. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SG/N/14/THA/1 
8 January 2013 
 (13-0048) 
Committee on Safeguards Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION ON INITIATON OF A REVIEW PURSUANT  
TO ARTICLE 7.2 REGARD ING THE EXTENSION  
OF A SAFEGUARD MEASURE 
 
THAILAND 
 
(Glass Block) 
   The following communication, dated 20 December 2012, is being circulated at the request of 
the Delegation of Thailand.   
 
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  We enclose a notification on initiation of a revi ew pursuant to Article 7.2 of the Agreement 
on Safeguards regarding the extension of the saf eguard measure in imports of glass block. 
 
1. Date of initiation 
 
 The Notice of the Initiation of the Investig ation was published in the Royal Gazette on 
18 December B.E. 2555 (2012).   
 
2. Product concerned 
 
 The product concerned is glass block which is  currently classified under the Thai Customs 
Tariff Code 7016.9000.    3. Reasons for the initiation of the review  
 Following a detailed evaluation by the Committ ee on Safeguard Measures, established under 
Section 5 of the Safeguard Measures on Increased Imports Act B.E. 2550 (2007)
 1, of the petition 
submitted by the domestic industry, it was concluded th at there is sufficient evidence to justify the 
initiation of the review.   
 
(i) A petition for a review regarding the extens ion of a safeguard measure pursuant to 
Section 36 of the Safeguard Measures on Increased Imports Act B.E. 2550 (2007) 
was lodged by the domestic industry, Bangkok Crystal Co., Ltd. (hereafter referred to 
as "Bangkok Crystal") which accounts for 100 percent of the production of the 
product concerned in Thailand.  
                                                      
1 B.E. stands for Buddhist Era.  There is a difference of 543 years between a B.E. year and an A.D. or 
C.E. ( Anno Domini  ("Year of the Lord") or Christian Era) year; hence, as noted in parentheses, B.E. 2550 is the 
equivalent of A.D. or C.E. 2007.  G/SG/N/14/THA/1 
Page 2  
 
  ii) The domestic industry has provided sufficient evidence showing that imports into 
Thailand of the product concerned have increased by 10.13 percent in 2554 (2011) 
compared to B.E. 2552 (2009). Particularly, in B.E. 2553 (2010) the imports have significantly increased by 123.43 percent compared to the imports in B.E. 2552 (2009). The domestic industry has also provi ded evidence that the significant increase 
in imports, just prior to the imposition of measures, has also resulted in a build up of 
imported stock that has subsequently b een sold on the domestic market several 
months after the imposition of the safeguard measure. 
 
iii) There is evidence that the domestic industr y is adjusting in order to improve, amongst 
others,
 manufacturing efficiency, product innovation, distribution and marketing 
processes. However, having evaluated all relevant factors, including the product 
concerned being imported continuously in  the same level prior to the safeguard 
measure has been imposed, such imported quantities have continued to cause serious 
injury to the domestic industry, in spite of improvements in the level of sales and  
domestic market share which fall short of that expected from the benefits of the 
restructuring plan underway. As a conse quence, the domestic industry faces increased 
inventories and accumulated financial losses from 2009 to September 2012. 
 
4. Deadlines and Procedures 
  (i) Presentation of evidence, documents and views 
  Pursuant to the Section 19 of the Safegua rd Measures on Increased Imports Act B.E. 2550 
(2007), importers, exporters and any other inter ested parties who desire to present evidence, 
documents and opinions pertaining to the investig ation shall submit their evidence, documents and 
opinions so stated in writing to the Department of Foreign Trade, the Ministry of Commerce of 
Thailand within 15 days as of the date the Notific ation of the Investigation has entered into force 
(
18 December B.E. 2555 (2012)).  
 
 (ii) Hearing 
 
 All interested parties may also apply in writi ng to be heard by the Department of Foreign 
Trade, the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand with in 15 days as of the date the Notification of 
Investigation has entered into force ( 18 December B.E. 2555 (2012)). 
 
5.  Requests and contact regarding the investigation 
  
 All interested parties willing to receive inform ation regarding the petition for the extension of 
a safeguard measure, shall request it in writing to the Secretariat of the Committee on Safeguard 
Measures to the following address:   
Bureau of Trade Interests and Remedies Department of Foreign Trade Ministry of Commerce of Thailand  44/100 Nonthaburi 1 Rd., Nonthaburi 11000 THAILAND Telephone: (662) 547-4739
 
Facsimile: (662) 547-4741 E-mail: butrade@moc.go.th 
 
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