The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an international organization that aims to promote free trade and reduce barriers to trade between countries. One of the key issues that the WTO addresses is the use of subsidies by governments to support their domestic industries. The WTO subsidies agreement text is a critical document that outlines the rules and regulations related to the use of subsidies in international trade.

The WTO subsidies agreement text is part of the broader WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM Agreement), which was established in 1994 as part of the Uruguay Round of negotiations. The SCM Agreement sets out the rules that govern the use of subsidies by governments to support their domestic industries.

Under the SCM Agreement, subsidies are defined as financial contributions that are provided by governments or public entities to support the production or export of goods and services. The agreement distinguishes between two types of subsidies: prohibited subsidies and actionable subsidies.

Prohibited subsidies are subsidies that are considered to be particularly harmful to international trade and are therefore prohibited under the SCM Agreement. These include subsidies that are contingent on the use of domestic over imported goods, subsidies that are tied to export performance, and subsidies that are given to industries that are in a position to dominate the global market.

Actionable subsidies, on the other hand, are subsidies that are not prohibited but are subject to specific requirements under the SCM Agreement. These include requirements to investigate and take action against subsidies that cause harm to other countries` industries and to provide information about the subsidies that are being provided.

The WTO subsidies agreement text also includes provisions related to the transparency and notification of subsidies. Governments are required to provide information about the subsidies that they provide, including the nature, amount, and purpose of the subsidies. This information is shared with other WTO members to ensure that there is a level playing field in international trade.

In conclusion, the WTO subsidies agreement text is a critical document that provides the rules and regulations related to the use of subsidies in international trade. The agreement distinguishes between prohibited and actionable subsidies and includes provisions related to transparency and notification. By promoting fair and open trade, the WTO subsidies agreement text plays a vital role in supporting the global economy.