The questions members ask each other as they review notifications are part of the committee’s key responsibility of overseeing how countries are complying with their commitments. Delegations can also raise any concerns about developments in other
members’ agricultural policies under Article 18.6 of the Agriculture Agreement.
All these questions and their answers can be found in the Agriculture Information Management System database (http://
agims.wto.org/, see below).
A substantial amount of information has been supplied over the years through these questions and answers. Since the WTO was created in 1995, members asked each other a total of 5,013 questions (up to 2014). Figure 6 shows that 12% of these were not about actual notifications (Article 18.6 questions), 87% were about notified information and the remaining 1% were about overdue notifications and other issues.
Figure 6: Notifications dominate the questions
The distribution of questions by type and by subject (1995–2014): 51% of questions about notifications were on domestic support
Individual notifications (87%) Art.18.6
(12%) Other (1%)
Source: AG-IMS
Among the 87% of questions about specific notifications, the majority were about domestic support: 51% of these (or 44% of
Figure 7: Domestic support attracts most questions
Distribution of questions by pillar (1995–2014)
Market access (1,703)
34%
Domestic support (2,693)
54%
Export competition
(573) 12%
Source: AG-IMS
all questions) were about DS:1 notifications (Amber Box, de minimis, Blue Box, Green Box and developmental support). The two next largest numbers of questions were both about tariff quotas: Table MA:2 on imports under tariff quotas showing whether the quotas were filled (16%), and Table MA:1 on administration — how the quotas were allocated among importers — (12%).
At the heart of the reform under the Agriculture Agreement are the three pillars of market access, domestic support and export subsidies. Unsurprisingly, most questions are about these. Figure 7 shows that among the three pillars, more than half were about domestic support (54%), 34% were on market access and 12% on export subsidies and related issues (“export competition”).
On market access, members are most interested in tariff quotas that have low import volumes compared to the size of the quotas (low “fill rates”), and the methods that governments use to allocate shares of the quotas among importers. The largest number of questions on domestic support are about Green Box programmes (which can be complicated and detailed) and Amber Box support (which distorts trade).
A significant number of questions were about how members classified their support programmes into the different categories.
On the export competition pillar, a wide range of questions were asked about export subsidies under reduction commitments, particularly about the products covered and the commitments in members “schedules”.
This has not always been the case. Figure 8 shows that the distribution of questions by pillar has evolved over time. In earlier years (1995–98), more attention was given to market access than domestic support.
Breaking all questions down according to type — whether the questions were about specific notifications or not — shows some fluctuation but with no particular pattern.
Figure 9 shows this for 1995–2014.
Developed countries are generally more active in asking questions than developing countries. Figure 10 tracks how many questions were asked by developing and developed countries.
Figure 8: In early years, questions on market access dominated Evolution of distribution of questions by pillar (1995–2014)
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
Market access Domestic support Export competition
Source: AG-IMS
Figure 9: The proportion of questions by type has fluctuated
Evolution of questions according to whether they are about notifications (1995–2014)
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
Art.18.6 Individual notifications
Figure 10: Developing countries ask far fewer questions
Tracking the shares of questions asked by developing and developed countries 1995–2014
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800
Developing countries Developed countries Source: AG-IMS
Note: the total numbers of questions here might not be the same as in other charts — here when more than one country asks the same question, that counts as several questions.
By contrast, the proportion of questions asked about notifications from developed and developing countries has been more equal. In recent years (2010–14, the latest year available) more questions have been about developing countries’ notifications than developed. This trend is a result of several factors: queries about developed countries’ programmes were handled in earlier years, developing countries often took longer to submit their notifications, and some of them have expanded their agricultural programmes. These trends are shown in Figure 11.
Table 1 lists the 10 most active members asking and being asked questions. The US, EU and Canada are in the top five both for asking and answering questions. Among developing countries, Brazil, Thailand and the Republic of Korea are in the top ten on both sides. Countries that intervene in agricultural markets or that are more active in agricultural trade tend to be asked more questions.
Figure 11: Developing countries face more questions
Figures for 1995–2014 show developing countries are asked proportionately more questions than they themselves ask, and since 1995 they have faced more questions than developed countries
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
Developing countries Developed countries Source: AG-IMS
Table 1: Who asks, and who is asked, the most questions?
The top 10 most active members asking and answering questions in the committee’s reviews, 1995–2014
Asking Questions Answering Questions
1 US 1,275 1 EU 707
2 Australia 1,258 2 US 561
3 Canada 997 3 Canada 347
4 New Zealand 960 4 Japan 302
5 EU 612 5 Switzerland 257
6 Japan 325 6 Norway 229
7 Argentina 253 7 India 212
8 Brazil 147 8 Thailand 197
9 Thailand 81 9 Korea 195
10 Korea 65 10 Brazil 188