/W/171.[4]
In response to requests from Members and as per the agreed process and
timelines to conduct the review, the Secretariat has prepared this background
paper in order to facilitate the Review discussions.
[1] This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own
responsibility in response to the request from Members in the context of the
review of the operation of the Bali Decision on TRQ administration and is
without prejudice to the positions of Members or to their rights or obligations
under the WTO.
[2] Paragraph 13 of WT/MIN(13)/39.
[3] Section 2.2.1 of G/AG/R/86 refers.
[4] Section 2.5.1 of G/AG/R/87 refers.