G/SG/N/6/MDG/2  
 
9 October 2018  
(18-6227) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Safeguards  Original: French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION UNDER A RTICLE 12.1(A) OF THE AGREEMENT  
ON SAFEGUARDS  ON INITIATION OF AN INVESTIGATION  
AND THE REASONS FOR IT  
MADAGASCAR  
(Blankets and Travelling Rugs) 
The following communication, dated 8 October 2018 , is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Madagascar.  
 
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The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Madagascar to the United Nations Office and Specialized 
Agencies at Geneva presents its com pliments to the World Trade Organization  and, pursuant to  
Article 12.1 (a) of the WTO Agreement on Safeguards , has the honour to notify it of the initiation of 
a safeguard investigation concerning  imports of blankets and travelling rugs . 
 
The investigation was initiated on 20 September 2018. The notice concerning the initiation of the 
investigation was published in two national newspapers authorized to receive legal notices and may 
be viewed online at: http://www.anmcc.mg . 
 
The products under investigation are blankets and travelling rugs , which  are generally articles of 
wool, animal hair, cotton, or man -made fibres, with surfaces that are often brushed and , in principle , 
made with fabric thick enough to provide  good prote ction from the cold. Travelling rugs often have 
a fringe made from the weave of the fabric itself , while other  blankets  usually have hemmed, 
trimmed or otherwise finished edges . 
 
These products are generally imported under the following HS codes of Madagas car's customs tariff: 
63 01 10 00; 63 01 20 00; 63 01 30 00; 63 01 40 00; and 63 01 90 00. 
 
The investigation was initiated by  the National Authority for Trade Remedies (ANMCC ) following a 
petition filed  by the domestic blanket and travelling rug industry , represented by the company 
SOMACOU, requesting the application of a safeguard measure to imports of these products, the 
share of which , in relation to domestic production, increased from 27% to 997% during  the period 
2013-2017 and, in absolute terms, ros e sharply by 2,456% during the same period. The information 
provided also highlighted the  significant  deterioration  of all the domestic industry 's economic indices, 
most notably  market share, sale s volume , production capacity utilization , financial losses , 
employment , etc. 
 
Lastly , the petitioner demonstrated  a causal link between the sudden surge  in imports and the injury 
suffered  by the domestic blan ket and travelling rug industry . 
 
Any entity that  wishes  to be considered as an interested party should contact the ANMCC within 
30 days from the date of initiation of the investigation. Any comments, information or requests that 
the interested parties wish to transmit to the investigating authority should be submitted in writing 
in printed or electro nic form within 30 days from the date of initiation of the investigation . 
 
The ANMCC  may, ex officio  or at the request of interested parties , hold a public hearing , enabling 
all interested parties to defend their interests . G/SG/N/6/MDG/2  
 
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The address of the investigatin g authority to which correspondence should be sent  is as follows : 
 
Monsieur Le Directeur G énéral de l'Autorit é Nationale charg ée des Mesures 
Correctives Commerciales (ANMCC)  
Enceinte Ex -Conqu ête Antanimena , Antananarivo 101 – Madagascar  
Email: dg.anmcc@gmail.com ; Website : http://www.anmcc.mg  
The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Madagascar to the United Nations Office and Specialized 
Agencies at Geneva avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the World Trade Organization the 
assurances of its highest consideration.  
 
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