  
  
G/SG/N/6/TUN/6  
4 October  2021 
(21-7435) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Safeguards  Original:  French  
 
  NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 12.1(A) OF THE AGREEMENT  
ON SAFEGUARDS ON INITIATION OF AN INVESTIGATION  
AND THE REASONS FOR IT  
TUNISIA  
(Minibuses ) 
The following notification, dated and received on 4  October  2021, is being circulated at the request 
of the delegation of Tunisia . 
 
_______________  
 
 
Pursuant to Article  12.1(a) of the Agreement on Safeguards, Tunisia hereby notifies the 
Committee  on Safeguards of the initiation of a safeguard investigation on imports of minibuses . 
 
1  DATE OF INITIATION OF THE INVESTIGATION  
The investigation was initiated on 1 October 2021 (date of publication of the notice of initiation in 
Official Journal of the Tunisian Republic (JORT) No. 90 of 1 October 2 021). 
 
2  PRODUCTS SUBJECT TO THE INVESTIGATION  
The products subject to the investigation are  minibuses  classified under the following codes of  the 
Tunisian customs tariff : 87021011001, 87021091003 and 87029031007 . 
 
3  REASONS FOR INITIATING THE INVESTIGATION  
The investigation was initiated b y the Minist er of Trade and Export Development pursuant to 
Law No. 98-106 of  18 December  1998 on import safeguard measures, following a complaint made 
by the SETCAR Group  in its capacity as the largest producer of minibuses in Tunisia . 
 
Imports of minibuses  rose from 267 vehicles  in 20 17 to 372 vehicles  in 20 20, while domestic 
production and local market sales stagnated  during that same period . 
 
The complainant has provided evidence of a decline in its activity during the 201 7-2020 period . 
 
A preliminary study of the complaint has been carried out by the relevant services of the 
Ministry  of Trade and Export Development . This study shows evidence to warrant the initiation of a 
safeguard in vestigation on the above -mentioned products.  
 G/SG/N/6/TUN/6  
- 2 - 
  4  POINT OF CONTACT  
Ministère du Commerce et du développement des exportations  
Direction Générale du Commerce Extérieur  
Angle entre les Rues Ghana et Pierre de Coubertin et Hédi Nouira, Tunis, Tunisia  
Tel.: 71 245  913 
Fax: 71 354 456  
Email: dorra.borji@tunisia.gov.tn  
Hichem.khalfa@tunisia.gov.tn  
 
5  FURTHER INFORMATION  
All interested parties are invited to present their views in writing and to submit any in formation 
deemed useful to the smooth conduct of the investigation within a period of 45 days from the date  
of publication of th e notice of initiation in the Official  Journal of the Tunisian  Republic . 
 
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