Brazil and Canada have both renewed their complaints against agricultural subsidies by the United States, the World Trade Organisation said on Friday. Both countries have requested that their complaints be heard at the next meeting of the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) on November 19, according to the latest DSB agenda.
Canada first requested DSB mediation over its complaint in June. The US blocked this, as is its right under WTO rules, but a second request will automatically see the panel adopt the complaint.
Brazil meanwhile filed its complaint in July. Since then it has been involved in bilateral discussions with the United States, but as these have yet to yield any progress, it is lodging a first panel request at the DSB. Canada claims Washington violated WTO commitments on subsidies to a wide variety of crops including corn, wheat, soybeans, sugar, peas and beans.
In 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005, the US exceeded its WTO commitments on subsidies by billions of dollars each year, Canada said. Brazil's complaint covers subsidies over the same period. In 2005, the DSB ruled that US farm subsidies gave US cotton an unfair advantage in the world market, seriously harming Brazil's cotton growers.