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Data in custom database updated: February 2009 (based on notifications submitted by November 30, 2008)
This database contains statistics on export subsidy notifications submitted to the World Trade Organization (WTO) by member countries.
Data Updates
Data are updated periodically to include all country notifications on the WTO website as of a certain date. Since the data are not available from the WTO in a database format, the Economic Research Service developed and maintains this database by manually entering data provided by countries in their export subsidy notifications posted on the WTO website. Note that the years cited in the data are not the dates when documents were submitted to the WTO. For example, the European Union notified its export subsidies for marketing year 1995/96 on March 10, 1997.
The date of the most recent update is noted on the top of this page and within the Standard and Custom tabs. Users will need to visit the WTO site to obtain more recent country notifications (See More Info). While countries are supposed to submit notifying documents on export subsidies each year, there is a lag between the end of a specific year and that year's associated notification.
Data Description
— Expenditure data are in the currencies with which countries notify the
WTO. For the convenience of users, exchange rates are provided in the expenditure
section of the searchable database to convert currencies into U.S. dollars,
using exchange rates from the International Financial Statistics Yearbook
(International Monetary Fund, Washington, DC) or the ERS Agricultural
Exchange Rate Data Set. Note that the conversions are into US$1.
— Member countries notify a wide range of commodities to the WTO. The database groups commodities to facilitate data summaries in the standard tables.
— The commodity categories used in the database are listed in CommodityCategories.xls.
The product/commodity descriptions are those reported by member countries in
their notifications. The livestock category does not necessarily include beef,
pork, poultry, or other meats. Some countries report total livestock, while
others report individual commodities such as beef.
— A year will be displayed either as a calendar year or a marketing year, depending on how the country submitted its notification.
— In addition to the general rules for establishing export
subsidy commitments, the following requirements for notifications are helpful
in understanding the export subsidy notifications database.
— Developing country commitments. While developed countries are required to fully implement their commitments by 2000, developing countries may extend their implementation period through 2004. Developing countries are permitted to provide subsidies to reduce export marketing costs, and to provide internal and international transportation subsidies for agricultural exports, but must notify these subsidies.
— Commitment levels. All countries' commitment levels ("permitted export subsidy expenditures" and "export subsidy limit") are presented in the database through 2004.
— Significant exporters. Members whose share of total world exports
of certain products or product groups exceeds 5 percent are required to notify
the total volume of exports of the product(s) concerned, whether subsidized
or not. This information is included in the database. The products and significant
exporters include the following:
| Product group | Significant exporters |
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| Wheat and wheat flour | Australia |
| Coarse grains | Argentina |
| Rice | Pakistan, Thailand |
| Oilseeds | Argentina, Brazil, United States |
| Vegetable oils | Argentina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines |
| Oilcakes | Argentina, United States |
| Sugar | Australia, Cuba, Thailand |
| Butter and butter oil | New Zealand |
| Skim milk powder | New Zealand |
| Cheese | New Zealand |
| Other milk products | New Zealand |
| Bovine meat | Australia, New Zealand |
| Pigmeat | Canada |
| Poultry meat | Thailand |
| Sheepmeat | Australia, New Zealand |
| Fruit | Chile, Costa Rica, Honduras, Philippines, United States |
| Vegetables | United States |
| Tobacco | United States, Zimbabwe |
| Cotton | Australia, Pakistan, United States |
Standard Tables
The data are summarized in a set of standard tables in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets (*.xls format) that are designed for the convenience of most users.
Searchable Database
For users who are familiar with WTO notifications and want more detailed information, a searchable database is provided. See ERS' WTO glossary for definitions. The database contains two sections:
— Section 1 Expenditures
on Export Subsidies. Shows the notified commitments (maximum permitted expenditures)
and the outlays on export subsidies both in terms of the notified currency and
U.S. dollars.
— Section 2 Quantity
of Subsidized Exports. Shows the quantities of permitted subsidized exports,
with subsidies for each country and total exports.
To begin a query:
— Select the desired fields in the custom database window (such as 1996,
Columbia, and Standard report style).
— Click on the "submit" button.
— The resulting output will show the data that match up to the selected year(s), country(ies), and report style.
Information may be incomplete in some cases, resulting in blank or zero fields in the database. The database includes only data submitted by specific countries in their notification for that year. Output can be saved as a comma-delimited output file, tab-delimited output file, or an HTML output file.
The ERS authors, Mary Anne Normile and Edwin Young, wish to acknowledge
the contributions of Susan Leetmaa for the initial design of the database, Daniel
Herrmann, Rebecca Nelson, and John Vehmeyer in compiling and entering the WTO
notification data into the database, and John Hackett for developing the web
interface for the database.
Back to Overview for WTO Export Subsidy Notifications
Back to WTO Agricultural Trade Policy Commitments Database
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