2018 – part1 – 1 – 4

The European Union launches safeguard investigation on certain steel products

On 27 March 2018, the European Union notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it initiated on 26 March 2018 a safeguard investigation on certain steel products.

In the notification the EU indicated, among other things, as follows:

“Commission address for correspondence:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Trade

Directorate H, Unit H5

Office: CHAR 03/66

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

E-mail address: TRADE-SAFEGUARD-STEEL@ec.europa.eu

[…]

All interested parties including exporting producers, importers and users of the products concerned and their associations are invited to make known their views in writing, submit information and to provide supporting evidence. Representations in a free format should be submitted within 21 days of the date of publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union. Interested parties may make themselves known by contacting the Commission, preferably by e-mail, immediately but no later than 15 days after the publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, and request a questionnaire. The completed questionnaire should be submitted within 21 days from the date on which they are sent.”

Further information is available in G/SG/N/6/EU/1.

What is a safeguard investigation?

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.

Source: wto.org