WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SG/N/8/TUR/8/Suppl.1 
G/SG/N/10/TUR/8/Suppl.1 G/SG/N/11/TUR/8/Suppl.1 
8 November 2011 
 
(11-5717) 
Committee on Safeguards Original:   English 
 
 
 
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 12.1(B) OF THE AGREEMENT 
ON SAFEGUARDS ON FINDING A SERIOUS INJURY OR  
THREAT THEREOF CAUSED BY INCREASED IMPORTS 
 
NOTIFICATION PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 12.1(C) 
OF THE AGREEMENT ON SAFEGUARDS (EXTENSION) 
 
NOTIFICATION PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 9, FOOTNOTE 2 
OF THE AGREEMENT ON SAFEGUARDS 
 
TURKEY 
 
(Spectacle Frames) 
 
Supplement 
  
 The following notification, dated 25 October 2011, is being circulation at the request of the 
Delegation of Turkey.    
_______________ 
 
 
 We enclose a notification pursuant to Article 12. 1(b), Article 12.1(c) and Article 9, footnote 2 
of the Agreement on Safeguards, on taking a decisi on to extend a safeguard measure that is being 
applied against imports of spectacle frames and  non-application of safeguard  measure to developing 
countries.  The introduction of the initial safe guard measure was notified with the document  
G/SG/N/8/TUR/8-G/SG/N/10/TUR/8-G/SG/N/ 11/TUR/8, dated 5 February 2008.  
 
A. NOTIFICATION
 UNDER  ARTICLE  12.1(B)  AND  (C) OF THE  AGREEMENT  ON 
SAFEGUARDS  UPON  MAKING  A FINDING  OF SERIOUS  INJURY  OR THREAT  
THEREOF  CAUSED  BY INCREASED  IMPORTS;   NOTIFICATION  UPON  TAKING  A 
DECISION  TO EXTEND  A SAFEGUARD  MEASURE 
1. Evidence that the safeguard measure conti nues to be necessary to prevent or remedy 
serious injury or threat thereof caused by increase d imports and that the industry concerned is 
adjusting.   The investigation has been conducted by Tu rkish investigating authorities. The figures 
between 2008 and the first ha lf of 2011 were examined. G/SG/N/8/TUR/8/Suppl.1 
G/SG/N/10/TUR/8/Suppl.1 
G/SG/N/11/TUR/8/Suppl.1 
Page 2  
 
  (i) Consumption 
Domestic consumption Unit 2008 2009 2010 2011(1-6) 
Pcs. 5,466,083 4,124,006 6,105,630 3,407,540 
 
 Domestic market expanded to a level exceed ing 6 million pieces in 2010 after the shrinkage 
in 2009.  Annual consumption is estimated to reach 7 million pieces at the end of 2011.  
 
(ii) Market Share 
Market share Unit 2008 2009 2010 2011(1-6) 
Market Share of  
domestic goods % 35.1 53.2 52.4 54.5 
Market Share of  
imported goods % 64.9 46.8 47.6 45.5 
 
 After the imposition of the safeguard measure, domestic industry increased its market share 
from 35 per cent in 2008 to 53 per cent in 2009.  Market shares of domestic and imported goods have 
not changed significantly between 2009 and 2011.  
 Following figures on economic indicators of domestic producers are based on the data 
submitted by 15 domestic producers which produce approximately 80 per cent of total domestic 
production.    
 
(iii) Production 
Domestic production Unit 2008 2009 2010 2011(1-6) 
Pcs. 972,136 1,405,281 2,843,193 1,694,563 
 
 During the period of initial measure, domestic production continuously increased and reached 
nearly 3 million pieces in 2010.  The amount of produc tion in the first half of 2011 indicates that the 
upward trend will continue in 2011. 
 
(iv) Capacity 
  Unit 2008 2009 2010 2011(1-6) 
Capacity Pcs/period 3,248,080 4,916,880 6,736,080 4,332,040 
Capacity Utilization % 30 29 42 39 
 
 Capacity of domestic industry increased from 3.2 million in 2008 to 6.7 million in 2010.  
Annual production capacity reached 8.7 million in 20 11.  As domestic producers' capacity utilization 
rate remained stable in 2009 in the level of 29 pe r cent comparing to previous year, it increased to 
42 per cent in 2010.  Domestic industry utilized 39 per cent of their production capacity in the first 
half of 2011.  G/SG/N/8/TUR/8/Suppl.1 
 G/SG/N/10/TUR/8/Suppl.1 
 G/SG/N/11/TUR/8/Suppl.1 
 Page 3 
 
 
   
(v) Domestic Sales 
Domestic sales Unit 2008 2009 2010 2011(1-6) 
Pcs. 986,571 1,375,824 2,558,464 1,486,544 
 
 Domestic sales of the domestic industry continuously increased during the period of the 
measure. It increased from 1 million in 2008 to 2.6 milli on in 2010.  The data of the first half of 2011 
indicates that domestic sales may reach 3 million pieces by the end of the year.    
(vi) Exports 
Exports of domestic 
goods Unit 2008 2009 2010 2011(1-6) 
Pcs. 11,859 4,283 7,615 5,050 
 
 Export sales of the domestic industry have a fluctuating trend between 2008 and 2011.  
Number of exported goods has been in a neglig ible amount in comparison with the production and 
domestic sales volume.    
(vii) Employment 
Employment Unit 2008 2009 2010 2011(1-6) 
No. of direct 
workers 222 274 413 398 
 
 Total number of direct workers dealing with  the production of spectacle frames increased 
from 222 in 2008 to 413 in 2010.  Employment figure of the domestic industry has been 398 in the 
first half of 2011.  
(viii) Productivity 
Productivity Unit 2008 2009 2010 2011(1-6) 
Pcs. per 
worker 4,379 5,129 6,884 8,515 
 
 Based on the significant increase in production, employment productivity of domestic 
industry has doubled between 2008 and 2011.   
 
(ix) End of Period Inventories 
End of period inventories Unit 2008 2009 2010 2011(1-6) 
Pcs. 102,143 131,600 416,329 624,348 
 G/SG/N/8/TUR/8/Suppl.1 
G/SG/N/10/TUR/8/Suppl.1 
G/SG/N/11/TUR/8/Suppl.1 
Page 4  
 
   End of period inventories of domestic i ndustry continuously increased between 2008 
and 2010 and increased over 600 thousand pieces by June 2011.   
 
(x) Profitability 
Profitability Unit 2008 2009 2010 2011(1-6) 
% 11.5 12.6 8.7 10.1 
 
 Profitability figures of domestic producers fluctu ated during the period of measure in force.  
Compared to the profit rate of 2008 (11.5 per cen t), domestic producers opera ted in less profitability 
ratio in 2010 (8.7 per cent) and 2011 (10.1 per cent). 
 (xi) Conclusion 
 The assessment of the data available from dome stic producers reveals that majority of the 
economic indicators of domestic industry improved after the imposition of the measure.  Namely, 
domestic production, domestic sal es, capacity utilization and employment figures of the domestic 
industry have ameliorated during the measure was in force.  
  Analyzing the characteristics of the domestic  market, domestic consumption has increased 
in 2010 following a decrease in 2009.  Market share of the domestic industry increased from 
35 per cent in 2008 to 53 per cent in 2009.  The in crease in market share in 2009 just after the 
imposition of the measure has been considered as positive effect of the measure on the domestic 
industry.  
  The fact that market shares of domestic a nd imported goods have not changed significantly 
in 2010 and 2011 shows that a bala nce between domestic and imported goo ds is settled to some extent 
in terms of market share under the conditions of  existence of the measure.  Indeed, domestic 
producers did not increase their profitability betw een 2008 and 2011. Taking into account of these 
facts, it is considered that the safeguard measure  continues to be necessar y to prevent or remedy 
serious injury or threat th ereof caused by increased imports. 
 
 The findings of the investigation regarding the period after the imposition of the safeguard measure demonstrate that once the domestic producers are not exposed to ever increasing imports 
during this period, they could manage to implem ent an extensive adjustment plan.  After the 
imposition of the safeguard measu re, the domestic industry made new investments which led to 
enhance production capacity and introduced new mo dels.  Production based on new technology and 
production in larger quantities increased the productivity of domestic industry. 
  During the period of application of the safe guard measure, there appeared a change in 
customer preferences.  It was observed that customers preferred type of spectacle frames increasingly.  
In parallel to foreign markets, plastic frames increa sed their market share up to 30-40 per cent in this 
period.  Domestic industry has been successful res ponded to change in demand structure and shifted 
the production capacity partly to plastic injection me thod after new investments.  Furthermore, some 
producers established R&D units and focused on brand- positioning.  However, it is expected that it 
would take a few years to see the positive results of these efforts of the domestic industry.   
  G/SG/N/8/TUR/8/Suppl.1 
 G/SG/N/10/TUR/8/Suppl.1 
 G/SG/N/11/TUR/8/Suppl.1 
 Page 5 
 
 
  2. Information on absolute increase in imports 
Imports Unit 2008 2009 2010 2010(1-6) 2011(1-6) 
Pcs. 3,547,353 1,930,277 2,908,379 947,559 1,549,842 
 
 After the imposition of the measure in 2008, im ports declined to 1.9 million in 2009, then 
increased to 2.9 million in 2010.  Compared to the amount of imports in the first half of the last 
2 years, import figures indicate an absolute increase by more than 50 per cent in 2011. 
 
3. Precise description of the product involved 
 The product subject to the proposed safegua rd measure is frames  and mountings for 
spectacles (excluding parts).  The product concerned is currently classified under the codes 
9003.11.00.00.00 and 9003.19.00.00.00 within the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule. 
 
4. Description of any part of the imported pr oduct that will no longer be subject to the 
measure in the extension 
 The measure in force covers the products classified under the codes 9003.11.00.00.00 and 
9003.19.00.00.00 within the Turkish Customs Tari ff Schedule.  For the extension no product is 
excluded.   
 
5. Precise description of the proposed measure 
 In imports of spectacle frames described at Title 3 above, the safeguard measure is proposed 
to extend for 3 years until 4 March 2014 in the form of fixed duty.  The amount of the duty is 
proposed to be 2.55 US Dollars per piec e in the first year until 4 March 2012.  
 6. Proposed date of introduction of the measure 
 The measure will come into effect with the publication of the approval of the Council of 
Ministers after all legal procedures are completed.  
 
7. Expected duration of the measure 
 The expected duration of the proposed measure is three years. 
 
8. Proposed date for the review  
Not applicable. 
 
9. Expected timetable for progressive liberalization of the measure 
The measure is proposed to be liberalized by  0.15 USD every year and to be applied as 
2.40 USD per piece in the second year and 2.25 US Dollars per piece in the third year of the extended period.   G/SG/N/8/TUR/8/Suppl.1 
G/SG/N/10/TUR/8/Suppl.1 
G/SG/N/11/TUR/8/Suppl.1 
Page 6  
 
  10. If the notification relates only to a finding of serious injury or threat thereof, and does 
not relate to a decision to apply or extend a safeguard measure 
 Not applicable.   
 11. Information relating to the extension of a safeguard measure 
(i) Evidence that the industry  concerned is adjusting and that the safeguard measure continues to 
be necessary to prevent or remedy serious injury is provided in Title 1.  
(ii) Reference to the WTO document that notifie d the initial application of the measure 
 The introduction of the definitive safeguard measure was notified in the document numbered 
G/SG/N/10/TUR/8-G/SG/N/11/TUR/8-G/SG /N/8/TUR/8, dated 5 February 2008. 
 
(iii) Duration of the measure from initial applica tion till the date at which it will be extended 
 The initial safeguard measure was applied fro m 5 March 2008 to 4 March 2011. Turkey now 
intends to extend the safeguard  measure until 4 March 2014. 
 (iv) Precise description of the measure in place prior to the date of extension 
The initial safeguard measure, a fixed duty of 3 US Dollars per piece was put into force in 
imports of the spectacle frames described at T itle 3 above by the Council of Ministers decision 
published in the Official Gazette dated 5 March 2 008.  The measure has been liberalized 0.15 US 
Dollars every year.  It was applied as 2.85 US Dollars per piece in the second year and 2.70 US 
Dollars per piece in the third year prior to the date of extension. 
12. Information relating to exporting members 
(i) The major exporting Members of imports of the product involved. 
The main exporter country to Turkey for the pr oduct concerned is People's Republic of China.  
China has more than 86 per cent import share in 2008.  
(ii) There are no exporting Members to which th e measure does not apply for any reason other 
than the application of Article 9.1 
13. Members are encouraged to attach, in an electronic form, publicly available 
document(s) containing the relevant decision (s) made by the competent authority.   
 The official documents regarding the investig ation and the final decision can be reached from 
the link below.   
  http://www.tpsa.gov.tr/index.cfm?sayfa=A24099FE-D8D3-8566-45207D9243E05F76   G/SG/N/8/TUR/8/Suppl.1 
 G/SG/N/10/TUR/8/Suppl.1 
 G/SG/N/11/TUR/8/Suppl.1 
 Page 7 
 
 
  B. NOTIFICATION  PURSUANT  TO ARTICLE  9, FOOTNOTE  2 OF THE  AGREEMENT  ON 
SAFEGUARDS 
1. The measure 
 It is proposed to impose safeguard measure in the form of fixed duty as described under 
Title 5 in the notification under Article 12.1 above. 
 
2. The product subject to the measure 
 The measure is applied to the products d escribed in Title 3 of the notification under 
Article 12.1 above.  3. Developing countries to which the measure is not applied under article 9.1 of the 
Agreement on Safeguards. 
 The developing countries which are excluded from the measure as they export less than 3 per 
cent of imports to Turkey are listed below.   
 Afghanistan;  Albania;  Algeria;  Antigua and Ba rbuda;  Angola;  Argentina;  American Samoa;  
Anguilla;  Antarctica;  Aruba;  Azerbaijan;  Bahama s;  Bahrain, Kingdom of;  Bangladesh;  Barbados;  
Belize;  Benin;  Bermuda;  Bhutan;  Bolivarian Republic  of Venezuela;  Plurinational State of Bolivia;  
Botswana;  Bouvet Island;  Brazil;  British Virgin Is lands;  British Indian Ocean Territory;  Brunei 
Darussalam;  Burkina Faso;  Burundi;  Democratic  Republic of Congo;  Central African Republic;  
Congo;  Côte d'Ivoire;  Cameroon;  Chad;  Colombia;  Costa Rica;  Cuba;  Cape Verde;  Cayman Islands;  Chile;  Christmas Islands;  Cocos Islands ;  Cook Islands;  Djibouti;  Dominica;  Dominican 
Republic;  Ecuador;  Egypt;  Eritrea;  Ethiopia;  Fiji;  Federated States of Micronesia;  Falkland 
Islands;  French Polynesia;  French Southern Te rritories;  Gabon;  Grenada;  Ghana;  Gambia;  
Georgia;  Greenland;  Guinea;  Equatorial Guinea;  Guatemala;  Guinea-Bissau;  Guyana;  Gibraltar;  
Guam;  Honduras;  Haiti;  Heard Is land and McDonald Islands;  India;   Indonesia;  Iraq;  Iran;  
Jamaica;  Jordan;  Kazakhstan;  Kenya;  Cambodia;  Kiribati;  Comoros;  St Kitts and Nevis;  Kuwait;  
Kyrgyzstan;  Laos;  Lebanon;  St Lucia;  Sri Lanka;  Liberia;  Lesotho;  Libya;  Morocco;  
Madagascar;  Marshall Islands;  Mali;  Moldova;  Mongolia;  Maurita nia;  Mauritius;  Malaysia;  
Maldives;  Malawi;  Mozambique;  Macao;  Mayotte;  Mexico;  Montserrat;  Namibia;  Niger;  
Nigeria;  Nicaragua;  Nepal;  Nauru;  Netherlands  Antilles;  New Caledonia;  Niue Island;  Norfolk 
Island;  Northern Mariana Islands;  Oman;  Pana ma;  Peru;  Papua New Guinea;  Philippines;  
Pakistan;  Palau;  Paraguay;  Pitcairn;  Qatar;  Ru ssian Federation;  Rwanda;  Samoa;  Saudi Arabia;  
Solomon Islands;  Seychelles;  Sudan;  Sierra Le one;  Senegal;  Somalia;  Suriname;  Sao Tomé and 
Principe;  El Salvador;  Syrian Arab Republic;  Swaziland;  South Africa;  South Georgia and South 
Sandwich Islands;  St Hele na and dependencies;  St Pierre and Miquelon;  Thailand;  Tajikistan;  
Togo;  Tunisia;  Tonga;  East Timor;  Trinidad and Tobago;  Turkmenistan;  Tuvalu;  Tanzania;  
Tokelau;  Turks and Caicos Islands;  Ukraine;  United Arab Emirates;  United States Minor outlying 
islands;  Uganda;  Uruguay;  Uzbekistan;  St Vincen t;  Vietnam;  Vanuatu;  Virgin Islands of US;  
Wallis and Futuna Islands;  Ye men;  Zambia and Zimbabwe. 
 
__________