RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/SG/W/1
23February 1995
ORGANIZATION(95-0387)
Committee onSafeguards
SUGGESTED FORMATS FOR NOTIFICATIONS UNDER
THE AGREEMENT ONSAFEGUARDS
Note from theChairman
1. Tofacilitate thetaskofthemembers oftheCommittee, anumber ofdelegations hadsuggested
thattheCommittee onSafeguards agree onformats fornotifications under theAgreement onSafeguards.
Aninitial version ofsuggested formats wasdiscussed informally byagroup comprising thedelegations
thatweremembersoftheerstwhileInformalContactGrouponAnti-Dumping,SubsidiesandSafeguards.
Myconsultations withdelegations reveal alargedegree ofconsensus regarding theformats thatresulted
from thediscussions ofthose delegations. Thesuggested formats areprovided intheAnnex tothis
note. Formats forcertain notifications, i.e.those covered byitems ItoIVoftheAnnex tothisnote,
relate toactions thatneedto,ormayhaveto,benotified relatively quickly. Thesuggested formats
forsuchnotifications havealready beencirculated toMembers indocuments G/SG/N/1 to6,inorder
toassist Members tofocus onthetypeofinformation tobesubmitted inthenotifications andtoobtain
similar responses from different Members.
2. Please notethatanumber ofissues thatmayneedtobediscussed bytheCommittee, suchas
thetimeperiod tobeconsidered forcalculation oftheimport share under Article 9.1,havenotbeen
addressed inthese formats. Theformats aresuggested without prejudice totheinterpretation ofthe
Agreement bytherelevant bodies. Iamproviding these suggested formats forconsideration bythe
members oftheCommittee onSafeguard.G/SG/W/1
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ANNEX
SUGGESTED FORMATS FOR NOTIFICATIONS UNDER THE
AGREEMENT ONSAFEGUARDS
Note: These formats aresuggested without prejudice totheinterpretation oftherelevant
provisions intheAgreement onSafeguards bythecompetent bodies. Members are
alsoreminded oftheprovision inArticle 12.11 oftheAgreement onSafeguards, which
reads asfollows: "The provisions onnotification inthisAgreement shallnotrequire
anyMember todisclose confidential information thedisclosure ofwhich would impede
lawenforcement orotherwise becontrary tothepublic interest orwould prejudice
thelegitimate commercial interests ofparticular enterprises, public orprivate."
I.Notifications under Article 12.7oftheAgreement onSafeguards
Notifications totheCommittee onSafeguards ofmeasures described inArticles 10and11.1existing
on1January 1995, tobeprovided notlaterthan2March 1995, i.e.notlaterthan60daysafterthe
dateofentry intoforce oftheWTO Agreement
(a) Measures described inArticle 10
1. Specify themeasure taken under Article XIXofGATT 1947.
2. Specify theproduct subject tothemeasure.
3. Specify thedateonwhich themeasure wasfirstapplied.
4. Provide thereference totheGATT document through which themeasure wasfirstnotified
totheCONTRACTING PARTIES.
(b) Measures described inArticle 11.1(b)
1. Specify thetypeofmeasure (please seeArticle 11.1(b) andfootnote 4forexamples).
2. Specify theMembers concerned (please seetheANNEX totheAgreement onSafeguards for
anexample)
3. Specify theproduct subject tothemeasure.G/SG/W/1
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II. Notifications under Article 11.2oftheAgreement onSafeguards
(a) Exception under Article 11.2which mustbemutually agreed between theMembers
directly concerned andnotified totheCommittee onSafeguards foritsreview and
acceptance within 90daysoftheentry intoforce oftheWTO Agreement
Note: Thisexception istobenotified bytheMember thatisimporting theproduct which issubject
tothemeasure described inArticle 11.1
1. Specify thetypeofmeasure (please seeArticle 11.1(b) andfootnote 4forexamples).
2. Specify theMembers concerned (please seetheANNEX totheAgreement onSafeguards for
anexample)
3. Specify theproduct subject tothemeasure.
(b) Timetables tobepresented totheCommittee onSafeguards within 180daysafterthe
entry intoforce oftheWTO Agreement, forphasing outmeasures referred toin
paragraph 1(b)orbringing them intoconformity withtheAgreement onSafeguards
1. Specify thetypeofmeasure (please seeArticle 11.1(b) andfootnote 4forexamples).
2. Specify theMembers concerned (please seetheANNEX totheAgreement onSafeguards for
anexample)
3. Specify theproduct subject tothemeasure.
4. Specify timetable forphasing outthemeasure orforbringing itintoconformity withthe
Agreement onSafeguards. Suchtimetables should bepresented totheCommittee onSafeguards both
forthose measures which havetobephased outorbrought intoconformity withtheAgreement on
Safeguards within fouryears afterthedateofentry intoforce oftheWTO Agreement andforthe"one
specific measure perimporting Member, theduration ofwhich shall notextend beyond
31December 1999" (Article 11.2).
III. Notifications under Article 12.1(a)
NotificationtotheCommitteeonSafeguardsuponinitiationofaninvestigationprocessrelatingtoserious
injury orthreat thereof andthereasons forit
1. Specify thedatewhen theinvestigation wasinitiated.
2. Specify theproduct subject totheinvestigation.
3. Provide thereasons fortheinitiation ofinvestigation, forexample:
(i) Wastheinvestigationinitiatedpursuanttoapetitionfromthedomesticindustry?
(ii) Evidence onthebasis ofwhich theinvestigation wasinitiated.
(iii) Evidence, ifany,oncritical circumstances where delay would cause damage
which itwould bedifficult torepair.G/SG/W/1
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IV. Notifications under Article 12.6
Prompt notification totheCommittee onSafeguards oflaws, regulations andadministrative procedures
relating tosafeguard measures aswellasanymodifications made tothem
1. Inthefirstnotification under Article 12.6, provide thefulltextsofthelawsandregulations
relating tosafeguard measures, andnotify theadministrative procedures relating tosafeguard measures.
2. Specify theauthorities competent toinitiate andconduct investigations.
3. Provide thetextofanymodifications made tothelawsandregulations relating tosafeguard
measures, andnotify anymodifications toadministrative procedures relating tosafeguard measures.
V. Notifications under Article 9,Footnote 2
Notification totheCommittee onSafeguards ofnon-application ofsafeguard measure todeveloping
countries under Article 9.1oftheAgreement onSafeguards
Note: Inaddition totheinformation received fromtheWTO Members regarding theaction
under Article 9.1oftheAgreement onSafeguards, thedocument circulated tothe
Members willalsoinclude references totheWTO documents through which the
corresponding notifications under Article 12.1(b) and(c)arecirculated totheWTO
Members. Thereferences tothecorresponding notifications under Article 12.1(b)
and(c)willbeprovided bytheSecretariat, because thesenotifications maybereleased
simultaneously withthenotification under Article 9,footnote 2,andthenotifying
MembermaynothaveinformationonreferencestothecorrespondingWTOdocuments.
1. Specify themeasure.
2. Specify theproduct subject tothemeasure.
3. Specify thedeveloping countries towhich themeasure isnotapplied under Article 9.1ofthe
Agreement onSafeguards, andtheimport shares ofthese countries individually andcollectively.
4. Subsequently, ifthereisachange inthelistofdeveloping countries exempted fromthesafeguard
measure pursuant toArticle 9.1,please notify:
(i) thereference totheWTO document thatnotified theMembers about theinitial
action under footnote 2toArticle 9.1;
(ii) ifapplicable, names ofthecountries which aredropped from thelistof
developing countries towhich thesafeguard measure doesnotapply pursuant
toArticle 9.1,thelistofthecountries remaining onthelist,theindividual
andcollective import shares ofthedeveloping countries remaining onthelist,
andthedateonwhich thesafeguard measure applies tothecountries dropped
from thelist;
(iii) ifapplicable, names ofthecountries which areadded tothelistofdeveloping
countriestowhichthesafeguardmeasuredoesnotapplypursuanttoArticle9.1,G/SG/W/1
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thelistofallthecountries onthelist,theindividual andcollective import shares
ofthedeveloping countries onthelist,andthedatefromwhich thesafeguard
measure doesnotapply tothecountries which areadded tothelist.
VI. Notifications under Article 12.1(b) and(c)
Notification totheCommittee onSafeguards uponmaking afinding ofserious injury orthreat thereof
caused byincreased imports; notification upontaking adecision toapply orextend asafeguard measure
Notes: (1) Thenotifications under Article 12.1(b) and(c)havetomade
"immediately"upon"makingafinding"or"takingadecision".
Itispossible thatthetiming of"making afinding" and"taking
adecision" differs toanextent thatnotifications under
Article 12.1(b) might bemade separately from notifications
under Article 12.1(c). Inthatsituation, itispossible that
certain information requested intheformat may notbe
available when anotification under Article 12.1(b) ismade.
Ifinformation onanyitemisnotavailable when anotification
under Article 12.1(b) ismade, please indicate thisbystating
"notavailable" fortherelevant items intheformat suggested
below.
(2) Ifthenotifications onArticle 12.1(b) and(c)aremade
separately, please provide thereference tothenotification
under Article 12.1(b) inthenotification under Article 12.1(c).
1. Provide evidence ofserious injury orthreat thereof caused byincreased imports.
2. Provide information onwhether thereisanabsolute increase inimports oranincrease inimports
relative todomestic production (please seealsoArticle 2.1forthecontext).
3. Provide precise description oftheproduct involved.
4. Provide precise description oftheproposed measure.
5. Provide proposed dateofintroduction ofthemeasure.
6. Provide expected duration ofthemeasure.
7. Forameasure withaduration ofmore thanthree years, provide theproposed dateforthe
review (under Article 7.4)tobeheldnotlaterthanthemid-term ofthemeasure, ifsuchadatefor
thereview hasalready beenscheduled.
8. Iftheexpecteddurationisoveroneyear,provideexpectedtimetableforprogressiveliberalization
ofthemeasure.
9. Ifthemeasure isbeing extended, alsoprovide:
(i) evidence thattheindustry concerned isadjusting andthatthesafeguard measure
continues tobenecessary toprevent orremedy serious injury;G/SG/W/1
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(ii) reference totheWTO document thatnotified theinitial application ofthe
measure;
(iii) duration ofthemeasure from initial application tillthedateatwhich itwill
beextended; and,
(iv) precise description ofthemeasure inplace prior tothedateofextension (in
thiscontext, please notethatthelastsentence ofArticle 7.4states that: "A
measure extended under paragraph 2shallnotbemore restrictive thanitwas
attheendoftheinitial period, andshould continue tobeliberalized.")
VII. Notifications under Article 12.4
Notification totheCommittee onSafeguards before taking aprovisional safeguard measure referred
toinArticle 6
1. Specify theproduct subject totheproposed provisional safeguard measure.
2. Specify theproposed provisional safeguard measure.
3. Specify theproposed dateofintroduction oftheprovisional safeguard measure.
4. Specify theexpected duration oftheprovisional safeguard measure, ifanydecision onthe
duration ofthemeasure hasbeenmade.
5. Provide thebasis for:
(i) making apreliminary determination, asprovided forinArticle 6,thatincreased
imports havecaused orarethreatening tocause serious injury ;and,
(ii) determining thatthere arecritical circumstances where delay would cause
damage which itwould bedifficult torepair.
VIII. Notifications under Article 12.5
(a) Immediate notification totheCouncil forTrade inGoods oftheresults ofthe
consultations referred toinArticle 12,namely, priorconsultations under Article 12.3
orconsultations under Article 12.4initiated immediately aftertheprovisional safeguard
measure istaken
Note: Thenotification oftheresults oftheconsultations referred toinArticle 12should,
ifpossible, beprovided jointly bytheMember thattakes thesafeguard action andthe
Member thatseeks consultations under Articles 12.3or12.4.
1. Specify theprovision under which consultations wereheld(i.e.Article 12.3orArticle 12.4).
2. Provide reference totheWTO document thatnotified thesafeguard action regarding which
consultations were heldunder Article 12.3or12.4.G/SG/W/1
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3. Specify theMembers involved intheconsultations, andprovide thetimeperiod during which
consultations were held.
4. Describe theresults oftheconsultations.
(b) Immediate notification totheCouncil forTrade inGoods oftheresults ofthemid-term
reviews referred toinparagraph 4ofArticle 7
1. Specify themeasure andtheproduct subject tothemeasure forwhich themid-term review
wasconducted, andprovide reference totheWTO document thatnotified thesafeguard measure subject
tothereview.
2. Provide thedates ofinitiation andconclusion ofthereview.
3. Describe theresults ofthereview, providing some detail onthebasisforreaching those results.
4. Indicate whether:
(i) themeasure hasbeen, orwillbe,withdrawn asaresult ofthereview. Ifyes,
thenindicate thedateofwithdrawal; and,
(ii) thepaceofliberalization hasbeen, orwillbe,increased asaresult ofthe
review. Ifyes, then indicate therevised time-table forprogressive
liberalization.
(c) Immediate notification totheCouncil forTrade inGoods ofanyformofcompensation
referred toinparagraph 1ofArticle 8
Note: Thisnotification should, ifpossible, besubmitted jointly bytheMember taking the
safeguard measure andtheMember(s) agreeing toaccept trade compensation under
Article 8.1.
1. Specify themeasure andtheproduct subject tothemeasure regarding which there wasan
agreement onanadequate means oftrade compensation under Article 8.1,andprovide reference to
theWTO document thatnotified thesafeguard measure.
2. Specify which Member(s) agreed tothetrade compensation under Article 8.1.
3. Describe thetrade compensation thatwasagreed byeachoftheMembers involved.
4. Provide thedatefrom which thecompensation willapply fortheMembers involved.
(d) Immediate notification totheCouncil forTrade inGoods ofproposed suspension of
concessions andother obligations referred toinparagraph 2ofArticle 8
Note: Thisnotification istobeprovided bytheMember proposing suspension ofconcessions
andother obligations referred toinArticle 8.2.
1. Which Member isproposing suspension ofconcessions andother obligations referred toin
Article 8.2.G/SG/W/1
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2. Specify themeasure, theproduct subject tothemeasure, theWTO document thatnotified the
safeguard measure, andtheMember imposing themeasure inrelation towhich theMember isproposing
suspension ofconcessions andother obligations referred toinArticle 8.2.
3. Describe theproposed suspension ofconcessions andotherobligations referred toinArticle 8.2,
andtheproposed datefrom which itwillcome intoeffect.