G/L/1374  
G/SG/N/12/CAN/1  
 
13 November 2020  
(20-8174) Page: 1/2 
Council for Trade in Goods  
Committee on Safeguards  Original: English  
 
 
IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 12.5 OF THE AGREEMENT  
ON SAFEGUARDS TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS OF  
PROPOSED SUSPENSION OF CONCESSIONS AND OTHER  
OBLIGATIONS REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH 2  
OF ARTICLE 8 OF THE AGREEMENT  
ON SAFEGUARDS  
CANADA  
The following notification, dated 13 November 2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Canada . 
 
_______________  
 
 
Pursuant to Article 12.5 of the Agreement on Safeguards, and in accor dance with the agreed format 
for notifications (G/SG/1, 1  July 1996; amended 19  October  2009, G/SG/1/Rev.1  - 
G/SG/N/6/Rev.1  - G/SG/89) , Canada provides the immediate notification to the Council for Trade in 
Goods of the proposed suspension of concessions and other obligations referred to in paragraph 2 
of Article 8.  
1. Which Member is proposing suspensi on of concessions and other obligations referred 
to in Article 8.2.  
Canada.  
2. Specify the measure, the product subject to the measure, the WTO document that 
notified the safeguard measure, and the Member imposing the measure in relation to 
which the Member is proposing suspension of concessions and other obligations 
referred to in Article 8.2.  
On 19 August 2020, Costa Rica imposed a definitive safeguard measure consisting of an additional 
27.68% on the existing tariff level of 45% of the import custom s duty, bringing the total to 72.68% 
on the CIF value of all imports of sugar in solid form, granulated, known as refined white sugar, for 
household and industrial consumption, including plantation, specialty and refined white sugars, of 
whatever origin, i mported into Costa Rica under tariff subheading 1701.99.00.00.  
The measure at issue was notified by Costa Rica in WTO documents G/SG/N/8/CRI/2  - 
G/SG/N/10/CRI/2  - G/SG/N/11/CRI/2 ; and G/SG/N/8/CRI/2/Rev.1  - G/SG/N/10/CRI/2/Rev.1  - 
G/SG/N/11/CRI/2/Rev.1 . 
3. Describe the proposed suspension of concessions and other obligations referred to in 
Article 8.2, and the proposed date from which it will come into effect.  
Canada provides this notification to reserve its rights to suspend the application of substantially  
equivalent concessions or other obligations pursuant to Article 8 of the Agreement on Safeguards. 
The details of the suspension of concessions or other obligations will be provided to the Council for 
Trade in Goods before its application.  G/L/1374 • G/SG/N/12/CAN/1  
 
- 2 - 
 
  Canada reserves its right to suspend substantially equivalent concessions or other obligations from 
19 August  2023 provided that Costa Rica's safeguard measure has been taken as a result of an 
absolute increase in imports and conforms to the provisions of the Agreement on  Safeguards.  
Canada also reserves its right to suspend substantially equivalent concessions or other obligations 
upon the expiration of the 30 days from the day on which the written notice of such suspension is 
received by the Council for Trade in Goods t o the extent that Costa Rica's safeguard measure has 
not been taken as a result of an absolute increase in imports or is not in conformity with the 
WTO Agreements.  The suspension of concessions and other obligations will continue to apply until 
Costa  Rica's safeguard measure is lifted or until an agreement on any adequate means of trade 
compensation for the adverse effects of the measure is reached between Costa Rica and Canada.  
 
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