Colombia has notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that on 6 August 2013 it initiated safeguard investigations on steel angles (“L profiles”) and on steel square profiles and plates, and that on 9 August 2013 it initiated a safeguard investigation on iron and steel bars and wire.
In its notification, Colombia indicated that on 14 and 16 August 2013 respectively it had invited interested parties wishing to express their views to do so within thirty working days, and that it on 16 August 2013 had sent to interested parties communications informing them of the initiation of the investigations and requesting them to complete questionnaires within 30 working days.
A safeguard investigation seeks to determine whether increased imports of a product are causing, or is threatening to cause, serious injury to a domestic industry.
During a safeguard investigation, importers, exporters and other interested parties may present evidence and views and respond to the presentations of other parties.
A WTO member may take a safeguard action (i.e. restrict imports of a product temporarily) only if the increased imports of the product are found to be causing, or threatening to cause, serious injury.