NOTIFICATION provisions UNDER THE AGREEMENT

ON SUBSIDIES AND COUNTERVAILING MEASURES

Background Note by the Secretariat

Revision

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1   introduction.. 2

2   notification provisions in the scm agreement. 2

2.1   Regular Notifications. 2

2.1.1   Notification of Subsidies under Article 25. 2

2.1.2   Notification of Countervailing Measures. 5

2.1.3   Notification of Competent Authorities. 5

2.1.4   Notification of Countervailing Duty Legislation. 5

2.2   Special Notifications. 5

2.2.1   Notification of Non-Actionable Subsidies under Article 8.3. 5

2.2.2   Notifications Related to the Provisions of Article 27 Regarding Special and Differential Treatment of Developing Country Members. 6

2.2.3   Notifications under the Transitional Arrangements Set Out in Article 28.1(a) 6

2.2.4   Notifications under the Transitional Arrangements Set Out in Article 29.3. 7

3   notification of subsidies in the context of wto accessions. 7

ANNEX A. 8

ANNEX B. 12

ANNEX C. 31

ANNEX D. 32

ANNEX E. 33

ANNEX F. 36

ANNEX G. 37

ANNEX H.. 38

ANNEX I. 41

ANNEX J. 43

ANNEX K. 44

ANNEX L. 45

1  INTRODUCTION

1._            Pursuant to a request of the Chairman of the Trade Policy Review Body, to discuss "ways to improve the timeliness and completeness of notifications and other information flows on trade measures" in the context of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures ("the SCM Agreement"), the Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures ("the Committee") discussed this matter in several informal and regular meetings held since 2009. Document G/SCM/W/546 dated 28 April 2009 which contained information on the notification obligations under the SCM Agreement and the level of compliance with each of these obligations, was circulated as a background Note for the Committee's discussions in this regard. In the course of the meetings held since 2009, Members indicated that updating this document on a regular basis would be useful for the Committee's future work on improving transparency in notifications. This revision reflects developments since October 2024.