RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/SG/W/126
27February 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-0714)
Original: french Committee onSafeguards
REPLIES TOQUESTIONS POSED BYJAPAN1CONCERNING THE NOTIFICATION
OFLAWS AND REGULATIONS OFSWITZERLAND2UNDER
ARTICLE 12.6OFTHE AGREEMENT
Thefollowing communication, dated 12January 1996, hasbeenreceived fromthePermanent
Mission ofSwitzerland.
_______________
Question 1
Please advise theprocedures ofthesafeguard investigations referred inArticle 3ofthe
Agreement onSafeguards.
Question 2
Please identify thecompetent authority incharge ofsuchinvestigations.
Reply toquestions 1and2
InSwitzerland, thecompetent authority forimplementing anysafeguard measures under
Article XIXoftheGATT 1994andtheAgreement onSafeguards istheGovernment (Federal Council).
Before anydecision istaken, aninvestigation isconducted bytheFederal Office ofExternal Economic
Affairs, pursuant totheprovisions ofAgreement onSafeguards, andinconsultation withCommission
ofCustoms Experts.
Question 3
AreimportsfromEFTAmemberStatesorECmemberStatessubjecttosafeguardmeasures
inthesame manner asimports from non-member States?
Reply toquestion 3
Anysafeguard measures taken bySwitzerland under Article XIXoftheGATT 1994 would
beapplied totheimportation ofaproduct irrespective ofitssource, inconformity withArticle 2.2
oftheAgreement onSafeguards. However, Switzerland maydepart from thisprinciple inthecases
1G/SG/W/82.
2G/SG/N/1/CHE/1.
./.G/SG/W/126
Page2
provided forinArticle 5.2(b) oftheSafeguards Agreement and,where necessary, differentiate inthe
application ofsafeguard measures asbetween exporting Members, forthebenefit ofanyWTO Member,
including countries withwhich Switzerland hasconcluded afree-trade agreement.
Question 4
Please identify the"general customs legislation" referred tointhenotification andexplain
thereason whysuchlegislation wasnotnotified eventhough "safeguard measures based on[such]
legislation istriggered".
Reply toquestion 4
Thereference to"general customs legislation" inSwitzerland 'snotification relates totheFederal
Customs Tariff Lawof9October 1986, published intheSystematic Collection ofFederal Law
(RS632.10). Thislawhasnotbeennotified under Article 12.6ofAgreement onSafeguards because
itisnotspecific safeguards legislation. Itspecifies, along withtheFederal LawonExternal Economic
Measures, of25June1982 (RS946.201), thecompetence oftheFederal Council tochange customs
duties andtoadopt anyother appropriate measure Switzerland might havetotake,where necessary,
assafeguard measure, inobservance oftheprovisions ofArticle XIXoftheGATT 1994 andthe
Agreement onSafeguards.
Intheevent ofameasure being taken under theabove-mentioned legislation, theFederal Council
willapply alltherelevant provisions ofArticle XIXoftheGATT 1994andoftheSafeguards Agreement,
bothofwhich arebinding inSwiss law,asstated inSwitzerland 'snotification under Article 12.6of
theAgreement onSafeguards.