The Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) imposed
meaningful disciplines on agricultural export subsidies for the
first time (see AoA Issues Series: Export Subsidies). Prior to
AoA implementation, export subsidies significantly distorted
agricultural trade.
Under the AoA, countries that employed export subsidies for
agricultural commodities agreed to lower the volume and value of
their subsidies during a multiyear phase-in period. New subsidies
cannot be introduced. Bona fide food aid and export market
promotion and advisory services are exempt.
In the Doha Ministerial Declaration, members
committed to negotiations aimed at "reductions of, with a view to
phasing out, all forms of export subsidies." Moreover, the Doha
negotiations have expanded the definition of export subsidies to
include other export competition policies including export credits,
food aid, and export state trading enterprises (STEs). WTO members
have agreed to ensure the parallel elimination of direct export
subsidies and imposition of disciplines on export credits, food aid
policies, and STEs.
See the AoA Export
Subsidies section of the recommended readings page for more
information regarding export-subsidy issues related to the WTO
Agreement on Agriculture.
Other Agreement on Agriculture Issues: