G/L/1226  
G/SG/N/12/JPN/3  
 
6 April 2018  
(18-2112) Page: 1/2 
Council for Trade in Goods  
Committee on Safeguards  Original: English  
 
IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATI ON UNDE R ARTICLE 12.5 OF TH E AGREEMENT  
ON SAFEGUARDS TO TH E COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS OF  
PROPOSED SUSP ENSION OF CONCESSION S AND OTHER  
OBLIGATIONS  REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH 2  
OF ARTICLE 8 OF THE AGREEMENT  
ON SAFEGUARDS  
JAPAN 
The following communication, dated 6 April 2018, is being circulated at the reque st of the 
Delegation of Japan . 
 
_______________  
 
 
Pursuant to Article 12.5 of the Agreement on Safeguards, and in accordance with the agreed 
format for notifications (G/SG/1, 1 Ju ly 1996 ; amended  19 October 2009, G/SG/1/Rev.1 -
G/SG/N/6/Rev.1 -G/SG/89 ), the Government of Japan provides the immediate notification to the 
Council for Trade in Goods of proposed suspension of concessions and other obligations referred to 
in paragraph 2 of Article 8 of the Agreement on Safeguards . 
 
1. Which Member is proposing suspension of concessions and other obligations referred 
to in Article 8.2 of the Agreement on Safeguards  
 
Japan.  
 
2. Specify the measure, the product subject to the measure, the WTO document that 
notified the safeguard measure, and the Member imposing the measure in relation to 
which the Member is proposing suspension of concessions and other obligations referred 
to in Article 8.2 of the Agreement on Safeguards  
 
The measure imposed by  the United States is a definitive safeguard measure on imports of 
crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells (whether or not partially or fully assembled into other 
products). This measure was notified in WTO document G/SG/N/8/USA/9 (dated 4 October 2017) 
and its subsequent supplements .1 
 
3. Describe the proposed suspension of concessions and other obligations referred to in 
Article 8.2 of the Agreement on Safeguards and the proposed date from which it will 
come into effect  
 
The proposed suspension of substant ially equivalent concessions a nd other obligations under 
GATT 1994 to the trade with the United States takes the form of an increase in duty on selected 
products originating in the United States. Details of the said suspension of concessions will be 
provid ed to the Council for Trade in Goods before the suspension of concessions is applied.  
 
Without prejudice to the effective exercise of its right to suspend substantially equivalent 
concessions or other obligations referred to in Article 8.2 of the Agreement  on Safeguards , the 
Government of Japan reserves its right to effectuate the proposed suspension not earlier than 
                                                             
1 G/SG/N/8/USA/9/Suppl.3 (dated 8 January 2018), and G/SG/N/8/USA/9/Suppl.4 -G/SG/N/10/USA/7 -
G/SG/N/ 11/USA/6  (dated 26 January 2018) . G/L/1226 • G/SG/N/12/JPN/3  
 
- 2 - 
 
  7 February 2021, or the fifth day following the date of a decision from the WTO Dispute Settlement 
Body that the safeguard measure imposed by the United States is  not in conformity with the 
WTO Agreement, whichever is earlier. The Suspension will continue to apply until the 
United States ' safeguard measure is lifted.  
 
__________