G/SG/N/6/MAR/8/Suppl.1  
G/SG/N/14/MAR/2  
31 July 2018 
(18-4854) 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  
 
NOTIFICATION UPON INITIATION OF A REVIEW PURSUANT  
TO ARTICLE 7.2 REGARDING THE EXTENSION  
OF A SAFEGUARD MEASURE  
MOROCCO  
(Cold-rolled sheets , neither plated nor coated , and plated or coated sheets ) 
The following communication, dated  27 July 2 018, 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 
cold-rolled sheets , neither plated nor coated , and p lated or coated 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 review investigation on extension of the safeguard measure applied to imports 
of cold -rolled sheets , neither  plated nor coated , and plated or coated sheets , as from  31 July 2 018. 
 
Public notice  concerning the initiation of the investigation has been given to the public on the 
Ministry's website  at: http://www.mcinet.gov.ma/ce/antidumping/avis_sauvgarde.asp . 
 
2  DESCRIPTION OF THE PRODUCTS INVOLVED  
The products under  investigation are cold -rolled sheets , neither  plated nor coated , and plated or 
coated sheets . These products are classified under the following Harmonized System  (HS) tariff 
headings : 7209, 7211 ( with the exception of  7211.13,  7211.14  and 7211.19), 7225 and 7226; 
7210 ( with the exception of  7210.11,  7210.1 2, 7210.90.21.00,  7210.90.22.00 
and 7210.90. 23.00), 7212 ( with the exception of  7212.10), 7225 and 7226.  
 
The review concerns all the products subject to the existing measure . 
 
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/8/MAR/4 ; G/SG/N/10/MAR/4 ; G/SG/N/11/MAR/4 , as supplemented by  document  
G/SG/N/8/MAR/4/Suppl.2 ; G/SG/N/10/MAR/4/Suppl.2 ; G/SG/N/11/MAR/4/Suppl.2.  
 G/SG/N/6/MAR/8/Suppl.1 • G/SG/N/14/MAR/2  
- 2 - 
  4  REASONS FOR INITIATION OF THE REVIEW  
The investigation concerning extension of the safeguard measure applied to imports of cold -rolled 
sheets , neither  plated nor coated , and plated or coated sheets was initiated by the Ministry 
following a petition submitted by the company Maghreb Steel , which constitutes  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 a safeguard measure, the domestic  market would be inundated with diverted  
exports given the new factors and circumstances characterizing the global steel 
market , such as the increase in  global overcapacity, the growth in  Chinese exports 
and the recent introduction of safeguard measures by the leading global steel market 
players.  
 
5  DEADLINES FOR EXPORTERS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES TO SUBMI T 
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 initiation of the investigation, in writing, within 30 days of  the date of initiation  and, in 
accordance with point 7 of the public notice, in confidential and non -confidential versions.  
 
To submit  replies and comments or to request information about the investigation procedure , 
parties should  contact the Ministry using the  fax number or email  address  provided below . 
 
Ministère de l'Industrie, de l'Investissement, du Comm erce et de l'Économie 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: ssaidi@mcinet.gov.ma ; mberredouane@mcinet.gov.ma  
 
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