G/SG/N/6/MAR/8/Suppl.2  
G/SG/N/14/MAR/2/Suppl.1  
19 August  2021 
(21-6289) 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  
 
NOTIFICATION UPON INITIATION OF A REVIEW PURSUANT  
TO ARTICLE 7.2 REGARDING THE EXTENSION  
OF A SAFEGUARD MEASURE  
MOROCCO  
Cold-rolled sheets , neither plated nor coated , and plated or coated sheets  
Supplement  
The following communication, dated  and received on 18 August 2021 , is being circulated at the 
request of the delegation of Morocco.  
 
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Pursuant to Article 7.2 of the Agreement on Safeguards, Morocco hereby notifies the initiation of  a 
review investigation regarding  extension of the current safeguard measure on imports of cold -rolled 
sheets  and p lated or coated sheets . 
 
1  DATE OF INITIATION OF THE INVESTIGATION  
The Ministry of Industry, Trade and the  Green and  Digital Economy (hereinafter the Ministry) has 
decided to initiate a review investigation on extension of the safeguard measure applied to imports 
of cold -rolled sheets  and plated or coated sheets , as from  17 August 2021 . 
 
Public notice  concerning the initiation of the investigation has been given to the public on the 
Ministry's website  (https://www.mcinet.gov.ma/fr/avis -sauvegarde ). 
 
2  DESCRIPTION OF THE PRODUCTS INVOLVED  
The products under  consideration and subject to the review investigation are cold -rolled sheets  in 
coils or cut , neither  plated nor coated , and plated or coated sheets . 
 
The cold -rolled sheets and plated or coats sheets are imported under the following Moroccan 
Harmonized System customs heading s:  
 
Cold-rolled sheets:  7209 (excluding 7209.16.00.20, 7209.17.00.20, 7209.18.00.20, 7209.26.00.20, 
7209.27.00.20 and 7209.28.00.20), 7211 (excluding 7211.13, 7211.14 and 7211.19, 
7211.23.00.10, 7211.23.00.40, 7211.29.00.20 and 7211.29.00.50), 7225.11.00; 7225.19.00; 7226 
(excluding 7226.11.00 and  7226.19.00);  
Plated or coated sheets: 7210 (excluding 7210.11, 7210.12, 7210.30.00, 7210.50, 7210.90.21.00, 
7210.90.22.00, 7210.90.23.00 and 7210.90.29.91), 7212 (excluding 7212.10, 7212.20.00, 
7212.40.20.00, 7212.40.39.10, 7212.50.20.00, 7212.50.63.00 and 7212.50.64. 00), 7225 
(excluding 7225.11.00, 7225.19.00, 7225.30, 7225.40 and 7225.91), 7226 (excluding G/SG/N/6/MAR/8/Suppl.2 • G/SG/N/14/MAR/2/Suppl.1  
- 2 - 
  7226.20.00.11, 7226.20.00.21, 7226.20.00.51, 7226.20.00.52, 7226.20.00.59, 7226.91.00 and 
7226.99.10.00).  
The review concerns all the products subject to the existing measure . 
 
3  REFERENCE TO THE WTO DOCUMENT CON TAINING THE MOST RECENT ARTICLE  12.1(C) 
NOTIFICATION  
The WTO document containing the most recent Article 12.1(c) notification is document  
G/SG/N/8/MAR/4/Suppl.3 - G/SG/N/10/MAR/4/Suppl.3 - G/SG/N/11/MAR/4 /Suppl.3, published on 
18 January 2019 . 
 
4  REASONS FOR INITIATION OF THE REVIEW  
The review investigation concerning extension of the safeguard measure applied to imports of 
cold-rolled sheets  and plated or coated sheets was initiated by the Ministry followin g a petition 
submitted by Maghreb Steel , which constitutes  the domestic industry for these products . 
 
The review  was initiated for the following reasons : 
 
● The injury caused to the domestic industry has not yet been remedied and the measure 
continues to be necessary to remedy and prevent  such injury ; 
 
● the domestic industry is in the process of introducing adjustment s so as to improve its 
competitiveness ; and 
 
● without a safeguard measure, the domestic  market would be inundated with diverted  
exports given the new factors and circumstances characterizing the global steel market , 
such as the increase in  global overcapacity and the recent introduction of safeguard 
measures by the leading global steel market players.  
 
5  DEADLINES FOR EXPORTERS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES TO SUBMIT COMMENTS 
IN WRITING  
The Ministry will send questionnaires to the exporters identified in the petition . Other concerned  
parties wishing to receive a questionnaire and participate in the investigation should request the 
questionnaire within 15 days of the date of initiation of the investigation . 
 
Replies to the investigation questionnaires must reach the Ministry within the time-limits laid down  
in the questionnaires , and an y party requesting an extension of these time -limits  must show good 
cause . 
 
Parties that consider that the investigation concerns them  have a period of 30 days from the date 
of initiation of the investigation to make themselves known as interested parties . 
 
In addition to their questionnaire replies, concern ed parties may send their views and comments on 
the initiation of the investigation, in writing, within 30 days of  the date of initiation . 
 
To submit replies and comments or to request information about the investigation procedure , parties 
should  contact the Ministry at: 
 
Ministère de l'Industrie, du Comm erce et de l'Économie Verte et Numérique  
Direction Générale du Commerce  
Direction de la Défense et de la Réglementation Commerciale  
Parcelle 14, Business center, aile Nord bd Riad,  
Hay Riad . BP 610, Rabat Chellah, Maroc  
Tel.: (+212 ) 537.70.18.46 
Fax: (+212 ) 537.72.71.50 
Email: ddc-svg-tlaf@mcinet.gov.ma  
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