./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SG/N/10/USA/4
18 February 2000
(00-0613)
Committee on Safeguards Original:  English
NOTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 12.1(C) AND
ARTICLE 9, FOOTNOTE 2, OF THE AGREEMENT ON SAFEGUARDS
ON TAKING A DECISION TO APPLY A SAFEGUARD MEASURE
UNITED STATES
The following communication, dated 17 February 2000, has been received from the
Permanent Mission of the United States.
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Pursuant to the above-referenced provision of the Agreement on Safeguards, and in light of
the agreed format for notifications (G/SG/1, 1 July  1996), the United States provides the following
notification to the Committee on Safeguards.
1. Provide evidence of serious injury or th reat thereof caused by increased imports
This information was provided in previous notifications.  See G/SG/N/8/USA/4
(26 May 1999) and G/SG/N/8/USA/4/Suppl.1 (23 July 1999).
2. Provide information on whether there is an absolute increase in imports or an increase
in imports relative to domestic production (please see also Article 2.1 for the context)
This information was provided in a previo us notification.  See G/SG/N/8/USA /4/Suppl.1
(26 May 1999).
3. Provide a precise description of the product involved
The imported article covered by the proposed measure is defined as hot-rolled bars and rods,
in irregularly wound coils, of circular or approximat ely circular solid cross-section, having a diameter
of 5 mm or more but less than 19 mm, or non-alloy  or alloysteel, except such bars and rods of free-
machining steel or of alloy steel containing by weig ht 24 per cent or more of nickel.  Free-machining
steel is any steel product containing by weight one or more of the following elements, in the specified
proportions:  0.3 per cent or more of lead, 0.05 per ce nt or more of bismuth, 0.08 per cent or more of
sulphur, more than 0.04 per cent of phosphorous, more than 0.05 per cent of selenium, and/or more
than 0.01 per cent of tellurium.  Certain steel wire rod is provided for in subheadings 7213.91,
7213.99, 7227.20 and 7227.90.60 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS).  The
proposed measure does not cover concrete reinforcing bars and rods, or bars and rods of stainless steel
or tool steel, which are provided for in other HTS subheadings.
The proposed measure will not apply to a subset of steel wire rod products that fall into the
following categories:  tyre cord quality wire rod, valve spring quality wire rod, class III pipe wrap
quality wire rod, aircraft quality cold heading quality wire rod, aluminium cable steel reinforcedG/SG/N/10/USA/4
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quality steel wire rod, piano string quality wire rod, grade 1085 annealed bearing quality wire rod and
1080 tyre bead wire quality wire rod.
4. Provide a precise description of the proposed measure
The proposed measure consists of a tariff-rate quota on steel wire rod, as described in the
reply to question 3, above.  The measure will be in place for a period of 3 years and 1 day beginning
within 15 days after the President issues a proclamation putting it into effect.  The proclamation will
be published  in the Federal Register .  The tariff rate quota amount for each year is specified in
Table 1 below.  The duty rates above applied, non-preferential duty rates for imports above the tariff-
rate quota level are 10 per cent ad valorem  in the first year of relief, 7.5 per cent ad valorem  in the
second year of relief, and 5 per cent ad valorem  in the third year of relief.
Table 1
Year 1
1 March 2000-
28 February 2001Year 2
1 March 2001-
28 February 2002Year 3
1 March 2002-
1 March 2003
1,433,351,886 kg. 1,462,018,923 kg. 1,491,259,301 kg.
During each quarter of the first three quarters of a quota year, any articles subject to the tariff-
rate quota entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption in excess of one-third of the total
within-quota quantity for that quota year will be subj ect to the over-quota rate of duty then in effect.
The remaining amount of the in-quota quantity may be imported in the fourth quarter of each quotayear without additional duties.
The proposed measure will not apply to imports of steel wire rod from Canada or Mexico.
5. Provide the proposed date of introduction of the measure
The proposed date of introduction of the measure is 1 March 2000.
6. Provide expected duration of the measure
The proposed measure is expected to be in effect for 3 years and 1 day.
7. For a measure with a duration of more than three years, provide the proposed date for
the review (under Article 7.4) to be held not later than the mid-term of the measure, if
such a date for the review has already been scheduled
Not currently available.
8. If the expected duration is over one year, provide expected timetable for progressive
liberalization of the measure
See response to question 4, above.
9. If the measure is being extended, also provid e:  (i) evidence that the industry concerned
is adjusting and that the safeguard measure continues to be necessary to prevent or
remedy serious injury
Not applicable.
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