  
  
G/SCM/Q2/USA/81  
 
29 September 2021  
(21-7301) Page: 1/1 
Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures  Original: English  
 
 
SUBSIDIES  
REPLIES TO QUESTIONS1 POSED BY NEW ZEALAND REGARDING THE  
NEW AND FULL NOTIFICATION OF THE UNITED STATES2  
The following communication, dated 28 September 2021 and received 29 September 2021 , is being 
circulated at the  request of the delegation of the United States . 
 
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The United States respectfully provides the following responses to New Zealand:  
Question 1  
Can the United States provide further detail on how it ensures that fishing levels do not 
exceed pre -disaster levels and are kept at sustainable levels?  
Reply : 
Any disaster assistance is always provided in the context of existing fishery management laws and 
regulations that ensure the sustainability of the relevant fishery.  Given our statutory requirements 
to prevent overfishing and rebuild overfished stocks, fi shing levels following  a disaster must be at 
sustainable levels. The Magnuson -Stevens Act requires the use of Annual Catch Limits (ACL), which 
must prevent overfishing based on the best available scientific information.  
Question 2  
Can the United States pro vide further information on whether the funding provided 
through the "Fishery Disaster Assistance Program" are direct transfers, or for specific 
activities or operating costs?  
Reply : 
The assistance is in the form of a grant to offset the costs incurred fro m the disaster, including lost 
revenues, infrastructure damage, and habitat restoration. U.S. fishery disaster policy, per the 
statutory requirements for the program, allows for disaster funds to be used for assessing the 
economic and social effects of the  disaster’s impact on the  commercial fishery and for activities that 
restore the fishery or mitigate the effects of similar disasters in the future and to assist a n affected  
fishing community. Additionally, any such activity may not expand the size or scop e of the 
commercial fishery affected by the disaster or into other fisheries or other geographic regions.  
 
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1 G/SCM/Q2/USA/80.  
2 G/SCM/N/343/USA/Suppl.1.  