G/SG/N/10/EU/1/Suppl.5  
19 December  2019 
(19-8883) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Safeguards  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 12 OF THE  
AGREEMENT ON SAFEGUARDS  
EUROPEAN UNION 
Supplement  
The following notification, dated 19 December 2 019, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the European Union.  
 
_______________  
 
 
Pursuant to Articles 12.1(c) of the Agreement on Safeguards, the European Union ('the Union') 
submits a notification concerning its intention to modify of one aspect of the steel safeguard 
measures, affecting one particular product catego ry. This notification contains all pertinent 
information relating to the proposed modification to safeguard measures in accordance with 
Article  12.2 of the Agreement on Safeguards.  
(1) On 15 August, the European Union communicated its intention to adjust t he safeguard 
measures on certain steel products and invited members for consultations. 
(G/SG/N/10/EU/1/Suppl.3 ) 
(2) The adjustments to the safeguard measures came into effect on 1 October 2019 following the 
publication of Commission Implementing Regulation  (EU) 2019/1590 ('the Review 
Regulation').  
(3) During the investigation leading to the Review Regulation, Commission recognized that it was 
in the Union's interest that traditional trade flows of product types used by the automotive 
industry (under categor y 4B - metallic coated sheets) were ring -fenced. Accordingly, the 
Commission decided that the use of category 4B (which could also include products for uses 
other than automotive) should be limited to only those imports that can demonstrate an 
end-use in t he automotive sector. Therefore, under the Review Regulation, the corresponding 
imports were placed under the end -use procedure referred to in Article 254 of Regulation (EU) 
No 952/2013.  
(4) Following the entry into force of the Review Regulation, several interested parties informed 
the Commission of severe problems in the implementation of the end -use procedure. As a 
result, an important amount of steel destined for automotive use could not be imported under 
the end -use system.  
(5) Given the resulting pote ntial negative economic consequences, and the fact that such 
constraints are clearly in contradiction with the Commission's objective to ensure traditional 
trade flows in the Union's interest, and having heard the views of interested parties involved 
in this matter, the Commission considers that the end -use procedure for this category should 
be revoked, with retroactive application as from 1 October 2019.  
(6) The level of the TRQ for product category 4A and 4B should thus be adjusted. In order to 
discuss the details of these adjustments, WTO members with a substantial interest as exporter 
of the product concerned have been invited to consultations.  G/SG/N/10/EU/1/Suppl.5  
- 2 - 
  (7) As a result of the consultations held with the Republic of Korea , the allocation of its 
country  specific TRQ volume between product categories 4A and 4B has been adjusted. The 
adjustment takes into account the volume actually imported under product category 4A since 
1st October 2019, which would have been imported under category 4B, had the end -use 
mechanism not been in place. The total country -specific TRQ volume for Korea (combination 
of TRQ in categories 4A and 4B) however remains unchanged.  
(8) Under the current measures, India  has a single country -specific TRQ under category 4A. Due 
to the revocat ion of the end -use system, India will again have country -specific TRQ in 
category  4A and 4B respectively. The volumes of these country -specific TRQs are based on 
Regulation 2019/159 (as amended by Regulation 2019/1590 regarding the reduction in the 
liberal isation level). Like for Korea, the total country -specific TRQ volume for India 
(combination of TRQ in categories 4A and 4B) remains unchanged.  
1. Provide precise description of the product involved  
(9) The product concerned is Metallic Coated Sheets (cate gories 4A and 4B as defined in 
Regulation 2019/159).  
2. Provide precise description of the proposed measure  
(10) It is proposed to revoke the end -use system currently applicable for imports of metallic coated 
sheets for automotive use under category 4B and  to revert to the system in place before the 
entry into force of the Review Regulation.  
3. Provide proposed date of introduction of the measure  
(11) The proposed date for the entry into force of the adjustments to the measures is 
mid-January  2020.  
4. Provi de expected duration of the measure  
(12) Not applicable  
5. 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 re view has already been scheduled  
(13) Not applicable  
6. If the expected duration is over one year, provide expected timetable for progressive 
liberalisation of the measure  
7. Not applicable  
8. Provide information relating to the extension of a safeguard mea sure 
(14) Not applicable  
9. Exclusion of certain countries from the scope of the definitive measures  
(15) Not applicable  
10. Procedures relevant to the decision to apply the measures and information 
regarding procedures for prior consultations with those Members having a 
substantial interest as exporters of the product concerned  
(16) Members having a substantial interest as exporters of the product subject to the investigation 
were offered the possibility to have consultations with the European Union . Consultations with 
the Republic of Korea and Taiwan respectively, took place in the month of December 2019.  
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