G/SG/N/6/CRI/3  
28 February 2014  
(14-1231)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Safeguards  Original: Spanish  
 
  NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 12.1(A) OF THE AGREEMENT 
ON SAFEGUARDS ON INITIATI ON OF AN INVESTIGATION 
AND THE REASONS FOR IT 
COSTA RICA 
(Pounded Rice) 
The following communication, dated 26 February 2014, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Costa Rica. 
 
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The Republic of Costa Rica hereby submits to  the Committee on Safeguards the following 
notification under Article 12.1(a) of the Agr eement on Safeguards regarding the initiation 
of an investigation procedure with a view to the application of a safeguard measure to imports 
of pounded rice. 
1  DATE WHEN THE INVESTIGATION WAS INITIATED 
An excerpt of the Resolution initiating the investigation was published in the Costa Rican 
Official Journal La Gaceta No. 29 on 11 February 2014. Thus, in accordance with the terms 
of this Resolution, the investigation was initiated on that date. The full text of the Resolution is available at: http://www.meic.go.cr/web/166/defen sa-comercial/casos-en-proceso . 
2  PRODUCT SUBJECT TO INVESTIGATION 
The product subject to the investigation is pounded rice, imported into Costa Rica under 
Central American Harmonized System (SAC) ta riff subheadings 1006.30.90.91 and 1006.30.90.99. 
3  REASONS FOR THE INITIATION  OF THE INVESTIGATION 
On 20 December 2013, the National Association of Rice Millers (ANINSA), on behalf of two 
domestic companies producing pounded rice, submitted an application for an investigation with 
a view to the application of a general safeguard measure pursuant to the provisions of Article XIX 
of the GATT 1994, the Agreement on Safeguar ds, and the Central American Regulations 
on Safeguard Measures. 
With regard to the analysis of the preliminary eval uation of the relevant factors, such as increased 
imports of pounded rice in both relative and absolute terms in 2013 and the situation 
of the domestic industry, in particular the decline in its production and market share, the Trade Defence Directorate of the Ministry  of the Economy, Industry and Trade, as 
the investigating authority, considered that the application submitted by ANINSA met all 
of the requirements justifying the initiation of the investigation procedure.  G/SG/N/6/CRI/3 
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  4  CONTACT INFORMATION 
Any questions on the above proceeding may be addressed to Ms Odalys Vega Calvo, Director 
of the Trade Defence Directorate of the Ministry of the Economy, Industry and Trade (MEIC) by email ( defensacomercial@meic.go.cr ; ovega@meic.go.cr ) or by telephone (506) 2291-1865. 
5  DEADLINES AND PROCEDURES 
i. Presentation of evidence and views 
Pursuant to Article 14(j) of the Central American  Regulations on Safeguard Measures, the parties 
will have a period of 15 calendar days as from the date of notification of the initiation 
of the investigation to submit their arguments and any evidence they may wish to produce. 
In accordance with Article 15 of the Central American Regulations on Safeguard Measures, 
the parties will have a period of 45 calendar days from the day following the notification 
of the initiation of the investigation – a period which may be extended by up to 30 days - in which 
to submit evidence. 
ii. Deadlines and procedures for Members and exporters to identify themselves 
as interested parties 
Pursuant to paragraph 104 of the Resolution initiating the investigation, anyone who considers 
themselves to be an interested party to the proceedings has a period of eight working days 
as from the date of publication of the Resolution in  the Official Journal to appear in person before 
the investigating authority and demonstrate that they have an interest in the case and that they fulfil the requirements to be considered as such. 
iii. Date of the intended public hearings 
Pursuant to Article 24 of the Central American Regulations on Safeguard Measures, during 
the investigation procedure the investigating authority will notify the parties of the holding of a public hearing 15 calendar days in advance. 
 
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