G/SG/N/6/MAR/9  
11 June 2015  
(15-3030)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Safeguards  Original: French  
 
  NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 12.1(A) OF THE AGREEMENT 
ON SAFEGUARDS ON INITIATI ON OF AN INVESTIGATION 
AND THE REASONS FOR IT 
MOROCCO  
(Paper in Rolls and Paper in Reams) 
The following communication, dated 10 June 2015, 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 19 October 2009 
(G/SG/1/Rev.1-G/SG/N/6/Rev.1-G/SG/89 of 5 November 2009), Morocco hereby submits its 
notification of initiation of an investigation relating to safeguard measures.  
Having examined the petition for the applicat ion of safeguard measures from the company 
MED PAPER, the Ministry of Foreign Trade (MCE) has decided to initiate a safeguard investigation regarding imports of paper in rolls and paper in reams in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 15-09 on Trade Defence Measures and of the WTO Agreement on Safeguards, as follows: 
 
1  DATE OF INITIATION OF THE INVESTIGATION 
The MCE decided to initiate the investigation on 9 June 2015. 
An announcement by the MCE concerning the initiation of the investigation was made available to 
the public on the Ministry's website ( http://www.maroc-trade.gov.ma ). 
2  PRECISE DESCRIPTION OF THE PRODUCT INVOLVED 
The products under investigation are paper in rolls and paper in reams belonging to the family of 
paper and paperboard, of a kind used for wr iting, printing or other graphic purposes. 
These products are imported under the following headings of Morocco's Harmonized System: 
 Paper in rolls: HS 4802.55.90.00; 
 Paper in reams: HS 4802.57.90.00. 
3  REASONS FOR INITIATION OF THE INVESTIGATION 
The investigation was initiated by the MCE following a petition submitted by the company 
MED PAPER, on behalf of the domestic indust ry for paper in rolls and paper in reams. 
 According to the petition, the products in questi on have 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 paper in rolls and paper in reams. G/SG/N/6/MAR/9 
- 2 - 
   
Imports of paper in rolls recorded a sharp rise of 132% in 2013 compared to 2010. They increased 
by 97% in 2011 compared to 2010, and after decreasing 12% in 2012 compared to 2011 they rose again by 33% in 2013 compared to 2012. During the period January-September 2014, 
they continued to rise, recording an increase of 4% compared to the same period in 2013. 
 Imports of paper in reams recorded an increase of 203% in 2013 compared to 2010. The volume 
of imports rose to 7,305 tonnes in 2011 from 4,276 tonnes in 2010, reaching 9,532 tonnes in 
2012. The upward trend gathered momentum in 2013, the total volume reaching 12,956 tonnes, 36% higher than in 2012.  
Similarly, relative to domestic production, imports of paper in rolls and paper in reams rose 
suddenly and seriously as from 2010. According to MED PAPER, the massive increase in imports is due to unforeseen developments. 
 
MED PAPER claims that this upsurge in imports has caused serious injury to the domestic industry 
for paper in rolls and paper in reams, resulting in a decline in the volume of production, 
productivity, production capacity utilisation, sales and the level of employment, as well as declines 
in the financial performance of the domestic industry. 
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 investigation to make 
themselves known as such and to comment on the investigation, by contacting the MCE by fax or email at the number or address provided in paragraph 5. 
 
The MCE may hold a public hearing, either ex offi cio 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 THE INVESTIGATION 
For information concerning the investigation procedure, the address for correspondence is: 
 
Ministère Délégué auprès du Minist re de l'Industrie, du Commerce, 
de l'Investissement et de  l'Économie Numérique char gé du Commerce Extérieur 
Direction de la Politique des Échanges Commerciaux / Division de la Défense 
Commerciale 
Parcelle 14, Business center, aile nord bd Riad, Hay Riad, PB 610, Rabat Chellah, 
Maroc. 
TEL: (212) 537 70.18.46 Fax: (212) 537.72.71.50 
Email: ddc@mce.gov.ma  
 
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