EU Notifies WTO of Sharp Drop In Trade-Distorting Farm Subsides

The European Union's spending on trade-distorting amber box farm subsidies has fallen sharply, according to the latest figures submitted by the EU to the World Trade Organization.

The European Union's spending on trade-distorting amber box farm subsidies has fallen sharply, according to the latest figures submitted by the EU to the World Trade Organization. The amber box covers price supports and other programs considered to be the most trade-distorting.

In a notification circulated to WTO members Jan. 24, the EU said spending on farm subsidies under the WTO's amber box of support totaled €12.35 billion in the 2007-08 marketing year, or about $18 billion at the exchange rate that prevailed at that time. That amount was 54 percent less than the €26.63 billion in amber box spending the EU reported for the 2006-07 marketing year.

The United States reported last October its amber box spending totaled $6.25 billion in the 2008 marketing year, far below the current U.S. WTO cap of $19.1 billion. That amount also would fall below the $7.64 billion cap to which the United States would be subject if the current Doha Round draft text were to approved in the final agreement. 

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