tralac hosted a two-day workshop on Subsidies on 22-23 January 2009 in Cape Town, South Africa.

For some countries subsidies have been and continue to be an important part of industry support and development. The WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing measures circumscribes what kind of support is permissible. In some cases it is only when a potential challenge to industry support looks imminent that debate about such support begins.

This workshop focused on the WTO Agreement, examined case law and also reflected on experience with subsidies in several sectors including clothing and textiles and the automotive sector.

Professor Debra Steger from the University of Ottawa was a key resource person. She was the founding Director of the WTO Appellate Body, and is currently working on a book on subsidies.