G/SG/Q2/ECU/15  
30 October 2015  
(15-5761)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Safeguards  Original: Spanish  
 
  NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 12.1(B) OF THE AGREEMENT ON SAFEGUARDS 
ON FINDING SERIOUS INJURY OR THREAT THEREOF 
CAUSED BY INCREASED IMPORTS 
REPLIES TO QUESTIONS POSED BY THE UNITED STATES1 
REGARDING THE NOTIFICATION OF ECUADOR2 
(Wood and Bamboo Flooring and Accessories Thereof)) 
The following communication, dated 28 October 2015, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Ecuador.  
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 Question 1 
In its prior notification regarding the taking of a provisional measure
3, Ecuador stated 
that the provisional measure would be in pl ace for 200 days. Please clarify whether the 
provisional measure has now expired. If so, please identify the da y of expiration and 
confirm that duties are no longer being colle cted on imports. If not, please state the 
reasons why the measure continues to be applied. 
Reply 
In documents G/SG/N/7/ECU/3 and G/SG/N/7/ECU/3/C orr.1, Ecuador published its notification to 
the WTO Committee on Safeguards, under Article 12. 4 of the Agreement on Safeguards, regarding 
the taking of a provisional safeguard measure referred to in Article 6. The provisional safeguard measure was subsequently introduced on 4 November 2014 for a period not to exceed 200 days, 
that is, until 23 May 2015. 
However, in documents G/SG/N/11/ECU/2, G/ SG/N/10/ECU/5 and G/SG/N/8/ECU/4/Suppl.1, 
Ecuador notified the WTO Committee on Safeguards, under Article 12.1(c) of the Agreement on 
Safeguards, that the definitive safeguard measure was introduced on 23 May 2015 for a period of 
three years, including the 200 days of the provis ional safeguard measure, in conformity with 
Article 7.3 of the Agreement on Safeguards. 
Question 2 
Ecuador's notification is of a preliminary de termination, while at the same time stating 
"not applicable" as to the proposition, de scription, or applicability of measure. 
Therefore, please clarify as to the effect, if  any, this preliminary determination has on 
imports, whether Ecuador will release or othe rwise publish its preliminary findings, and, 
if so, how and when will the findings be made publicly available. 
                                               
1 G/SG/Q2/ECU/14. 
2 G/SG/N/8/ECU/4 (dated 24 April 2015). 
3 G/SG/N/7/ECU/3 (dated 23 October 2014). G/SG/Q2/ECU/15 
- 2 - 
  Reply 
In strict compliance with multilateral rules, Ec uador provided notification to the Committee on 
Safeguards, under Article 12.1(b) of the Agreement on Safeguards, on finding serious injury caused by the increase in the imports under investigation (G/SG/N/8/ECU/4). 
Moreover, on the date of submission of the aforemen tioned notification of an injury determination, 
the Foreign Trade Committee (COMEX), the governing body responsible for taking final measures once it receives the Investigating Authority's report, i.e. once serious injury caused by increased 
imports has been determined and notified, had no t yet ruled on the matter and did not therefore 
possess certain information requested in the notification. Accordingly, "not applicable" was stated in accordance with the notification format guidelines ((G/SG/1/Rev.1, G/SG/N/6/Rev.1, G/SG/89). It is important to stress that the Ecuadorian procedure is fully compatible with the Agreement on 
Safeguards. 
It is also important to recall that the notification formats are intended to facilitate notifications 
under the Agreement on Safeguards. 
Following this notification, the definitive measure was adopted and notified in accordance with the 
multilateral rules (Article 12.1(c)). The notification provides details of the measure and the timetable for its progressive liberalization. 
In Technical Report No. IT/SVGP-PM/AI-MCE/005 of 15 May 2015, the Investigating Authority of 
the Foreign Trade Committee set forth its findings and reasoned conclusions on all pertinent issues of fact and law in the safeguard investigation on wood and bamboo flooring and accessories thereof. The report forms part of the public record  of the investigation. Likewise, this information 
has been published on the website, http://www.defe nsacomercial.ec, in acco rdance with Article 3 
of the Agreement on Safeguards. 
Question 3 
Given this preliminary determin ation, please identify the next steps in the investigation 
process, including the timetable for key even ts in the investigation (e.g., deadline for 
submission of comments by interested parties on the preliminary determination, date of 
public hearing, and date of  the final determination). 
Reply 
During this safeguard investigation a provisional measure was applied to imports of wood and 
bamboo flooring and accessories thereof; the next steps in the investigation process were carried 
out in conformity with the Agreement on Safeguards  and national legislation, and were notified in 
document G/SG/N/6/ECU/9, under Article 12.1(a) of the Agreement on Safeguards on initiation of 
an investigation. The notification also includes a tentative schedule for key events in the 
investigation. In any event, under the relevant national rules and those of the Agreement on 
Safeguards, the interested parties in the investigation had the opportunity to express or submit relevant comments at any point in the proceedings. 
Nevertheless, by way of example, the key events in the investigation include: the date of adoption 
of the provisional measure (4 November 2014), the date of the public hearing 
(29 December 2014) and the date of adoption of the definitive measure (23 May 2015). 
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