RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/SG/W/17
12July1995
ORGANIZATION(95-1970)
Original: English Committee onSafeguards
QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE NOTIFICATION PROVIDED
BYTHE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY OFLAWS AND REGULATIONS
UNDER ARTICLE 12.6OFTHE AGREEMENT
Thefollowing communication, dated 10July1995, hasbeenreceived from theOffice ofthe
United States Trade Representative.
_______________
PleasefindenclosedthequestionsoftheUnitedStateswithregardtothelegislationonsafeguards
notified totheCommittee bytheEuropean Communities (G/SG/N/1/EEC/1).
Article 5,Paragraph 2
Thisparagraph indicates thattheinvestigation "shall seektodetermine whether imports of
theproduct inquestion arecausing orthreatening tocause serious injury ..."(emphasis supplied).
Thisformulation doesnotmention anyincrease inimports. Please explain whether thisisthestandard
tobeapplied ininvestigations, andtherelationship between thisformulation andtheformulation in
Article 16,Paragraph 1,which refers to"greatly increased quantities" ofimports.
Article 8,Paragraph 1
Thisparagraph provides thattheprovisions ofTitleIIIconcerning investigation procedures
"shall notpreclude theuse,atanytime, ofsurveillance measures inaccordance withArticles 11to
15..."(emphasis supplied). Doesthismean thatsurveillance maybeundertaken without investigation
anddetermination ofserious injury orthreat bytheCommission orCouncil? Ifso,howdoesitrelate
toArticle 11,Paragraph 1,which indicates thatsurveillance maybeundertaken "where thetrend in
imports ofaproduct originating inathird country concerned bythisRegulation threatens tocause
injury toCommunity producers."
Article 11-15
These articles setforth procedures fortheestablishment ofsurveillance ofimports.
- Please explain whether surveillance isregarded asasafeguard measure.
- Ifsimilar surveillance measures hadbeenimposed inthepast,please explain howsuch
measures operated. Forexample, please describe theconditions imposed onrelease
ofproducts forcirculation, howlongsuchmeasures wereineffect, anddataonimport
trends before andafterthemeasures were imposed.G/SG/W/17
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Article 11,Paragraph 1
Thisparagraph refers toimports "originating inathirdcountry." Does thismean surveillance
maybeimposed onimports onacountry-by-country basis?
Thisparagraph alsorefers totwotypesofsurveillance: "retrospective" and"prior." Articles 12
and13describe "prior" surveillance. Please explain "retrospective" surveillance andhowitdiffers
from "prior" surveillance.
Article 11,Paragraph 3
Thisparagraph provides thatsurveillance measures "shall cease tobevalid attheendofthe
second six-month period following thesixmonths inwhich themeasures wereintroduced." Does this
mean after18months, orsome other period?
Article 12,Paragraph 1
Thisparagraph provides thatcompetent authorities maytakeuptoeightworking daystoissue
animport document onaproduct subject tosurveillance (i.e.,fiveworking daysforissuance plusthree
working daysbefore thedeclaration isdeemed tobereceived oncesubmitted).
- Please explain whythisprovision doesnotprovide thatanimport document beapproved
immediately onreceipt ofthedeclaration totheextent administratively feasible.
- Mayadeclaration foranimport document under thisparagraph besubmitted onany
working dayprior tothecustoms clearance ofthegoods?
- Arethereanylimits onthenumber ofoffices/officials thatanimporter mustapproach
toobtain animport document?
Article 12,Paragraph 4
Thisprovision refers todeviations between unitprice, value andquantity information contained
intheimport document andtheactual terms ofsaleoftheproduct atissue. Please explain howthis
provision operates. Also, please explain whether thisprovision would affect theability toexport product
onaconsignment basis.
Article 16,Paragraph 6
Please explain theoperation ofthisprovision; doesitrefertoprovisional measures ortoall
types ofsafeguard measures?
Article 17
Does thisprovision require anaffirmative determination bytheCommission regarding serious
injury orthreat prior toCouncil action, ordoestheCouncil itself make suchadetermination?
Article 18
ThisArticle provides forapplication ofsafeguard measures onimports intooneormoreregions
oftheCommunity. Does theterm"regions" refertoentire member States orgroups ofmember States,
orcanitrefertoareas smaller thanamember State?G/SG/W/17
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Article 24,Paragraph 2(a)(i)
Thisparagraph provides thatthisRegulation shallnotpreclude member States fromimposing
traderestrictions ongrounds of,interalia,"public policy." Please explain whatismeant bythisterm,
andgiveexamples ifpossible.
Article 24,Paragraph 2(a)(iii)
Please explain themeaning of"formalities introduced pursuant tointernational agreements
inaccordance withtheTreaty".
Article 26,Paragraph 1
What arethe"residual national restrictions" referenced inthisparagraph?