This is the “amber box with conditions”, conditions designed to reduce distortion.

The default color categories have generic names, such as Red Category and Blue Category.

Blue box programs also are not subject to reduction commitments.

Members recognize the role of the Blue Box in promoting agricultural reforms.

EU: the Blue Box and other support measures to agriculture G/AG/NG/W/17

At the moment, the Blue Box is a permanent provision of the agreement.

At present, there are no limits on spending on blue box subsidies.

Spending in the blue category does not have to be reduced but cannot increase.

If the first swatch was green, English speakers could easily pick out the second swatch if its color crossed over into the English category blue.

These countries see the Blue Box as an interim or transitional measure to help subsidizing countries move away from Amber Box subsidies.

Any support that would normally be in the amber box is placed in the blue box if the support also requires agricultural producers to limit production (Article 6.5).

Any support that would normally be in the amber box, is placed in the blue box if the support also requires farmers to limit production (details set out in Paragraph 5 of Article 6 of the Agreement on Agriculture ).

Some liberalizers call for the Blue Box to be phased out over a period to be negotiated.

They consider the Blue Box to have been a temporary measure that distorts trade and has outlived its usefulness.