Breadcrumb

Measures Concerning Sugar and Sugarcane (Australia)


Status: Pending

Subject: Agreement on Agriculture, GATT 1994, SCM Agreement,

Respondent: India

Complainant(s): Australia,

Third Parties: Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, United States, China, European Union, Russian Federation, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand,

Dispute Number: DS580

Link to Dispute Site: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds580_e.htm



On February 27, 2019, Australia requested consultations with India concerning support allegedly provided by India in favor of producers of sugarcane and sugar (domestic support measures), as well as all export subsidies that India allegedly provides for sugar and sugarcane (export subsidy measures).

Australia claimed that the domestic support measures appear to be inconsistent with:

• Articles 3.2, 6.3 and 7.2(b) of the Agreement on Agriculture; and

• Article XVI of the GATT.

Australia claimed that the export subsidy measures appear to be inconsistent with:

• Articles 3.3, 8, 9.1, 10.1, 18.2, 18.3 of the Agreement on Agriculture;

• Articles 3 and 25 of the SCM Agreement; and

• Article XVI of the GATT.

Australia submitted, together with its consultations request, a statement of available evidence pursuant to Article 4.2 of the SCM Agreement. On March 11, 2019, Guatemala requested to join the consultations.

On March 12, 2019, Brazil, Costa Rica and the European Union requested to join the consultations. On March 14, 2019, Thailand requested to join the consultations.

On July 11, 2019, Australia requested the establishment of a Panel. At its meeting on July 22, 2019, the DSB deferred the establishment of a panel.

At its meeting on August 15, 2019, the DSB established a panel. Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, the European Union, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Japan, Panama, the Russian Federation, Thailand and the United States reserved their third-party rights.

On October 16, 2019, Australia requested the Director-General to compose the panel. On October 28, 2019, the Director-General composed the panel.
 

Panel Proceedings
Brief Date Brief Description
01/15/2021 U.S. Third-Party Executive Summary
04/09/2020 U.S. Third-Party Submission
04/08/2020 U.S. Comments on India’s Preliminary Ruling Request