G/SG/N/6/MAR/11  
29 May 2019 
(19-3714) 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  
MOROCCO  
(Hot-Rolled Sheets)  
The following communication, dated  27 May 2 019, is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of Morocco.  
 
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Pursuant to Article 12.1(a) of the Agreement on Safeguards, Morocco hereby notifies the initiation 
of a safeguard investigation concerning imports of hot -rolled sheets.  
 
1. Date of initiation of the investigation  
 
The Ministry of Industry, Investment, Trade and the Digital Economy (hereinafter the Ministry) has 
decided to initiate a safeguard investigation concerning imports of hot -rolled sheets, as from 
29 May 2019. 
 
A notice concerning the initiation of the investigation is available to the public on the Ministry's 
website  (http://www.mcinet.gov.ma/ce/antidumping/avis_sauvgarde.asp ). 
 
2. Precise description of the product involved  
 
The products at issue are hot -rolled sheets, whether or not in coils.  
 
The hot -rolled sheets referred to in the petition are imported into Morocco under the following 
Harmonized System tariff headings : 72.08, 72.11.13, 72.11.14, 72.11.19, 72.25.30, 72.25.40, 
72.26.20.00.11, 72.26.20.00.21, 72.26.20.00.30, 72.26.20.00.40, 72.26.20.00.51, 
72.26.20.00.52, 72.26.20.00.59, 72.26.91, 72.26.99.90.91 and 72.26.99.90.99.  
 
3. Reasons for initiation of the investigation  
 
The investigation was initiated by the Ministry following a petition submitted by the company 
Maghreb Steel, on behalf of the domestic hot -rolled sheet industry.  
 
According to the petition, the products in question have been imported into the Moroccan mark et in 
such increased quantities, both in absolute terms and in relation to domestic production, as  to cause 
serious injury to the domestic hot -rolled sheet industry.  
 
Imports of hot -rolled sheets rose by 54 % during the 2014 -2018 review period and by 31 % in 2018 
in relation to 2017.  
 
Likewise, relative to  domestic production, imports decreased in 2017 in relation to 2014, 2015 and 
2016, then rose between 2017 and 2018 from 16 % in 2017 to 26 % in 2018.  
 G/SG/N/6/MAR/11  
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  This increase in imports appears to be the result of unfo reseen developments, namely the increase 
in global overcapacity in the steel industry and heightened market protection favouring the shifting 
of trade flows towards free, open and attractive markets, including, in particular, 
the Moroccan  market.  
 
Maghreb Steel claims that this upsurge in imports of hot -rolled sheets has caused serious injury to 
the domestic hot -rolled sheet industry, resulting in a drop in  sales volume, output, productivity and 
production capacity utilization, and a decline in financial performance.  
 
4. Deadlines and procedures for importers, exporters and other interested parties to 
present evidence and views, including (i) deadlines and p rocedures for Members and 
exporters to identify themselves as interested parties, if so required, to participate in the 
investigation and (ii) the date of an intended hearing as provided for in Article 3.1  
 
In order to gather the information required for i ts investigation, the Ministry will send questionnaires 
to the importers and domestic producers of the product at issue that were identified in the petition.  
 
Other concerned parties wishing to receive a questionnaire and participate in the investigation s hould 
contact the Ministry by fax or email within 15 days of the date of initiation of the investigation 
(i.e. by 4 p.m. on Monday 1 7 June 2 019 at the latest).  
 
Replies to the investigation questionnaires must reach the Ministry within the time -limits indi cated 
in the questionnaires . Any party requesting an extension of these time -limits must show good cause.  
 
Parties that believe the investigation concerns them have a period of 30 days from the date of 
initiation of the investigation (i.e. by 4 p.m. on Tue sday 4 July 2 019 at the latest) to make 
themselves known as interested parties.  
 
In addition to their questionnaire replies, interested parties may also submit their views and 
comments on the initiation of the investigation, in writing, within 30 days of the date of initiation of 
the investigation (i.e. by 4 p.m. on Tuesday 4 July 2 019 at the latest) and, in accordance with point  6 
of the relevant notice, in confidential and non -confidential versions.  
 
During the investigation, the Ministry may hold a public hearing, either ex officio  or at the request 
of the parties concerned, to allow  interested parties to put forward their views and defend their 
interests . Once agreement has been reached on holding a public hearing, the Ministry will, in due 
course, inform the interested parties of the date on which it will take place and the arrangem ents 
for the event.  
 
5. Contact point for correspondence concerning the investigation  
 
To request information about the investigation procedure, parties should contact the Ministry using 
the fax number or email address provided below:  
 
Ministère de l'Indus trie, de l'Investissement, du Commerce et de l'Économie Numérique  
Direction Générale du Commerce  
Direction de la Défense et de la Réglementation Commerciale  
Division de la Défense Commerciale  
Parcelle 14, Business center, aile Nord bd Riad,  
Hay Riad . BP 610, Rabat Chellah, Maroc  
Tel.: (+212) 5 37 70 18 46  
Fax: (+212) 5 37 72 71 50  
Email : mberredouane@mcinet.gov.ma  
cmoublad @mcinet.gov.ma  
jsegdoud@mcinet.gov.ma  
 
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