WORLD TRADE G/SG/N/1/HND/2
19June1997
ORGANIZATION(97-2518)
Original: Spanish Committee onSafeguards
NOTIFICATIONS OFLAWS, REGULATIONS AND
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES RELATING
TOSAFEGUARD MEASURES
HONDURAS
Thefollowingcommunication,dated3June1997,hasbeenreceivedfromthePermanentMission
ofHonduras.
_________________
Further toourcommunication S-119-95 of13March 1995andinaccordance withArticle 12.6
oftheWTO Agreement onSafeguards, Ienclose acopyofthefinalversion ofthe"Central American
Regulations onSafeguard Measures".G/SG/N/1/HND/2
Page2
DECISION No.115-96
THE PRESIDENT OFTHE REPUBLIC
WHEREAS: ByDecree No.222-92 of10December 1992, theSovereign National Congress
approved theProtocol ofAccession ofHonduras totheConvention ontheCentral American Tariff
andCustoms Regime;
WHEREAS: ByDecree 59-93 of31March 1993, theSovereign National Congress approved
there-establishmentoffreetradebetweenHonduras,Guatemala,ElSalvador,NicaraguaandCostaRica,
onthebasis oftheGeneral Treaty onEconomic Integration, forallnatural ormanufactured products
originating intheirrespective territories;
WHEREAS: TheFourth Meeting oftheCouncil ofMinisters Responsible forEconomic
Integration andRegional Development, byResolution No.19-96 of22May1996, approved theCentral
American Regulations onSafeguard Measures;
THEREFORE: Byvirtue ofthepowers conferred onhimbyArticle No.245.11 ofthe
Constitution oftheRepublic andArticles 116and118oftheCivil Service Act
DECIDES:
Firstly: Toincorporate inthenational legalsystem forobservance andapplication the"Central
American Regulations onSafeguard Measures" approved bytheCouncil ofMinisters Responsible for
Economic Integration andRegional Development atitsFourth Meeting heldon22Mayofthisyear,
inGuatemala City, which isannexed tothisAgreement.
Secondly: That, inaccordance withResolution No.19-96 of22May1996 oftheCouncil
ofMinisters Responsible forEconomic Integration andRegional Development, the"Central American
Regulations onSafeguard Measures" shallenterintoforce inalltheStates Parties from22June1996.
Done inthecityofTegucigalpa, Municipality oftheCentral District, on5June1996.
FOR COMMUNICATION:
CARLOS ROBERTO REINA
Secretary ofState fortheEconomy andTrade
FERNANDO E.GARC ÍAR.G/SG/N/1/HND/2
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PERMANENT SECRETARIAT OFTHE GENERAL TREATY ON
CENTRAL AMERICAN ECONOMIC INTEGRATION
CENTRAL AMERICAN REGULATIONS ONSAFEGUARD MEASURES
CONTENTS
Page
CHAPTER I.GENERAL PROVISIONS .............................. 4
Article 1. Definitions ........................................ 4
Article 2. Object oftheRegulations ............................... 5
Article 3. Scope ........................................... 5
Article 4. Substantive rules .................................... 6
Article 5. Initiation ofproceedings ................................ 6
CHAPTER II.PROCEDURE FOR THE ADOPTION OFSAFEGUARD
MEASURES AGAINST THIRD COUNTRIES ................. 6
Article 6. Purpose oftheprocedure ............................... 6
Article 7. Investigating authority ................................. 6
Article 8. Period covered bytheinvestigation ......................... 6
Article 9. Standing .......................................... 7
Article 10. Application requirements ............................... 7
Article 11. Examination oftheapplication ............................ 7
Article 12. Notification ofrejection oftheapplication .................... 8
Article 13. Resolution fortheopening ofaninvestigation .................. 8
Article 14. Information tobecontained intheresolution
fortheopening ofaninvestigation ......................... 8
Article 15. Notification oftheopening ofaninvestigation .................. 8
Article 16. Time-limit fortheinvestigation ........................... 9
Article 17. Access toinformation andthefile.......................... 9
Article 18. Investigative powers .................................. 9
Article 19. Application andduration ofprovisional measures ................ 9
Article 20. Nature ofprovisional measures ........................... 9
Article 21. Notifications andconsultations ............................10
Article 22. Public hearing ......................................10
Article 23. Statements ........................................10
Article 24. Conclusion oftheinvestigation ...........................10
Article 25. Final resolution .....................................10
Article 26. Requirements ofthefinalresolution ........................11
Article 27. Consultations andcompensation ...........................11
Article 28. Notifications .......................................11
Article 29. Duration ofsafeguard measures ...........................11
Article 30. Imposition ofthesafeguard measures ........................11
Article 31. Causal link........................................12
Article 32. Transmittal totheCouncil ..............................12
Article 33. Suspension oftheinvestigation ...........................12
Article 34. Review ofmeasures ..................................12G/SG/N/1/HND/2
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Page
Article 35. Publication ........................................12
Article 36. Appeals ..........................................13
Article 37. Safeguard measures against adeveloping country ................13
CHAPTER III. FINAL PROVISIONS ................................13
Article 38. Amendments totheRegulations ...........................13
Article 39. Calculation oftime-limits ...............................13
Article 40. Implementing body ...................................13
Article 41. Suppletive application .................................13
Article 42. Epigraphs .........................................14
Article 43. Repeal clause ......................................14
CENTRAL AMERICAN REGULATIONS ONSAFEGUARD MEASURES
CHAPTER I
General Provisions
Article 1
(Definitions)
Forthepurposes ofthese Regulations, theexpressions usedbelow shallhavethefollowing
meaning:
Agreement: TheAgreement onSafeguards annexed totheAgreement Establishing theWorld
Trade Organization.
Investigating authority: TheDirectorate orDirectorate-General ofIntegration oftheMinistry
oftheEconomy or,asthecasemaybe,theDirectorate competent formatters pertaining toCentral
American economic integration ineachState Party, orthetechnical unitwithresponsibility for
investigating situations tending towards theapplication ofthesafeguard measures provided forinthese
Regulations.
Council ofMinisters: TheCouncil ofMinisters forEconomic Integration setupbyArticle 37
oftheGuatemala Protocol.
Convention: TheConvention ontheCentral American Tariff andCustoms Regime andits
Protocols.
States Parties: TheStates Parties totheGeneral Treaty onCentral American Economic
Integration, theGuatemala Protocol, andtheConvention ontheCentral American Tariff andCustoms
Regime.
GATT 1994: TheGeneral Agreement onTariffs andTrade 1994 annexed totheAgreement
Establishing theWorld Trade Organization.G/SG/N/1/HND/2
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Substantial interest: Interested WTO Members thatexport theproduct subject tothemeasure
andwould beaffected byitshallbeconsidered tohaveasubstantial interest inthemeasure.
Minister:TheMinisterofeachStatePartyhavingresponsibilityformattersrelatingtoeconomic
integration or,asthecasemaybe,theapplication ofsafeguard measures.
WTO: TheWorld Trade Organization.
Interested parties: (a)Anexporter orforeign producer ortheimporter ofaproduct subject
toinvestigation, oratrade orbusiness association amajority ofthemembers ofwhich areproducers,
exporters orimporters ofsuchproduct; (b)thegovernment ofthecountry orcountries oforigin or
provenance oftheproducts subject toinvestigation; and(c)aproducer ofthelikeordirectly competitive
product intheimporting State Party oratrade andbusiness association amajority ofthemembers
ofwhich produce thelikeordirectly competitive product intheterritory oftheState Party.
Likeproduct: Aproduct which isidentical, i.e.alike inallrespects totheproduct under
consideration, orintheabsence ofsuchaproduct, another product which, although notalike inall
respects, hascharacteristics closely resembling those oftheproduct under consideration.
Directly competitive product: Aproduct which isnotalikeproduct totheonewithwhich
itiscompared butisessentially equivalent forcommercial purposes because itisintended forthesame
useandisinterchangeable withthelatter product.
Guatemala Protocol: TheProtocol totheGeneral Treaty onCentral American Economic
Integration, signed on29October 1993.
Domestic industry: Theproducers asawhole ofthelikeordirectly competitive products
operating within theterritory ofaStateParty orthose ofthemwhose collective output oflikeordirectly
competitive products constitutes atleast25percentofthetotaldomestic production ofthose products.
Region: AlloftheStates Parties asawhole.
SIECA: TheSecretariat ofCentral American Economic Integration.
Third countries: Countries thatarenotStates Parties.
Article 2
(Object oftheRegulations)
These Regulations setouttheprovisions fortheimplementation ofArticle XIXofGATT 1994,
theAgreement, andasappropriate theprovisions oftheGuatemala Protocol andtheConvention.
Article 3
(Scope)
ThesafeguardmeasureswhichtheseRegulationsrefershallapplytoimportsfromthirdcountries.G/SG/N/1/HND/2
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Article 4
(Substantive Rules)
Allthesubstantive aspects relating totheapplication ofsafeguard measures shallbedetermined
bytheprovisions oftheinstruments referred toinArticle 2ofthese Regulations.
Article 5
(Initiation ofProceedings)
Theprocess ofinvestigation forthepurpose ofverifying whether safeguard measures should
beapplied maybeinitiated onapplication byaparty or,inexceptional cases determined bythe
investigating authority, exofficio inaccordance withtheprovisions ofthese Regulations andthe
Agreement.
Where theinvestigating authority proceeds exofficio ,itshallnotify thedomestic industry for
confirmation ofitsconsent tothecontinuation oftheinvestigation.
CHAPTER II
Procedure fortheAdoption ofSafeguard Measures Against Third Countries
Article 6
(Purpose oftheProcedure)
Thepurpose oftheinvestigation procedure shallbetodetermine whether ornotitisappropriate
toapply safeguard measures when aproduct isbeing imported intotheterritory ofaStateParty from
third countries insuchincreased quantities, absolute orrelative todomestic production, andunder
suchconditions astocause orthreaten tocause serious injury tothedomestic industry thatproduces
likeordirectly competitive products.
Article 7
(Investigating Authority)
Theinvestigating authority shallcarry outtheenquiries, analyses andevaluations itseesfit
inorder todetermine theexistence ofincreased imports, serious injury orthreat thereof, andthecausal
linkbetween thetwo,forthepurpose ofestablishing whether itisappropriate toimpose asafeguard
measure.
Article 8
(Period Covered bytheInvestigation)
Theperiod covered bytheinvestigation shallbeunderstood tobetheperiod covered byimports
ofproducts thatareliketoordirectly competitive withdomestic products, which aretaking place in
suchquantities andconditions astocause orthreaten tocause serious injury tothedomestic industry.
Theperiod covered bytheinvestigation shallbedetermined bytheinvestigating authority in
theresolution fortheopening oftheinvestigation, andmaybemodified bythatauthority when itseesG/SG/N/1/HND/2
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fit.Inthelatter case, theresolutions imposing provisional orfinalsafeguard measures shallreferto
themodified period.
Article 9
(Standing)
Applications fortheinitiation ofaninvestigation procedure maybemade bytherepresentatives
ofthedomestic industry prejudiced bytheimports concerning which theinvestigation isrequested
andbytherepresentatives ofproducers associations similarly affected.
Article 10
(Application Requirements)
Anapplicationfortheopeningofaninvestigationshallcontainatleastthefollowinginformation:
(a)designation oftheinvestigating authority towhich theapplication ismade; (b)particulars ofthe
applicant, andinthecaseofalegalrepresentative, theaccreditation documents; (c)activity inwhich
theaffected producer(s) is/are engaged; (d)description oftheimported product orproducts, giving
specifications andinformation enabling theproduct(s) tobecompared withdomestic products, and
therelevant tariff heading; (e) description oftheaffected domestic product anditstariff
heading; (f)information demonstrating theincrease inthevolume ofimports ofthelikeordirectly
competitive product; (g)information demonstrating theexistence ofserious injury orthreat thereof
toadomestic industry; (h)volume andvalue ofdomestic production oftheproduct liketoordirectly
competitive withtheimported product; (i)description oftheapplicant 'sshare, involume andvalue
terms, ofdomestic production, orasthecasemaybe,thatofthemembers oftheorganization towhich
theapplicant belongs, indicating thepercentage share oftheoutput oftheirproducts within domestic
production; (j)volume andvalue ofimports; (k)request fortheopening oftheinvestigation and
fortheimposition ofasafeguard measure; (l)listofknown importers andexporters andplace at
which theymaybenotified; (m)country orcountries oforigin orprovenance oftheimports; (n)place
forreceiving notifications; (ñ)placeanddate; and(o)signature oftheapplicant orlegalrepresentative
ofthedomestic industry oroftheassociation concerned.
Theoriginal application andaccompanying documentation mustbeprovided inasmany copies
asthenumber ofimporters, exporters orforeign governments identified intheapplication, except in
caseofinformation which isconsidered confidential.
Article 11
(Examination oftheApplication)
Within thirty daysofreceiving theapplication, theinvestigation authority shallexamine itand:
(a)accept theapplication, ifitfulfils therequirements laiddown inthese Regulations, anddeclare
theopening oftheinvestigation; (b)iftheapplication isincomplete, notify theapplicant sothathe
mayfulfil therelevant requirements within thirty days; or(c)reject theapplication bymeans of
areasoned resolution, ifitdoesnotprovide sufficient evidence tojustify opening theinvestigation,
oriftheapplication hasnotbeenmade inrepresentation ofadomestic industry inaccordance with
theprovisions ofthese Regulations.
Attherequest oftheapplicant, theinvestigating authority mayextend thetime-limit referred
toinsubparagraph (b)ofthisArticle forafurther period ofnotmore thanthirty days.G/SG/N/1/HND/2
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Iftheapplicant submits theinformation requested inaccordance withsubparagraph (b)ofthis
Article, theinvestigating authority shallresolve toopentheinvestigation orreject theapplication within
aperiod ofnotmore thanthirty daysfollowing thesubmission oftheinformation. Iftheinformation
requested isnotsubmitted within thetime-limit granted, theinvestigation authority shallconsider the
application abandoned andreject andfileit,without prejudice totheright oftheparty concerned
subsequently tosubmit anewapplication.
Article 12
(Notification ofRejection oftheApplication)
Theresolution rejecting anapplication mustbenotified totheapplicant within tendaysofits
dateofissue.
Article 13
(Resolution fortheOpening ofanInvestigation)
Where theinvestigating authority decides, following theexamination referred toinArticle 11
oftheseRegulations, thatthereisevidence tojustify opening aninvestigation, itshallissuearesolution
declaring theinitiation oftheinvestigation.
Article 14
(Information tobeContained intheResolution fortheOpening ofanInvestigation)
Theresolutionfortheopeningofaninvestigationshallcontainatleastthefollowinginformation:
(a)identification oftheinvestigation authority initiating theprocedure, anddateandplace ofissuance
oftheresolution; (b)indication thattheapplication anditsaccompanying documentation hadbeen
accepted; (c)name orbusiness name ofthedomestic producer orproducers oflikeordirectly
competitive products andplace atwhich theymaybenotified; (d)name orbusiness name ofthe
importers andexporters andplace atwhich theymaybenotified; (e)country orcountries oforigin
orprovenance oftheimports under investigation; (f)detailed description oftheproduct orproducts
thathavebeenorarebeing imported, together withtheirtariffheading; (g)description ofthedomestic
product liketoordirectly competitive withtheproduct thathasbeenorisbeing imported; (h)period
covered bytheinvestigation; (i)thereasons andjustification fortheresolution, withanaccount of
theevidence submitted; (j)time-limit granted tointerested parties tosubmit written statements and
anyother evidence theyconsider pertinent; and(k)determination ofthepersons from whom the
pertinent information istoberequested.
Article 15
(Notification oftheOpening ofanInvestigation)
Theresolution opening aninvestigation shallbenotified totheinterested parties andtothe
WTO Committee onSafeguards within tendaysofthedateofitspublication. Thenotification tothe
interested parties shallbeaccompanied byacopyoftheapplication andnon-confidential accompanying
documents.
Theinterested parties shallhaveaperiod offorty-five daysrunning from thedayfollowing
thenotification tosubmit theirrebuttals andevidence. Attherequest oftheinterested party, the
investigating authority mayextend thistime-limit foraperiod ofnotmore thanthirty days.G/SG/N/1/HND/2
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Article 16
(Time-Limit fortheInvestigation)
Theinvestigation shallbeconcluded within sixmonths, except inexceptional circumstances,
asdetermined bytheinvestigating authority, inwhich caseitshallbeconcluded within twelve months
from thedateofitsinitiation.
Article 17
(Access toInformation andtheFile)
Where interested parties refuse access to,ordonotprovide, necessary information within the
time-limit established bytheinvestigating authority, thatauthority mayadopt apreliminary orfinal
resolution onthebasis ofthefactsandevidence available.
Anyinterested party maysubmit itsstatements during theperiod oftheinvestigation, together
withevidence insupport ofthose statements. Access tothefileshallbegoverned bytheprovisions
oftheAgreement andtheprovisions inforce ineachState Party.
Article 18
(Investigative Powers)
Theinvestigating authority mayrequest anykindofinformation, including technical opinions,
fromthevarious departments ofthepublic administration, which shallprovide itasrapidly aspossible.
Itmayalsorequest anyadvice itconsiders relevant andanysteps toascertain thealleged facts.
Article 19
(Application andDuration ofProvisional Measures)
Iftheelementsexisttojustifytheapplicationofaprovisionalmeasure,theinvestigatingauthority
shallrecommend suchmeasure totheMinister, whomayimpose itbymeans ofaresolution ifthe
following prerequisites arefulfilled: (a)iftheresolution fortheopening oftheinvestigation hasbeen
issued andpublished inaccordance withtheprovisions ofthese Regulations andatleast30dayshave
lapsed since theinitiation oftheinvestigation; (b)ifapreliminary determination hasbeenmade of
theexistence ofevidence demonstrating anincrease inthevolume ofimports, serious injury orthreat
thereof andthecausal linkbetween thetwoinaccordance withtheAgreement; (c)ifcritical
circumstances existwhere delay would cause damage which itwould bedifficult torepair tothedomestic
industry; and(d)ifsuchmeasures arenecessary toprevent serious injury toadomestic industry.
Theduration oftheprovisional measure shallnotexceed 200daysandshallbeapplied in
accordance withtheprovisions oftheAgreement.
Article 20
(Nature ofProvisional Measures)
Provisional measures shalltaketheformofincreased duties, guaranteed byasecurity, which
shallbepromptly refunded ifthesubsequent investigation doesnotdetermine thatincreased imports
havecaused orthreaten tocause serious injury toadomestic industry.G/SG/N/1/HND/2
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Article 21
(Notifications andConsultations)
Before adopting aprovisional measure, theState Party shallnotify themeasure totheWTO
Committee onSafeguards. Once themeasure hasbeenimposed, theauthorities oftheStateParty shall
holdconsultations withWTO Member countries having asubstantial interest inthemeasure.
Aresolution bymeans ofwhich aprovisional measure isadopted shallbenotified tointerested
parties within 10daysfollowing thedateofitspublication.
Article 22
(Public Hearing)
Thepurpose ofpublic hearings shallbetoallow theinterested parties theopportunity orally
toquestion orrebut theopposing parties withrespect totheinformation andevidence submitted before
theinvestigation authority, soastoenable itandother interested parties torequest further explanations
orspecific clarifications, aswellastoafford interested parties theopportunity tosubmit theirviews,
interalia,astowhether ornottheapplication ofthesafeguard measure would beinthepublic interest.
Theinvestigating authority shallnotify interested parties oftheholding ofapublic hearing
15daysinadvance. Thepublic hearing shall bescheduled ingood timeandshall conclude the
evidentiary period.
Article 23
(Statements)
After theevidentiary period hasconcluded withthepublic hearing, interested parties shallhave
15daysinwhich tosubmit theirwritten conclusions ontheinvestigation totheinvestigating authority.
Article 24
(Conclusion oftheInvestigation)
Theinvestigating authority shallcomplete theinvestigation andissueafinaltechnical opinion.
Within threeworking daysthereafter itshallsubmit thefiletogether withthetechnical study andrelevant
recommendations totheMinister.
Within 10working daysofreceipt, theMinister shalldeclare theinvestigation concluded and
issue thefinalresolution, taking intoconsideration boththefileandtherecommendations ofthe
investigating authority andalsopublic interest criteria.
Article 25
(Final Resolution)
Theresolution concluding theinvestigation maybeissued onlyafterallthestepsandenquiries
havebeenmade toenable anobjective decision tobeissued. Theresolution maybeoftwokinds:
(a)itmayauthorize theapplication ofameasure; or(b)itmaydeclare thatthemeasure should
notbeapplied and,where appropriate, revoke aprovisional measure thathasbeenadopted.G/SG/N/1/HND/2
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Article 26
(Requirements oftheFinal Resolution)
Theresolution authorizing theapplication ofafinalmeasure shallcontain: (a)Thereasons
andjustification therefore; (b)determination ofthevolume, increase andconditions inwhich the
imports under investigation weremade; (c)positive determination ofserious injury caused orthreatened
tothedomestic industry andthecausal relationship withtheimports under investigation; (d)nature
ofthemeasure established; (e)expected duration ofthemeasure; and(f)timetable forthephasing-out
ofthemeasure.
Article 27
(Consultations andCompensation)
Before imposing orextending afinalsafeguard measure aperiod of30daysshallbegranted
forholding consultations withWTO Member countries having asubstantial interest.
Forthepurposes ofgranting compensation toaWTO Member orMembers whose exports
areaffected bytheimposition ofthemeasure, theexecutive power orbody oftheState Party may
agree toanyappropriate measure ofcompensation inaccordance withitsdomestic legislation.
States Parties shalltakeaccount ofthecommitments entered intointheframework ofCentral
American economic integration.
Article 28
(Notifications)
Thefinalresolution shallbenotified totheinterested parties andtotheWTO Committee on
Safeguards within 10daysofitspublication.
Article 29
(Duration ofSafeguard Measures)
MeasuresimposedinaccordancewiththeseRegulationsshallbeofanexceptionalandtemporary
nature, andshallbeinforce onlyaslongasnecessary toprevent orredress theserious injury which
caused them tobeapplied, andtofacilitate adjustment.
Theperiod ofapplication ofthemeasure shallnotexceed fouryears, unless itisextended in
conformity withtheprovisions oftheAgreement.
Article 30
(Imposition oftheSafeguard Measures)
Resolutions imposing, modifying oreliminating provisional orfinalsafeguard measures shall
beputintoforce inaccordance withthedomestic legislation ofeachState Party.G/SG/N/1/HND/2
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Article 31
(Causal Link)
Forasafeguard measure tobeadopted, theremustbeacausal linkbetween theimports under
investigation andtheserious injury orthreat thereof tothedomestic industry.
Thedetermination referred tointhepreceding paragraph shall notbemade unless the
investigation demonstrates, onthebasis ofobjective evidence, theexistence ofacausal linkbetween
increased imports oftheproduct concerned andserious injury orthreat thereof. When factors other
thanincreased imports arecausing injury tothedomestic industry atthesame time, suchinjury shall
notbeattributed toincreased imports.
Article 32
(Transmittal totheCouncil)
Theinvestigating authority shalltransmit toSIECA acopyofresolutions fortheapplication
ofprovisional andfinalsafeguard measures, andofresolutions amending them, within 10daysoftheir
publication, sothatSIECA mayconvene theCouncil inorder toenable ittobeinformed ofandapprove
themeasures adopted.
Article 33
(Suspension oftheInvestigation)
Ontheproposal oftheinvestigating authority, theMinister maysuspend aprovisional measure
thathasbeenadopted andterminate theinvestigation atanystage when there aresufficient grounds
fordoing so.Inthatcase,theMinister shallissuethecorresponding resolution, which shallbenotified
totheinterested parties within 10daysofitspublication.
Article 34
(Review ofMeasures)
Asafeguard measure thathasbeenadopted maybereviewed, attherequest ofaparty or
exofficio ,atanytimeduring itsapplication, inaccordance withtheprovisions oftheAgreement.
Article 35
(Publication)
Theresolutions fortheopening, suspension andconclusion ofaninvestigation andforthe
application ofprovisional safeguard measures orforthemodification ofsuchmeasures shallbepublished
onceonly, atthecostoftheinterested party, inoneofthedaily newspapers withnational circulation
andintheOfficial Journal oftheState Party and,when being putintoforce, intheOfficial Journal
oftheCentral American Integration System.G/SG/N/1/HND/2
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Article 36
(Appeals)
Theappeals provided forinthedomestic legislation ofeachparty maybeentered against the
resolutions issued bythenational authorities.
Article 37
(Safeguard Measures Against aDeveloping Country)
Safeguard measures against aproduct originating inadeveloping country shallbeimposed
onlyinconformity withtherequirements andconditions oftheAgreement.
CHAPTER III
Final Provisions
Article 38
(Amendments totheRegulations)
TheCouncil ofMinisters shall have responsibility foramending theprovisions ofthese
Regulations attherequest ofaState Party orSIECA.
EachStateParty shallsubmit asix-monthly report totheExecutive Committee forEconomic
Integration, through SIECA, ontheimplementation ofthisinstrument.
Article 39
(Calculation ofTime-Limits)
Unless otherwise specified, thetime-limits established inthese Regulations shallbecalculated
incalendar days.
Article 40
(Implementing Body)
Pending theentryintoforceoftheGuatemala Protocol forallStates Parties, thebodycompetent
formatters pertaining toeconomic integration, inaccordance withthelegal instruments ofCentral
American integration, shallhaveresponsibility forimplementing thisinstrument, where applicable.
Article 41
(Suppletive Application)
Incases notcovered bythese Regulations, States Parties mayapply onasupplementary basis
theprovisions andprinciples ofCentral American integration, theprovisions ofpublic international
law,andthegeneral principles oflaw.G/SG/N/1/HND/2
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Article 42
(Epigraphs)
TheepigraphsprecedingtheArticlesoftheseRegulationsareexclusivelyindicativeandtherefore
havenoeffect ontheirinterpretation.
Article 43
(Repeal Clause)
Upon theentry intoforce ofthese Regulations, theRegulations ofArticles 25and26ofthe
Convention ontheCentral American Tariff andCustoms Regime, "Unfair Business Practices and
Safeguard Clause", dated 10September 1987, andtheCentral American Regulations onUnfair Business
Practices andSafeguard Clause, dated 29January 1993, aswellasanyother provision inconsistent
withthese Regulations, arehereby repealed asfarastheSafeguard Clause isconcerned.
Guatemala, 22May1996