歐盟反補(bǔ)貼法

歐盟反補(bǔ)貼法2026/97PAGE1歐盟反補(bǔ)貼法2026/97COUNCILREGULATION(EC)No2026/97of6October1997onprotectionagainstsubsidizedimportsfromcountriesnotmembersoftheEuropeanCommunity

THECOUNCILOFTHEEUROPEANUNION,

HavingregardtotheTreatyestablishingtheEuropeanCommunity,andinparticularArticle113thereof,

HavingregardtotheRegulationsestablishingthecommonorganizationofagriculturalmarketsandtheRegulationsadoptedpursuanttoArticle235oftheTreatyapplicabletogoodsmanufacturedfromagriculturalproducts,andinparticulartheprovisionsofthoseRegulationswhichallowforderogationfromthegeneralprinciplethatprotectivemeasuresatfrontiersmaybereplacedsolelybythemeasuresprovidedforinthoseRegulations,

HavingregardtotheproposalfromtheCommission(1),

(1)Whereas,byRegulation(EEC)No2423/88(2),theCounciladoptedcommonrulesforprotectionagainstdumpedorsubsidizedimportsfromcountrieswhicharenotmembersoftheEuropeanCommunity;

(2)Whereasthoseruleswereadoptedinaccordancewithexistinginternationalobligations,inparticularthosearisingfromArticleVIoftheGeneralAgreementonTariffsandTrade('theGATT'),fromtheAgreementonImplementationofArticleVIoftheGATT('the1979Anti-DumpingCode')andfromtheAgreementonInterpretationandApplicationofArticlesVI,XVIandXXIIIoftheGATT(CodeonSubsidiesandCountervailingDuties);

(3)WhereastheconclusionoftheUruguayRoundofmultilateraltradenegotiationshasledtotheestablishmentoftheWorldTradeOrganization('theWTO');

(4)WhereasAnnex1AtotheAgreementestablishingtheWTO('theWTOAgreement'),approvedbyDecision94/800/EC(3),contains,interalia,theGeneralAgreementonTariffsandTrade1994('theGATT1994'),anAgreementonAgriculture('theAgreementonAgriculture'),anAgreementonimplementationofArticleVIoftheGATT1994(hereinafterreferredtoas'the1994Anti-DumpingAgreement')andanewAgreementonSubsidiesandCountervailingMeasures('theSubsidiesAgreement');

(5)Whereas,inordertoreachgreatertransparencyandeffectivenessintheapplicationbytheCommunityoftheruleslaiddowninthe1994Anti-DumpingAgreementandtheSubsidiesAgreementrespectively,itisconsiderednecessarytoadopttwoseparateRegulationswhichwilllaydowninsufficientdetailtherequirementsfortheapplicationofeachofthesecommercialdefenceinstruments;

(6)WhereasitisthereforeappropriatetoamendCommunityrulesgoverningtheapplicationofcountervailingmeasuresinthelightofthenewmultilateralrules,withregardinteraliatotheproceduresforinitiationofproceedingsandtheconductofsubsequentinvestigations,includingtheestablishmentandtreatmentofthefacts,theimpositionofprovisionalmeasures,theimpositionandcollectionofcountervailingduties,thedurationandreviewofcountervailingmeasures,andthepublicdisclosureofinformationrelatingtocountervailinginvestigations;

(7)Whereas,inviewoftheextentofthechangesbroughtaboutbythenewAgreementsandtoensureanadequateandtransparentimplementationofthenewrules,itisappropriatetotransposethelanguageofthenewAgreementsintoCommunitylegislationtotheextentpossible;

(8)Whereas,furthermore,itseemsadvisabletoexplain,inadequatedetail,whenasubsidyshallbedeemedtoexist,accordingtowhichprinciplesitshallbecountervailable(inparticularwhetherthesubsidyhasbeengrantedspecifically),andaccordingtowhichcriteriatheamountofthecountervailablesubsidyistobecalculated;

(9)Whereas,indeterminingtheexistenceofasubsidy,itisnecessarytodemonstratethattherehasbeenafinancialcontributionbyagovernmentoranypublicbodywithintheterritoryofacountry,orthattherehasbeensomeformofincomeorpricesupportwithinthemeaningofArticleXVIoftheGATT1994,andthatabenefithastherebybeenconferredontherecipiententerprise;

(10)Whereasitisnecessarytoexplaininsufficientdetailwhichkindofsubsidiesarenotcountervailableandwhichprocedureshallbefollowedif,duringaninvestigation,itisdeterminedthatanenterpriseundergoinginvestigationhasreceivednon-countervailablesubsidies;

(11)WhereastheSubsidiesAgreementstatesthattheprovisionsconcerningnon-countervailablesubsidiesshallceasetoapplyfiveyearsafterthedateofentryintoforceoftheWTOAgreement,unlesstheyareextendedbymutualagreementofthemembersoftheWTO;whereasitmaythereforebenecessarytoamendthisRegulationaccordinglyifthevalidityofthoseprovisionsisnotsoextended;

(12)WhereasthemeasureslistedinAnnex2totheAgreementonAgriculturearenon-countervailable,totheextentprovidedforinthatAgreement;

(13)Whereasitisdesirabletolaydownclearanddetailedguidanceastothefactorswhichmayberelevantforthedeterminationofwhetherthesubsidizedimportshavecausedmaterialinjuryorarethreateningtocauseinjury;whereas,indemonstratingthatthevolumeandpricelevelsoftheimportsconcernedareresponsibleforinjurysustainedbyaCommunityindustry,attentionshouldbegiventotheeffectofotherfactorsandinparticularprevailingmarketconditionsintheCommunity;

(14)Whereasitisadvisabletodefinetheterm'Communityindustry'andtoprovidethatpartiesrelatedtoexportersmaybeexcludedfromsuchindustry,andtodefinetheterm'related';whereasitisalsonecessarytoprovideforcountervailingdutyactiontobetakenonbehalfofproducersinaregionoftheCommunityandtolaydownguidelinesonthedefinitionofsuchregion;

(15)Whereasitisnecessarytolaydownwhomaylodgeacountervailingdutycomplaint,includingtheextenttowhichitshouldbesupportedbytheCommunityindustry,andtheinformationoncountervailablesubsidies,injuryandcausationwhichsuchcomplaintshouldcontain;whereasitisalsoexpedienttospecifytheproceduresfortherejectionofcomplaintsortheinitiationofproceedings;

(16)Whereasitisnecessarytolaydownthemannerinwhichinterestedpartiesshouldbegivennoticeoftheinformationwhichtheauthoritiesrequire,andshouldhaveampleopportunitytopresentallrelevantevidenceandtodefendtheirinterests;whereasitisalsodesirabletosetoutclearlytherulesandprocedurestobefollowedduringtheinvestigation,inparticulartheruleswherebyinterestedpartiesaretomakethemselvesknown,presenttheirviewsandsubmitinformationwithinspecifiedtimelimits,ifsuchviewsandinformationaretobetakenintoaccount;whereasitisalsoappropriatetosetouttheconditionsunderwhichaninterestedpartymayhaveaccessto,andcommenton,informationpresentedbyotherinterestedparties;whereasthereshouldalsobecooperationbetweentheMemberStatesandtheCommissioninthecollectionofinformation;

(17)Whereasitisnecessarytolaydowntheconditionsunderwhichprovisionaldutiesmaybeimposed,includingconditionswherebytheymaybeimposednoearlierthan60daysfrominitiationandnotlaterthanninemonthsthereafter;whereassuchdutiesmayinallcasesbeimposedbytheCommissiononlyforafour-monthperiod;

(18)Whereasitisnecessarytospecifyproceduresfortheacceptanceofundertakingseliminatingoroffsettingthecountervailablesubsidiesandinjuryinlieuoftheimpositionofprovisionalordefinitiveduties;whereasitisalsoappropriatetolaydowntheconsequencesofbreachorwithdrawalofundertakingsandthatprovisionaldutiesmaybeimposedincasesofsuspectedviolationorwherefurtherinvestigationisnecessarytosupplementthefindings;whereas,inacceptingundertakings,careshouldbetakenthattheproposedundertakings,andtheirenforcement,donotleadtoanti-competitivebehaviour;

(19)Whereasitisnecessarytoprovidethattheterminationofcasesshould,irrespectiveofwhetherdefinitivemeasuresareadoptedornot,normallytakeplacewithin12months,andinnocaselaterthan13months,fromtheinitiationoftheinvestigation;

(20)Whereasaninvestigationorproceedingshouldbeterminatedwhenevertheamountofthesubsidyisfoundtobedeminimisorif,particularlyinthecaseofimportsoriginatingindevelopingcountries,thevolumeofsubsidizedimportsortheinjuryisnegligible,anditisappropriatetodefinethosecriteria;whereas,wheremeasuresaretobeimposed,itisnecessarytoprovidefortheterminationofinvestigationsandtolaydownthatmeasuresshouldbelessthantheamountofcountervailablesubsidiesifsuchlesseramountwouldremovetheinjury,andalsotospecifythemethodofcalculatingthelevelofmeasuresincasesofsampling;

(21)Whereasitisnecessarytoprovidefortheretroactivecollectionofprovisionaldutiesifthatisdeemedappropriateandtodefinethecircumstanceswhichmaytriggertheretroactiveapplicationofdutiesinordertoavoidtheunderminingofthedefinitivemeasurestobeapplied;whereasitisalsonecessarytoprovidethatdutiesmaybeappliedretroactivelyincasesofbreachorwithdrawalofundertakings;

(22)Whereasitisnecessarytoprovidethatmeasuresaretolapseafterfiveyearsunlessareviewindicatesthattheyshouldbemaintained;whereasitisalsonecessarytoprovide,incaseswheresufficientevidenceissubmittedofchangedcircumstances,forinterimreviewsorforinvestigationstodeterminewhetherrefundsofcountervailingdutiesarewarranted;

(23)Whereas,eventhoughtheSubsidiesAgreementdoesnotcontainprovisionsconcerningcircumventionofcountervailingmeasures,thepossibilityofsuchcircumventionexists,intermssimilar,albeitnotidentical,tothecircumventionofanti-dumpingmeasures;whereasitappearsthereforeappropriatetoenactananti-circumventionprovisioninthisRegulation;

(24)Whereasitisexpedienttopermitthesuspensionofcountervailingmeasureswherethereisatemporarychangeinmarketconditionswhichmakesthecontinuedimpositionofsuchmeasurestemporarilyinappropriate;

(25)Whereasitisnecessarytoprovidethatimportsunderinvestigationmaybemadesubjecttoregistrationuponimportationinordertoenablemeasurestobesubsequentlyappliedagainstsuchimports;

(26)Whereas,inordertoensureproperenforcementofmeasures,itisnecessarythatMemberStatesmonitor,andreporttotheCommission,theimporttradeinproductssubjecttoinvestigationorsubjecttomeasures,andalsotheamountofdutiescollectedunderthisRegulation;

(27)WhereasitisnecessarytoprovideforconsultationofanAdvisoryCommitteeatregularandspecifiedstagesoftheinvestigation;whereastheCommitteeshouldconsistofrepresentativesofMemberStateswitharepresentativeoftheCommissionaschairman;

(28)Whereasitisexpedienttoprovideforverificationvisitstocheckinformationsubmittedoncountervailablesubsidiesandinjury,suchvisitsbeing,however,conditionalonproperrepliestoquestionnairesbeingreceived;

(29)Whereasitisessentialtoprovideforsamplingincaseswherethenumberofpartiesortransactionsislargeinordertopermitcompletionofinvestigationswithintheappointedtimelimits;

(30)Whereas,itisnecessarytoprovidethat,wherepartiesdonotcooperatesatisfactorily,otherinformationmaybeusedtoestablishfindingsandthatsuchinformationmaybelessfavourabletothepartiesthaniftheyhadcooperated;

(31)Whereasprovisionshouldbemadeforthetreatmentofconfidentialinformationsothatbusinessorgovernmentalsecretsarenotdivulged;

(32)Whereasitisessentialthatprovisionbemadeforproperdisclosureofessentialfactsandconsiderationstopartieswhichqualifyforsuchtreatmentandthatsuchdisclosurebemade,withdueregardtothedecision-makingprocessintheCommunity,withinatimeperiodwhichpermitspartiestodefendtheirinterests;

(33)WhereasitisprudenttoprovideforanadministrativesystemunderwhichargumentscanbepresentedastowhethermeasuresareintheCommunityinterest,includingtheinterestsofconsumers,andtolaydownthetimeperiodswithinwhichsuchinformationhastobepresented,togetherwiththedisclosurerightsofthepartiesconcerned;

(34)WhereasinapplyingtherulesoftheSubsidiesAgreementitisessential,inordertomaintainthebalanceofrightsandobligationswhichthisAgreementsoughttoestablish,thattheCommunitytakeaccountoftheirinterpretationbytheCommunity'smajortradingpartners,asreflectedinlegislationorestablishedpractice;

(35)Whereas,byRegulation(EC)No3284/94of22December1994onprotectionagainstsubsidizedimportsfromcountriesnotmembersoftheEuropeanCommunity(4),theCouncilreplacedRegulation(EEC)No2423/88andinstitutedanewcommonsystemofdefenceagainstsubsidizedimportsfromcountriesnotmembersoftheEuropeanCommunity;

(36)WhereasdraftingproblemsinthetextofRegulation(EC)No3284/94becameapparentonpublication;whereas,moreover,theRegulationhasalreadybeenamended;

(37)Whereas,intheinterestsofclarity,transparencyandlegalcertainty,thatRegulationshouldthereforeberepealedandreplaced,withoutprejudicetothecountervailingproceedingsalreadyinitiatedunderitorunderRegulation(EEC)No2423/88,

HASADOPTEDTHISREGULATION:

Article1

Principles

1.Acountervailingdutymaybeimposedforthepurposeofoffsettinganysubsidygranted,directlyorindirectly,forthemanufacture,production,exportortransportofanyproductwhosereleaseforfreecirculationintheCommunitycausesinjury.

2.ForthepurposeofthisRegulation,aproductisconsideredtobesubsidizedifitbenefitsfromacountervailablesubsidyasdefinedinArticles2and3.

3.Suchsubsidymaybegrantedbythegovernmentofthecountryoforiginoftheimportedproduct,orbythegovernmentofanintermediatecountryfromwhichtheproductisexportedtotheCommunity,knownforthepurposeofthisRegulationas'thecountryofexport'.

Theterm'government'isdefined,forthepurposesofthisRegulationasagovernmentoranypublicbodywithintheterritoryofthecountryoforiginorexport.

4.Notwithstandingparagraphs1,2and3,whereproductsarenotdirectlyimportedfromthecountryoforiginbutareexportedtotheCommunityfromanintermediatecountry,theprovisionsofthisRegulationshallbefullyapplicableandthetransactionortransactionsshall,whereappropriate,beregardedashavingtakenplacebetweenthecountryoforiginandtheCommunity.

5.ForthepurposeofthisRegulationtheterm'likeproduct'shallbeinterpretedtomeanaproductwhichisidentical,thatistosay,alikeinallrespects,totheproductunderconsideration,orintheabsenceofsuchaproduct,anotherproductwhichalthoughnotalikeinallrespects,hascharacteristicscloselyresemblingthoseoftheproductunderconsideration.

Article2

Definitionofasubsidy

Asubsidyshallbedeemedtoexistif:

1.(a)thereisafinancialcontributionbyagovernmentinthecountryoforiginorexport,thatistosay,where:

(i)agovernmentpracticeinvolvesadirecttransferoffunds(forexample,grants,loans,equityinfusion),potentialdirecttransfersoffundsorliabilities(forexample,loanguarantees);

(ii)governmentrevenuethatisotherwisedueisforgoneornotcollected(forexample,fiscalincentivessuchastaxcredits);inthisregard,theexemptionofanexportedproductfromdutiesortaxesbornebythelikeproductwhendestinedfordomesticconsumption,ortheremissionofsuchdutiesortaxesinamountsnotinexcessofthosewhichhavebeenaccrued,shallnotbedeemedtobeasubsidy,providedthatsuchanexemptionisgrantedinaccordancewiththeprovisionsofAnnexesItoIII;

(iii)agovernmentprovidesgoodsorservicesotherthangeneralinfrastructure,orpurchasesgoods;

(iv)agovernment:

-makespaymentstoafundingmechanism,

or

-entrustsordirectsaprivatebodytocarryoutoneormoreofthetypeoffunctionsillustratedinpoints(i),(ii)and(iii)whichwouldnormallybevestedinthegovernment,andthepractice,innorealsense,differsfrompracticesnormallyfollowedbygovernments;

or

(b)thereisanyformofincomeorpricesupportwithinthemeaningofArticleXVIoftheGATT1994;and

2.abenefitistherebyconferred.

Article3

Countervailablesubsidies

1.Subsidiesshallbesubjecttocountervailingmeasuresonlyiftheyarespecific,asdefinedinparagraphs2,3and4.

2.Inordertodeterminewhetherasubsidyisspecifictoanenterpriseorindustryorgroupofenterprisesorindustries(hereinafterreferredtoas'certainenterprises')withinthejurisdictionofthegrantingauthority,thefollowingprinciplesshallapply:

(a)wherethegrantingauthority,orthelegislationpursuanttowhichthegrantingauthorityoperates,explicitlylimitsaccesstoasubsidytocertainenterprises,suchsubsidyshallbespecific;

(b)wherethegrantingauthority,orthelegislationpursuanttowhichthegrantingauthorityoperates,establishesobjectivecriteriaorconditionsgoverningtheeligibilityfor,andtheamountof,asubsidy,specificityshallnotexist,providedthattheeligibilityisautomaticandthatsuchcriteriaandconditionsarestrictlyadheredto.

ForthepurposeofthisArticle,objectivecriteriaorconditionsmeancriteriaorconditionswhichareneutral,whichdonotfavourcertainenterprisesoverothers,andwhichareeconomicinnatureandhorizontalinapplication,suchasnumberofemployeesorsizeofenterprise.

Thecriteriaorconditionsmustbeclearlysetoutbylaw,regulation,orotherofficialdocument,soastobecapableofverification;

(c)if,notwithstandinganyappearanceofnon-specificityresultingfromtheapplicationoftheprincipleslaiddowninsubparagraphs(a)and(b),therearereasonstobelievethatthesubsidymayinfactbespecific,otherfactorsmaybeconsidered.Suchfactorsare:useofasubsidyprogrammebyalimitednumberofcertainenterprises;predominantusebycertainenterprises;thegrantingofdisproportionatelylargeamountsofsubsidytocertainenterprises;andthemannerinwhichdiscretionhasbeenexercisedbythegrantingauthorityinthedecisiontograntasubsidy.Inthisregard,informationonthefrequencywithwhichapplicationsforasubsidyarerefusedorapprovedandthereasonsforsuchdecisionsshall,inparticular,beconsidered.

Inapplyingthefirstsubparagraph,accountshallbetakenoftheextentofdiversificationofeconomicactivitieswithinthejurisdictionofthegrantingauthority,aswellasofthelengthoftimeduringwhichthesubsidyprogrammehasbeeninoperation.

3.Asubsidywhichislimitedtocertainenterpriseslocatedwithinadesignatedgeographicalregionwithinthejurisdictionofthegrantingauthorityshallbespecific.ThesettingorchangingofgenerallyapplicabletaxratesbyalllevelsofgovernmententitledtodososhallnotbedeemedtobeaspecificsubsidyforthepurposesofthisRegulation.

4.Notwithstandingparagraphs2and3,thefollowingsubsidiesshallbedeemedtobespecific:

(a)subsidiescontingent,inlaworinfact,whethersolelyorasoneofseveralotherconditions,uponexportperformance,includingthoseillustratedinAnnexI.

Subsidiesshallbeconsideredtobecontingentinfactuponexportperformancewhenthefactsdemonstratethatthegrantingofasubsidy,withouthavingbeenmadelegallycontingentuponexportperformance,isinfacttiedtoactualoranticipatedexportationorexportearnings.Themerefactthatasubsidyisaccordedtoenterpriseswhichexportshallnotforthatreasonalonebeconsideredtobeanexportsubsidywithinthemeaningofthisprovision;

(b)subsidiescontingent,whethersolelyorasoneofseveralotherconditions,upontheuseofdomesticoverimportedgoods.

5.AnydeterminationofspecificityundertheprovisionsofthisArticleshallbeclearlysubstantiatedonthebasisofpositiveevidence.

Article4

Non-countervailablesubsidies

1.Thefollowingsubsidiesshallnotbesubjectedtocountervailingmeasures:

(a)subsidieswhicharenotspecificwithinthemeaningofArticle3(2)and(3);

(b)subsidieswhicharespecific,withinthemeaningofArticle3(2)and(3),butwhichmeettheconditionsprovidedforinparagraphs2,3or4ofthisArticle;

(c)theelementofsubsidywhichmayexistinanyofthemeasureslistedinAnnexIV.

2.Subsidiesforresearchactivitiesconductedbyfirmsorbyhighereducationorresearchestablishmentsonacontractbasiswithfirmsshallnotbesubjecttocountervailingmeasures,ifthesubsidiescovernotmorethan75%ofthecostsofindustrialresearchor50%ofthecostsofpre-competitivedevelopmentactivity,andprovidedthatsuchsubsidiesarelimitedexclusivelyto:

(a)personnelcosts(researchers,techniciansandothersupportingstaffemployedexclusivelyintheresearchactivity);

(b)costsofinstruments,equipment,landandbuildingsusedexclusivelyandpermanently(exceptwhendisposedofonacommercialbasis)fortheresearchactivity;

(c)costsofconsultancyandequivalentservicesusedexclusivelyfortheresearchactivity,includingbought-inresearch,technicalknowledge,patents,etc.;

(d)additionaloverheadcostsincurreddirectlyasaresultoftheresearchactivity;

(e)otherrunningcosts(suchasthoseofmaterials,suppliesandthelike),incurreddirectlyasaresultoftheresearchactivity.

Thefirstsubparagraphshallnotapplytocivilaircraft(asdefinedinthe1979AgreementonTradeinCivilAircraft,asamended,orinanylaterAgreementamendingorreplacingsuchAgreement).

Forthepurposeofthefirstsubparagraph:

(a)theallowablelevelsofnon-countervailablesubsidyshallbeestablishedbyreferencetothetotaleligiblecostsincurredoverthedurationofanindividualproject.

Inthecaseofprogrammeswhichspanboth'industrialresearch'and'pre-competitivedevelopmentactivity',theallowablelevelofnon-countervailablesubsidyshallnotexceedthesimpleaverageoftheallowablelevelsofnon-countervailablesubsidyapplicabletotheabovetwocategories,calculatedonthebasisofalleligiblecostsassetforthinpoints(a)to(e)ofthefirstsubparagraph;

(b)theterm'industrialresearch'meansplannedsearchorcriticalinvestigationaimedatdiscoveryofnewknowledge,withtheobjectivethatsuchknowledgemaybeusefulindevelopingnewproducts,processorservices,orinbringingaboutasignificantimprovementtoexistingproducts,processesorservices;

(c)theterm'pre-competitivedevelopmentactivity'meansthetranslationofindustrialresearchfindingsintoaplan,blueprintordesignfornew,modifiedorimprovedproducts,processesorservices,whetherintendedforsaleorforuse,includingthecreationofafirstprototypewhichwouldnotbecapableofcommercialuse.Itmayfurtherincludetheconceptualformulationanddesignofproducts,processesorservicesalternativesandinitialdemonstrationorpilotprojects,providedthatthesesameprojectscannotbeconvertedorusedforindustrialapplicationorcommercialexploitation.Itdoesnotincluderoutineorperiodicalterationstoexistingproducts,productionlines,manufacturingprocess,services,andotherongoingoperationseventhoughthosealterationsmayrepresentimprovements.

3.Subsidiestodisadvantagedregionswithintheterritoryofthecountryoforiginand/orexport,givenpursuanttoageneralframeworkofregionaldevelopment,whichwouldbenon-specificifthecriterialaiddowninArticle3(2)and(3)wereappliedtoeacheligibleregionconcerned,shallnotbesubjecttocountervailingmeasures,providedthat:

(a)eachdisadvantagedregionisaclearlydesignatedcontiguousgeographicalareawithadefinableeconomicandadministrativeidentity;

(b)theregionisregardedasdisadvantagedonthebasisofneutralandobjectivecriteria,indicatingthattheregion'sdifficultiesariseoutofmorethantemporarycircumstances;suchcriteriamustbeclearlyspelledoutbylaw,regulation,orotherofficialdocument,soastobecapableofverification;

(c)thecriteriamentionedunder(b)includeameasurementofeconomicdevelopmentwhichshallbebasedonatleastoneofthefollowingfactors:

-eitherincomepercapita,orhouseholdincomepercapita,orGDPpercapita,whichmustnotbeabove85%oftheaveragefortheterritoryofthecountryoforiginorexportconcerned,

-unemploymentrate,whichmustbeatleast110%oftheaveragefortheterritoryofthecountryoforiginorexportconcerned;

asmeasuredoverathree-yearperiod;suchmeasurement,however,maybeacompositeoneandmayincludeotherfactors.

Forthepurposeofthefirstsubparagraph:

(a)a'generalframeworkofregionaldevelopment'meansthatregionalsubsidyprogrammesarepartofaninternallyconsistentandgenerallyapplicableregionaldevelopmentpolicyandthatregionaldevelopmentsubsidiesarenotgrantedinisolatedgeographicalpointshavingno,orvirtuallyno,influenceonthedevelopmentofaregion;

(b)'neutralandobjectivecriteria'meanscriteriawhichdonotfavourcertainregionsbeyondwhatisappropriatefortheeliminationorreductionofregionaldisparitieswithintheframeworkoftheregionaldevelopmentpolicy.Inthisregard,regionalsubsidyprogrammesshallincludeceilingsontheamountofsubsidywhichcanbegrantedtoeachsubsidizedproject.Suchceilingsmustbedifferentiatedaccordingtothedifferentlevelsofdevelopmentofeligibleregionsandmustbeexpressedintermsofinvestmentcostsorthecostofjobcreation.Withinsuchceilings,thedistributionofsubsidyshallbesufficientlybroadandeventoavoidthepredominantuseofasubsidyby,orthegrantingofdisproportionatelylargeamountsofsubsidyto,certainenterprises.

ThisprovisionshallbeappliedinthelightofthecriteriasetoutinArticle3(2)and(3).

4.Subsidiestopromoteadaptationofexistingfacilitiestonewenvironmentalrequirementsimposedbylawand/orregulationwhichresultingreaterconstraintsandfinancialburdenonfirmsshallnotbesubjecttocountervailingmeasures,providedthatthesubsidy:

(a)isaone-offnon-recurringmeasure;and

(b)islimitedto20%ofthecostofadaptation;and

(c)doesnotcoverthecostofreplacingandoperatingthesubsidizedinvestment,whichmustbefu