G/SG/N/6/MAR/10  
31 July 2018 
(18-4852) 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  
MOROCCO  
(Coated wood board ) 
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 12.1(a) of the Agreement on Safeguards and the new notification 
format  adopted by the Committee on Safeguards at its meeting of 1 9 Octobe r 2009 
(G/SG/1/Rev.1 -G/SG/N/6/Rev.1 -G/SG/89 of 5 November 2 009), Morocco hereby submits its 
notification of initiation of an investigation relating to safeguard measures . 
 
Having examined the petition for the application of safeguard measures from the domestic 
producer of coated wood board, the Ministry of Industry, Investment, Trade and the Digital 
Economy (the Ministry) has decided to initiate a safeguard investigation reg arding imports of 
coated wood board in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 15-09 on trade defence 
measures and the WTO Agreement on Safeguards, as follows : 
 
1  DATE OF INITIATION OF THE INVESTIGATION  
The Ministry decided to initiate the investigation on  31 July 2 018. 
 
An announcement by the Ministry concerning the initiation of the investigation was made 
available to the public on the Ministry's website (http://www.mcinet.gov.ma/ce/home.asp ). 
 
2  PRECISE DESCRIPTION OF THE PRODUCT INVOLVED  
The product under investigation is board made from pieces of wood agglomerated with a binding 
substance , other than o riented strand board (OSB) and w aferboard, which is surface -covered 
with melamine  decor paper or decorative laminates of plastic . 
 
This product is  imported under the following headings of Morocco's Harmonized System : 
 
4410.11.20.11 ; 4410.11.20.19 ; 4410.11.20.90 ; 4410.11.30.11 ; 4410.11.30.19 ; 4410.11.30.90 ; 
4410.19.92.11 ; 4 410.19.92.19 ; 4 410.19.92.90 ; 4410.19.93.11 ; 4 410.19.93.19 ; a nd 
4410.19.93.90.  
 
3  REASONS FOR INITIATION OF THE INVESTIGATION  
The investigation was initiated by the Ministry following a petition submitted by the company 
CEMA BOIS DE L'ATLAS, on behalf of the domestic industry for coated wood board . G/SG/N/6/MAR/10  
- 2 - 
  According to the petition, the product in question has been imported into the Moroccan market in 
such increased quantities, both in absolute terms and in relation to domestic production, as to 
cause serious injury to the domestic industry for c oated wood board . 
Imports of coated wood board  recorded a sharp rise during the period 2013 -2017, both in 
absolute terms and in relation to domestic production.  
 
In absolute terms , they increased by 41 %, 16%, 31% and 12% respectively in 2014, 2015, 2016 
and 2017. In total , they increased by  141% during the period  2013-2017.  
 
In relation to domestic production, imports of coated wood board increased by 87 % during the 
period 2013 -2017. 
 
According to the petitioner , this  massive increase in  imports is due to a number of unforeseen 
developments.  
 
According to the claims made in the petition, this upsurge in imports has caused serious injury to 
the domestic industry for coated wood board, resulting in a significant fall in its market share and 
a steady decline in its profitability and sales prices, and employment . 
 
4  PROCEDURES AND DEADLINES FOR INTERESTED PARTIES TO MAKE THEMSELVES 
KNOWN  
Interested parties have a period of 30 days from the date of initiation of the invest igation to 
make themselves known as such and to comment on the investigation, by contacting the Ministry 
by fax or email at the number or address provided in paragraph 5 . 
 
The Ministry  may hold a public hearing, either ex officio  or at the request of the parties concerned, 
in which interested parties may participate provided that they so request and show that they are 
actually likely to be affected by the results of the investigation . 
 
5  CONTACT POINT FOR CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING T HE INVESTIGATION  
For information concerning the investigation procedure, the address for correspondence is : 
 
Royaume du Maroc  
Ministère de l 'Industrie, de l 'Investissement, du Commerce 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 , Morocco  
Tel.:  +212  537 70 18 46 
Fax: +212 537 72 71 50 
 
Email: mberredouane@mcinet.gov.ma  
oguendouz@mcinet.gov.ma  
nnadi@mcinet.gov.ma  
ramourak@mcinet.gov.ma  
 
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