G/SG/N/10/MAR/3/Suppl.2  
G/SG/N/14/MAR/1  
4 September 2015  
(15-4521)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Safeguards  Original: French  
 
  NOTIFICATION UPON INITIATION OF A REVIEW PURSUANT 
TO ARTICLE 7.2 REGARDING THE EXTENSION 
OF A SAFEGUARD MEASURE 
MOROCCO  
(Wire Rods and Reinforcing Bars) 
The following communication, dated 31 August 2015, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Morocco. 
 
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Pursuant to Article 7.2 of the Agreement on Safegu ards, Morocco hereby notifies the initiation of 
an investigation regarding the extension of the safeguard measure on imports of wire rods and 
reinforcing bars. 
 1. Date of initiation of the investigation 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Trade (MCE) decided to initiate the investigation regarding the extension of the safeguard measure on imports of wire rods and reinforcing bars on 29 July 2015.  
An announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Trade was made available to the public on the 
Ministry website ( http://www.maroc-trade.gov.ma ). 
 
2. Description of the products involved 
 The products under investigation are wire rods with a diameter of 5.5 to 14 millimetres and 
reinforcing bars with a diameter ranging from 5.5 to 40 millimetres. 
 These products are imported under Moroccan Harmonized System tariff subheadings 7213.91.90.00 (wire rods) and 7214.20. 90.00 and 7214.99.91.00 (reinforcing bars). 
 
3. Reference to the WTO document contai ning 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/3/Suppl.1 - G/SG/N/ 10/MAR/3 - G/SG/N/11/MAR/2/Suppl.1, dated 
20 December 2013, and the amendment thereto, published on 26 May 2014 in document 
G/SG/N/8/MAR/3/Suppl.1/Corr.1 - G/SG/N/10/MA R/3/Corr.1 - G/SG/N/11/MAR/2/Suppl.1/Corr.1. 
 4. Reasons for the initiation of the review 
 
The investigation regarding the extension of the safeguard measure on imports of wire rods and reinforcing bars was initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Trade following a request submitted by the 
Moroccan Iron and Steel Industry Association ( Association des Sidérurgistes du Maroc , ASM) on 
behalf of the domestic wire rod and reinforcing bar industry and on the basis of the information 
and evidence contained in that request. 
 G/SG/N/10/MAR/3/Suppl.2 • G/SG/N/14/MAR/1 
- 2 - 
  The purpose of the investigation is to ascertain whether the safeguard measure continues to be 
necessary to prevent or remedy the serious injury caused by imports of wire rods and reinforcing bars and whether the domestic industry is adjusting.  
The initiation of the review investigation for th e purposes of extending the safeguard measure on 
imports of wire rods and reinforcing bars will enab le the Ministry of Foreign Trade to evaluate the 
adjustment programme adopted by the ASM, in particular its level of implementation and the 
impact of programme activities on the domestic industry's performance. The Ministry will also 
consider measures yet to be implemented in order to restore the domestic industry's competitiveness in relation to imports.  
The non-confidential summary of the report on the initiation of the investigation regarding the 
extension of the safeguard measure is available on the Ministry website http://www.maroc-
trade.gov.ma  under " Mesures de défense commerciale" /"Avis publics et nouvelles" /"Sauvegarde " 
(Trade defence measures/Public notices and news/Safeguards). 
 5. Deadline(s) for exporters and other interested parties to submit comments 
in writing 
 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 Ministry of 
Foreign Trade by fax or email at the number or address provided below. 
 The Ministry of Foreign Trade may hold a public hear ing, 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 in fact likely to be a ffected by the results of the investigation. 
 
For information concerning the investigation procedure, please contact: 
 
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  / Service des Mesures Sauvegarde 
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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