WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SG/N/16/TUR/1/Suppl.1 
24 April 2006 
 (06-1934) 
Committee on Safeguards Original:   English 
  
 
TRANSITIONAL PRODUCT-SPECIFIC SAFEGUARD ON IMPORTS OF 
FLOAT GLASS FROM THE PE OPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA 
 
(Float Glass
) 
 
Supplement  
 
  The following communication, dated 20 April 2006,  is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Turkey. 
 
_______________ 
 
  This notification is made pursuant to Article 16.3 of the Protocol on the Accession of the People's Republic of China to inform the Comm ittee on Safeguards that the safeguard measure on 
float glass  originating in China was put into force by  Turkey.  The related Communiqué (No. 2006/1) 
was published in the Official Gazette on 7 April 2006. G/SG/N/16/TUR/1/Suppl.1 
Page 2  
 
   On 23 December 2005, Turkey requested consulta tions with the Government of the People's 
Republic of China, pursuant to Article 16.1 of th e Protocol on the Accession of the People's Republic 
of China, with a view to seeking a mutually satisf actory solution regarding market disruption or threat 
of market disruption to Turkish domestic produ cer caused by imports of float glass and surface 
ground or polished glass, in sheets, whether or not  having an absorbent, reflecting or non-reflecting 
layer, but not otherwise worked ("floa t glass") of Chinese origin into Turkey.
1 
  The consultation request was made following an  affirmative determination by the competent 
authority that Chinese origin float glass is being impo rted into Turkey in su ch increased quantities or 
under such conditions as to cause or threaten to cau se market disruption to the domestic producer of 
like or directly competitive products. 
  Since the Parties could not reach a mutually  satisfactory solution dur ing the consultations 
pursuant to Article 16.1 of the Protocol on the Accession of the People's Republic of China, a 
safeguard measure on float glass originating in Chin a was put into force on 7 April 2006.  The related 
Communiqué (No. 2006/1) was published in the Official Gazette on the same day. 
  The investigating authority evaluated objectiv e factors, including the volume of imports, the 
effect of imports on price for like or directly competitive articles, and the effect of such imports on the domestic industry producing like or directly compet itive products.  Based on the import data for the 
last five years, it is concluded that there is a rapid increase in  imports of float glass from China, both 
in absolute terms and relative to the production in Turkey of like goods, so as to be a significant cause 
of material injury or threat thereof to the domestic industry.   The report annexed to the above-mentioned Comm uniqué containing the findings of material 
injury or threat therefore caused  by increased imports of float glass  originating in China and reasoned 
conclusions, and a summary of the information colle cted during the investigation can be downloaded 
from the website at:  http://www.dtm.gov.tr/ithalat/mevzu/korunma/korunmatebligler.HTM
. 
 
Description of the product involved  
 
 The product subject to the safeguard measure is Chinese origin float glass.  The product is 
classified under the code number 70.05 of Turkish Cu stoms Tariff Schedule as float glass and surface 
ground or polished glass, in sheets, whether or not  having an absorbent, reflecting or non-reflecting 
layer, but not otherwise worked.  But float glass of a thickness 15 mm or more was excluded from the 
measure.  Description of the measure  
 
 The safeguard measure for Chinese origin floa t glass will be implemented in the form of 
quantitative restriction.   The level of quota is significantly above the average volume of imports in the last three 
representative years (2002-2004).  Accordingly, the quota for the first year of the measure 
implementation is 20,000,000 kg.  
Date of introduction of the measure  
  The date of introduction of the measure is 7 April 2006. 
 
                                                     
 
1 G/SG/N/16/TUR/1  G/SG/N/16/TUR/1/Suppl.1 
 Page 3 
 
 
  Duration of the measure  
 
 The duration of the measure is three years.  
Timetable for progressive liberalization of the measure  
 
 The duration of the measure is three years.  In order to induce adjustment, the quota level will be subject to liberalization on a regular basis follo wing its imposition, thereby ensuring that there is a 
strong incentive for domestic producer to progressive ly undertake the necessary restructuring and 
adjustment.  The timetable for progressive lib eralization of the measure is shown below. 
 
1
st year 2nd year 3rd year 
20,000,000 kg. 21,000,000 kg. 22,050,000 kg. 
 
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