G/SG/N/6/THA/4  
 
3 February 2014  
(14-0583)  Page: 1/2  
 Committee on Safeguards  Original: English  
 
 NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 12.1 (A) OF THE AGREEMENT 
ON SAFEGUARDS ON INITIATI ON OF AN INVESTIGATION 
AND REASONS FOR IT 
THAILAND  
(Non Alloy Hot Rolled Steel Flat Products in Coils and Not in Coils) 
The following communication, dated 31 January 2014, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Thailand. 
 
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A petition for a safeguard investigation pursuant to Section 13 of the Safeguard Measures on Increased Imports Act of Thailand B.E. 2550 (2007)
1 was lodged by the domestic industry 
consisting of Sahaviriya Steel Industries Public Company Limited , G Steel Public Company Limited , 
G J Steel Public Company Limited  and Sahaviriya Plate Mill Public Company Limited . (hereafter 
referred to collectively as the "Petitioners"). After carefully analyzing the petition by the 
Committee on Safeguard Measures of Thailand established under Section 5 of the Safeguard 
Measures on Increased Imports Act of Thailand B.E. 2550 (2007), it was apparent that there is sufficient evidence to justify the initiation of an investigation.  
1. Date of initiation 
 The investigation shall commence one day following the date of publication of the Notice of 
Initiation in the Royal Gazette, i.e., effective as from 30 January B.E. 2557 (2014). 
 
2. Product concerned  
 
 The product concerned is non alloy hot rolled steel flat products in coils and not in coils, of a 
thickness of 0.9 – 50.0 mm. and a width of 600.0 – 3,048.0 mm. The product concerned is 
currently classifiable in the Thai Customs Tariff Code at subheadings: 7208.36.00.031, 7208.36.00.032, 7208.36.00.033, 7208.36.00.090, 7208.37.00.041, 7208.37.00.042, 
7208.37.00.043, 7208.37.00.090, 7208.38.00.041, 7208.38.00.042, 7208.38.00.043, 
7208.38.00.090, 7208.39.00.041, 7208.39.00.042, 7208.39.00.043, 7208.39.00.090, 7208.51.00.090, 7208.52.00.090, 7208.53.000.11, 7208.53.00.012, 7208.53.00.013, 7208.53.00.090, 7208.54.00.011, 7208.54.00.012, 7208.54.00.013, 7208.54.00.090 
 
3. Reasons for initiation of investigation  
i. The investigation was initiated following a petition from the petitioners whose 
collective output accounts for 96.97% of the total production of the product concerned in Thailand. 
ii. The petitioners have provided sufficient evidence pursuant to Section 13 of the 
Safeguard Measures on Increased Imports Act of Thailand B.E. 2550 (2007) showing 
                                               
1 B.E. stands for Buddhist Era. There is a difference of 543 years between a B.E. year and an A.D. or 
C.E. ( Anno Domini  ("Year of the Lord") or Christian Era) year; hence, as noted in parentheses, B.E. 2550 is the 
equivalent of A.D. or C.E. 2007. G/SG/N/6/THA/4 
 
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  that the volume of imports of the product concerned had increased significantly 
by 62% in 2011 compared with the volume of imports in 2010. The volume of imports increased further by 146% in 2012 compared with the volume of imports in 2011. More recently, the volume of imports in the first nine months of 2013 
(January - September) had increased by 305% in comparison with the volume of 
imports in the same corresponding period in 2012. 
iii. Meanwhile, based on preliminary assessment of all relevant factors on the situation 
of the domestic industry concerned, especi ally the increase in the market share of 
the imports, the change in domestic sales, production, productivity, capacity utilization, profitability, employment, and inventories, it was found that the increased imports of the product concerned have caused serious injury to the domestic 
industry in the form of the decrease in th e market share of the domestic market, the 
level of domestic sales, the level of employment and financial loss. 
4. Deadlines and Procedures 
 
i. Presentation of evidence, documents and views or comments 
Pursuant to Section 19 of the Safeguard Measures on Increased Imports Act of 
Thailand B.E. 2550 (2007), importers, exporters and any other interested parties 
who desire to present evidence, documents and views or comments pertaining to the aforementioned investigation shall submit  their evidence, documents and views or 
comments so stated in writing to the Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of 
Commerce of Thailand within fifteen (15) days as of the date the Notice of Initiation 
has entered into force (30 January B.E. 2557 (2014)). 
ii. Hearing 
All interested parties may also apply in writing to be heard by the Department of 
Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce of Thailand within fifteen (15) days as of the date the Notice of Initiation has entered into force (30 January B.E. 2557 (2014)). 
iii. Request for information regarding the petition 
All interested parties willing to receive information regarding the petition for the 
determination of safeguard measures, shall request it in writing to the Secretariat of the Committee on Safeguards to the following address: 
 
Bureau of Trade Interests and Remedies 
Department of Foreign Trade 
Ministry of Comme rce of Thailand 
44/100  Nonthaburi 1 Road., 
Nonthaburi 11000   THAILAND 
Telephone: (662) 547-5082
 
Facsimile: (662) 547-4741 
E-mail : butrade@moc.go.th 
 
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