export subsidy

export subsidy

a direct payment, or tax concession, made by the government to firms to encourage them to increase their EXPORTS. This is done in order to generate greater foreign exchange earnings, thereby assisting the balance of payments and helping to create additional domestic jobs.

export subsidy

a direct payment, or tax concession, or low-interest ‘soft loan’ made by the government to domestic firms to enable them to reduce their EXPORT prices. Although the widespread use of export subsidies by a country can increase its exports and assist its balance of payments, such subsidies are viewed as an ‘unfair’ trade practice by the WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION and are likely to lead to retaliatory action by other countries. See COUNTERVAILING DUTY, BEGGAR-MY-NEIGHBOUR POLICY, COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY.