Thread by @CoppetainPU

@DavidKleimann Hmm. Yes and no, I’d say.

YES: The text (latest December 2008) does include broad cuts for overall trade-distorting domestic support (OTDS), further disciplines if more distorting (AMS), and different treatment for developed v developing countries

docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…

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@DavidKleimann And NO:

1. Fixed end date (2030)
2, Target for worldwide trade-distorting support entitlements: cut by half
3. How the variations are achieved within the target is left open

4. … continued …

docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…

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@DavidKleimann NO continued:

4. Broad reference to “all forms” of trade/production-distorting support. So, no distinction between “AMS” entitlements (usually big, eg US, EU, Japan etc) and “de minimis” (“smaller”, for everyone, but now big for India, China).

docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…

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@DavidKleimann NO continued:

5. No product-specific v non-product specific
6. “proportionate to … potential impact” is very broad. Not necessarily narrowly-defined OTDS, AMS, Blue Box

7. … continued…

docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…

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@DavidKleimann NO cont:

7. “individual development needs” can be done in many ways, not just variations in cuts and implementation.
8. Would there be formulas? Request-offer talks, or just offers from smaller countries (Trade Facilitation model)

9 … continued …

docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…

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@DavidKleimann NO cont:
9. “Entitlements” redefined? AMS/de minimis still based on 1986–88 into 2030?

I’ve no idea if the Cairns Group has any of that in mind. The more concepts are redefined, fine tuned—if down to product-specific support—the longer it will take

docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…

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@DavidKleimann Now blogged (sort of)

tradebetablog.wordpress.com/technical-note…