G/SG/N/6/MAR/7/Suppl.2  
G/SG/N/14/MAR/1/Suppl. 4 
19 August  2021 
(21-6288) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Safeguards  Original:  French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTI CLE 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 ARTI CLE 7 .2 REGARDING THE EXTENSION  
OF A SAFEGUARD MEASURE  
MOROCCO  
Wire rods and reinforcing bars  
Supplement  
The following communication, dated  and received on 1 8 August 2 021, 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 wire rods 
and reinforcing bars . 
 
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 wire rods and reinforcing bars , as from  17 August 2 021. 
 
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 wire rods and 
reinforcing bars belonging to the family of long iron and non -alloy steel products . 
Wire rods and reinforcing bars are imported under the following Moroccan Harmonized S ystem 
customs headings : 
• Wire rods : 7213.91.90.00.  
• Reinforcing bars : 7214.20.90.00 and 7214.99.91.00.  
The review concerns all the products subject to the existing measure . G/SG/N/6/MAR/7/Suppl.2 • G/SG/N/14/MAR/1/Suppl. 4 
- 2 - 
  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/10/MAR/3/Suppl.4 - G/SG/N/11/MAR/2/Suppl.4 - G/SG/N/14/MAR/1/Suppl.3, published on 
22 January 2 019. 
 
4  REASONS FOR INITIATION OF THE REVIEW  
The review investigation on extension of the safeguard measure applied to imports of wire rods and 
reinforcing bars  was initiated by the Ministry following a petition submitted by the Moroccan Iron 
and Steel Industry Association ( Association des Sidérurgistes du Maro c, ASM) on behalf of 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  an extension of the  safeguard measure, import pressure might rise in light of 
increased  global overcapacity  in steel , the proliferation of safeguard measures and other 
restrictive measures  imposed  by leading global steel market players , reduced 
consumption in North African markets and the Gu lf region , and a less attractive 
domestic market . 
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 in itiation 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 ) 5 3770-1846 
Fax: (+212 ) 5 3772-7150 
Email: ddc-svg-fmfb@mcinet.gov.ma  
 
 
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