State trading enterprises: notification requirements and resources

In line with Article XVII of the GATT 1994 and the Understanding on the Interpretation of Article XVII of the GATT 1994, all members must submit a notification of state trading enterprises every two years.

Members have agreed on a "working definition" of state trading enterprises for purposes of notifications in paragraph 1 of the Understanding on the Interpretation of Article XVII of the GATT 1994.

Members that maintain one or more enterprises falling within the definition must make their notification by completing the STE questionnaire available in document G/STR/3/Rev.1, whereas members that do not maintain any such enterprise must simply notify that this is the case.

Resources are available to help members comply with STE notification requirements:

• the recording of a training activity accessible to members on how to comply with notification requirements, including training materials;
• a description of STE notification requirements on the notifications portal, also available as a PDF booklet;
• an overview of the current situation of STE notifications on the notifications portal.

STE notifications are reviewed multilaterally by members in the Working Party on State Trading Enterprises.

In addition to the notification requirement under Article XVII of the GATT 1994 and the Understanding on the Interpretation of Article XVII of the GATT 1994, members have agreed to provide annually to the Committee on Agriculture information on state trading enterprises that are engaged in the exportation of agricultural products, as part of their response to the export competition questionnaire (Nairobi Decision on Export Competition, pp. 8-9).

To provide information on these enterprises, members can use the same information in their notifications under Article XVII of the GATT 1994 and in providing information under the Nairobi Decision (see G/AG/33, para. 40 d), with the following differences under the Nairobi Decision:

1. The information must be provided annually to the Committee on Agriculture.
2. The data is limited to exports.
3. Members have agreed to indicate export destinations.