he EU sugar regime is challenged
Citation
CTA. 2002. he EU sugar regime is challenged. Agritrade, November 2002. CTA, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Permanent link to cite or share this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10568/52610
External link to download this item: http://agritrade.cta.int/Back-issues/Agriculture-monthly-news-update/2002/November-2002
Abstract/Description
Brazil and Australia initiated consultations
...
Notes
Brazil and Australia initiated consultations
with the EU on its sugar regime at the September 27th 2002 meeting
of the WTO Dispute Settlement Body. This is the first stage in a
challenge to the WTO compatibility of certain aspects of the EU
sugar regime. The two countries claim that EU subsidies are trade
distorting and fall foul of WTO rules. Brazil has targeted exports
of 'C' sugar - that is the sugar produced in the EU outside the
'A' and 'B' quotas; 'C' sugar is not officially part of the EU sugar
regime and must be sold internationally without benefit of export
refunds. The Australian challenge focuses on the following EU measures:
export subsidies on sugar and products incorporating sugar in
excess of its WTO export subsidy obligations;
discriminatory subsidies to EU refiners, in respect of its WTO
National Treatment Obligations.
It is not expected that the current consultations will result in
a mutually agreeable settlement, so the dispute will go to the dispute
panel stage within 60 days.
Four ACP countries (Fiji, Guyana, Mauritius and Swaziland) asked
to join in the WTO consultations in early October 4. The Commission
is anticipating support from these countries and other ACP states.
Trade Commissioner Lamy claimed that the action by Brazil and Australia
was disastrous news for many small countries that are poorer than
Australia and Brazil.
Comment:
The current challenge to the EU Sugar regime needs to be seen both
in the general context of the trajectory of CAP reform and in the
context of the European Commission's efforts since 1992 to promote
a reform of the EU sugar regime. According to the EU Court of Auditors,
the EU sugar regime is now out of step with the main trajectory
of CAP reform
The timing of the Brazilian and Australian action and the time
frame for the WTO procedures to be followed are likely to result
in a conclusion some time in 2004, on the eve of the European Commission
putting forward draft proposals for reform of the EU sugar regime
in 2006. While the Trade Directorate of the Commission is currently
mobilising strongly to resist the Brazilian and Australian action,
DG Agriculture may well be 'sharpening their pens' with a view to
once more proposing the introduction of a shift from price support
to direct aid in the sugar sector, in response to the WTO action.
The reality is that the Brazilian and Australian action may well
strengthen the hand of those in the EU who wish to see the sugar
sector brought into the main stream of CAP reform (this includes
Commission Fischler who has spoken of taking sugar into a multi-product
de-coupled system of farm support).
If this were to occur then the value of sugar preferences enjoyed
by the ACP would decline anyway, regardless of the challenge (a
25% price reduction would result in income losses of €
250
million for ACP sugar exporters). The European Commission however
could argue this was the result of WTO actions rather than the internally
driven process of reform.
Against this background the question arises: what assurances are
ACP sugar producers getting that their support at the WTO will help
secure the value of the current trade preferences they enjoy?
Organizations Affiliated to the Authors
Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural CooperationCollections
- CTA Agritrade [1158]