Ginebra, Suiza,
25 de octubre del 2012.- El 23 de octubre de 2012,
el Comité de Subvenciones y Medidas Compensatorias aprobó la última prórroga,
hasta el final de 2013, del período de transición para los programas de
subvenciones a la exportación de 19 países en desarrollo. Estos programas
comprenden principalmente zonas francas e incentivos fiscales.
(de momento sólo en inglés)
The
beneficiaries of the 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. Kitts and
Nevis, St. Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Uruguay.
In 2007,
the General Council adopted a decision on procedures for the extension of the
transition period for the elimination of export subsidy programmes of these
developing countries. The decision enables the Subsidies Committee to continue
to grant extensions of the transition period until the end of 2013, with a
final phase out period of two years, which shall end no later than 31 December
2015.
At the
meeting, Colombia urged beneficiary countries to start enacting legislation
that would phase out the subsidy programmes.
Notifications
The chair,
Mr Sam C.S. Hui (Hong Kong, China), expressed concern that 73 members have not
yet submitted their 2011 subsidy notifications. He underlined the importance of
notifications in the work of the Committee.
New
Zealand, supported by Argentina, Norway, the United States and Chile, urged
members to notify fisheries subsidy programmes as called for by the Rio+20
Conference.
The United
States reiterated its concerns about incomplete subsidy notifications from
China and India respectively. The European Union, Canada, Japan and Turkey
shared the US concerns. China said it is in contact with the United States on
this matter bilaterally and would keep the Committee informed of progress.
India said it had recently notified its fisheries subsidy programmes, and that
it remains committed to fulfilling its obligations under the Agreement.
Textiles
The United
States and Turkey again urged India to start phasing out its export subsidies
to its textile and clothing industry, which the WTO Secretariat had found to be
export competitive as from 2007.
India
reiterated that it wants clarity and common understanding first on certain
issues about its obligations to phase out subsidies, and that it is open to
bilateral discussions.
Other
business
India
expressed concern about certain changes made in a WTO Secretariat background
note on notifications despite reservations voiced against them in a Committee
meeting. China, South Africa and Brazil shared India’s concern. The United
States said the background note was produced by the Secretariat on its own
responsibility. The Chair said he would discuss the matter with interested
delegations.
The United
States called on Canada to provide more information about its government
assistance to the reopening of the Port Hawkesbury paper mill in Nova Scotia,
and expressed the hope that the subsidies be expeditiously withdrawn. The
European Union shared the US concern. Canada said that the support in question
is under the purview of a provincial entity, and that it is working with Nova
Scotia on answers to US questions sent on 11 October 2012. It said it already
has started a dialogue with the United States on this matter, and invited the
European Union to a similar discussion.
Fuente: OMC