Export Prohibitions and Restrictions in the context of the Agreement on Agriculture

Capacity Building Workshop on the notification of 

quantitative restrictionsGeneva, Switzerland24 – 26 April 2018

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Article XI of GATT General Elimination of Quantitative Restrictions

Art. XI.1 No prohibitions or restrictions other thanduties, taxes or other charges, whether made effectivethrough quotas, import or export licences or othermeasures, shall be instituted…

shall not extend to 

Art. XI.2 (a) Export prohibitions or restrictionstemporarily applied to prevent or relieve criticalshortages of foodstuffs or other products essential tothe exporting contracting party

Article 12 of the AoADisciplines on Export Prohibitions and Restrictions 

1. Where any Member institutes any new export prohibition or restriction on foodstuffs in accordance with paragraph 2(a) of Article XI of GATT 1994, the Member shall observe the following provisions:(a) the Member instituting the export prohibition or restriction shall give due consideration to the effects of such prohibition or restriction on importing Members’ food security;

(b) before any Member institutes an export prohibition or restriction, it shall givenotice in writing, as far in advance as practicable, to the Committee on Agriculturecomprising such information as the nature and the duration of such measure, andshall consult, upon request, with any other Member having a substantial interest asan importer with respect to any matter related to the measure in question. TheMember instituting such export prohibition or restriction shall provide, upon request,such a Member with necessary information.

2. The provisions of this Article shall not apply to any developing country Member,unless the measure is taken by a developing country Member which is a net‐foodexporter of the specific foodstuff concerned. 3

Notification of Export Restrictions

Who?

• Any Member instituting an export prohibition orrestriction on foodstuffs covered by Article 12 of theAgreement on Agriculture

• Except developing country Members unless they arenet exporters of the product concerned

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Notification of Export Restrictions:

When?

• Ad hoc

• “As far as practicable in advance of the measure being taken”

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Notification of Export Restrictions:How - Format

EXPORT RESTRICTIONS: [Name of Member]

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(1) Description of product:

(2) Tariff item number(s):

(3) Nature of, and justification for, measure to be introduced:

(4) Duration of application of measure:

Notification under Article 12 of the Agreement: Export prohibitions and restrictions

Table ER:1

Document G/AG/2 30 June 1995

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Comparison process notificationsArticle 12 Agreement on

Agriculture2012 Decision Notification procedures

for Quantitative restrictions WHO Any Member instituting an export

prohibition or restriction onfoodstuffs covered by Article 12 ofthe Agreement on Agriculture

Except developing country Membersunless they are net exporters of theproduct concerned

All Members

WHEN Ad hoc: As far as practicable inadvance of the measure being taken

First/complete notification: Every two years (by 30 September 2016, 2018, etc.)

Changes to existing notification: As soon as possible and no later than 6 months from entry into force of the modified measure

WHAT Foodstuffs All products

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Comparison content of notificationsArticle 12 Agreement on

Agriculture2012 Decision Notification procedures for

Quantitative restrictions (1) Description of product (1) A general description of the measure in force

(2) Tariff item number(s) (2) The type of measure based on the symbols in Annex 2

(3) Nature of, and justification for, measure to be introduced

(3) the tariff line codes of the products covered by the restriction, including the HS version used (…)

(4) Duration of application of measure

(4) the detailed product descriptions that correspond to those tariff lines, particularly when the measure only covers part of an HS code(5) the WTO justification that the Member considers justifies the measure in question, including precise reference to relevant WTO provisions (…)(6) the law, regulation or administrative decision establishing the measure, including its date of entry into force and date on which it ceases to be enforced, if known(7) Member's comments, including with regard to administration of the restriction or modification of any previously notified restriction

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Some facts about ER Notifications by WTO Members since 1995

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Members 1995‐1999 2000‐2004 2005‐2009 2010‐2012 Total

Bulgaria 1 1

Czech Republic 2 2

Hungary 2 1 3

Kyrgyz Republic 1 1 2

Moldova, Republic of 1 1

Poland 1 1

The former Yugoslav Republicof Macedonia (FYROM)

1 2 3

Ukraine 1 1

Total 5 3 1 5 14

Number of notified export prohibitions and restrictions per period

Source: TN/AG/S/28 dated 20 March 2013 – no new notification afterwards

Some facts about ER Notifications by WTO Members since 1995

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Members Temporary ban or prohibition

Export quotas

Other measures 

Total

Bulgaria 1 1

Czech Republic  1 1 2

Hungary 1 2 3

Kyrgyz Republic 2 2

Moldova, Republic of 1 1

Poland 1 1

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)

3 3

Ukraine 1 1

Total 8 1 5 14

Number of notified export prohibitions and restrictions per type of measure

Source: TN/AG/S/28 dated 20 March 2013 – no new notification afterwards

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Notification of Export Restrictions Discussions in the WTO

Communications by some Members on how to improvetransparency in the context of both regular CoA and CoA SpecialSession (notably before MC11)

Including following items:Timing of notification (“as far in advance as practicable”)

Nature of information to be providedCoverage of “foodstuffs”Determination of “Net food exporter of the specific foodstuff concerned”

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

Canada

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$

Thank you for your attention