Due to the complex nature of the investigation compared to Anti-dumping, Anti-subsidy measures are often less used. However, the number of Anti-subsidy investigations is generally on the rise. The peak in 2020 was 56 Anti-subsidy investigations. In the period 2021-2022, the number of cases has decreased significantly with only 18 cases in 2021 and 19 cases in 2022. However, this number has increased relatively in 2023 with 27 cases initiated.

 

Chart 1: Anti-subsidy investigation initiated over the years (1995-2023)

 

 

Source: WTO statistics

 

The United States is the largest user of Anti-subsidy measures with 330 initiations and 217 impositions, followed by the EU (95 initiations, 49 duty impositions), and Canada (80 initiations, 43 duty impositions). It is clear that developed countries use countervailing measures more often, although the total number of Anti-subsidy investigations is still much less than the number of Anti-dumping investigations.

 

Chart 2: Top economies using Anti-subsidy measures the most (1995-2023)

 

 

Source: WTO statistics

 

Top countries/territories subject to the most Anti-Subsidy measures by Australia

 

Compared to anti-dumping measures, Australia uses Anti-subsidy measures relatively sparingly. However, Australia is still among the economies that apply this tool the most (after the United States, the EU, and Canada). According to WTO data as of the end of 2023, Australia has initiated a total of 41 Anti-subsidy investigations and imposed duties on 18 cases.

 

However, in the past 2 years (2022-2023), Australia has not initiated or imposed duties on any Anti-subsidy investigations.

 

Chart 3: Anti-subsidy investigations by Australia: initiating and imposing (1995-2023)

 

 

Source: WTO statistics

 

According to WTO statistics, China and Vietnam are the two countries that are most investigated for Anti-subsidy by Australia, accounting for 51.2% and 12.2% of the total number of Anti-subsidy investigations initiated by Australia, respectively. However, the two countries that are most subject to Anti-subsidy measures against Australia are China and France, accounting for 72.2% and 11.1% of the total number of Anti-subsidy investigations applied by Australia, respectively.

 

Table 1: Top countries/territories subject to the most Anti-subsidy measures by Australia (1995-2023)

 

	Number of initiated cases	Ration of total Anti-subsidy investigations in all WTO members	Number of initiated cases	Ration of total Anti-subsidy investigations in all WTO members
China	21	51,2%	13	72,2%
Vietnam	5	12,2%	0	0,0%
France	2	4,9%	2	11,1%
Italia	2	4,9%	0	0,0%
Malaysia	2	4,9%	1	5,6%
South Africa	2	4,9%	0	0,0%
Others	7	17,1%	2	11,1%
Total	41	100%	18	100%

 

Source: WTO statistics

 

Sectors subject to the most Anti-subsidy measures byAustralia

 

According to WTO statistics from 1995-2023, base metals and articles are the most Anti-subsidy duties globally, accounting for 49.3% of the total number of all imposed measures, followed by products of the chemical and allied industries (accounting for 10.1%) and plastics and rubber (accounting for 7.5%).

 

Chart 4: Top sectors subject to the most Anti-subsidy measures globally (1995-2023)

 

 

Source: WTO statistics

 

In Australia, base metal is the product subject to the most Anti-subsidy measures (accounting for 61.1% of the total 18 cases subject to Anti-subsidy duties in this country), followed by processed foods; beverages, wine, vinegar; and tobacco (accounting for 11.1%).

 

Table 2: Top sectors subject to the most Anti-subsidy measures by Australia

 

Sector	Number of applied measures	Ratio
Base metals and articles of base metal	11	61,1%
Prepared foods; beverages, alcohol, vinegar; tobacco	2	11,1%
Others	9	27,8%
Total	18	100%

 

Source: WTO statistics

 

Source: Center for WTO and International Trade - VCCI