1、Order Code RS22724September 18, 2007Canadas WTO Case Against U.S. Agricultural Support: A Brief OverviewRandy SchnepfSpecialist in Agricultural PolicyResources, Science, and Industry DivisionSummaryOn June 7, 2007, the Canadian government requested the establishment of a WorldTrade Organization (WTO
2、) dispute settlement panel to consider two charges againstU.S. farm programs first, that the United States has exceeded its annual commitmentlevels for total Aggregate Measurement of Support (AMS) in each of the years 1999,2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2005, and second, that the U.S. export credit gua
3、ranteeprogram operates as a WTO-illegal export subsidy. Both charges stem from a previousnegative ruling against U.S. farm programs in a case brought by Brazil against the U.S.cotton program.The United States blocked Canadas request from proceeding at the June 21, 2007,meeting of the WTOs Dispute Se
4、ttlement Body (DSB). According to WTO rules, apanel can only be blocked once, implying that a second request by Canada would haveto be honored at a subsequent DSB meeting. However, Canada has since refrained frompursuing its panel request at subsequent biweekly DSB meetings. Canadian officialsappear