Analytical Note, November 2009
Comparing the Special Safeguard Provision (SSG) and the Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM): Special and Differential Treatment for Whom?.
The Special Safeguard Provision (SSG) in the WTO’s Agreement on Agriculture is an instrument that is regularly used by a number of developed countries to protect their agricultural sector. Most developing countries do not have access to the SSG.
The Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM) has been proposed by a large number of developing countries in the Doha Round so that they too can avail of a similar and an even more effective safeguard mechanism than the SSG. Unfortunately, the conditions for the SSM have been so diluted as to make it difficult to use, and in many aspects less effective than the SSG. This paper provides a detailed comparison between the two instruments.
This article was tagged: Agriculture, Doha Development Round, Safeguards, Special and Differential Treatment, Tariffs, Trade for Development, Trade Liberalization, World Trade Organization (WTO)
