subsidies between the United States of America (USA) and Canada
19 December 2007
On 17 December 2007 the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Dispute Settlement
Body (DSB) established a panel in the dispute between the United States of
America and Canada on subsidies and other domestic support for corn and other
agricultural products.
South Africa (SA), as a major producer and exporter of maize and other
agricultural products today reserved its rights to participate in this dispute
as a third party.
The participation as a third party in this panel is consistent with South
Africa's approach in the WTO Doha Development Round of agricultural
negotiations that seek to facilitate a substantial and real reduction in trade
and production-distorting subsidies. South Africa believes that trade and
production-distorting agricultural subsidies, mainly used by developed
countries, negatively impact on the development of its agricultural sector and
on the African continent.
South Africa's participation in the dispute is in close co-operation between
the Departments of Trade and Industry and Agriculture and with support from the
Maize Trust and other interest groups.
For further information contact:
Steve Galane
Acting Chief of Communications
Tel: 012 319 7312
Cell: 083 635 7346
Issued by: Department of Agriculture
19 December 2007
