WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SG/N/6/EEC/5 
5 July 2010 
 (10-3639) 
Committee on Safeguards Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 12. 1(a) OF THE AGREEMENT ON 
SAFEGUARDS ON INITIATION OF AN INVESTIGATION 
PROCEDURE AND THE REASONS FOR IT 
 
EUROPEAN UNION 
 
(Wireless Wide Area Networking
) 
   The following communication, dated 2 July 2010,  is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the European Union.
1 
 
_______________ 
 
  A request for a safeguard investigation pur suant to Council Regulation (EC) No 260/2009
2 
and (EC) No 625/20093 was lodged by the Government of Belgium on 11 June 2010.  After carefully 
analyzing the request and consulting the Advisory Committees established under Article 4 of 
Regulations (EC) No 260/2009 and (EC)  No 625/2009 it was apparent that there is sufficient evidence 
to justify the initiation of an investigation.    1. Date of initiation 
 
 The investigation was opened by the means of a Notice of Initiation
4 published in the Official 
Journal of the European Union on 30 June 2010.   
 
2. Product concerned 
 
 The product is wireless wide area networking (WWAN) modems with a radio antenna and 
providing Internet Protocol (IP) data connectivit y for computing devices and including Wi-Fi routers 
comprising a WWAN modem (WWAN/Wi-Fi routers).  The product concerned is currently falling 
within CN codes ex 8517 62 00 and ex 8471 80 00.  These CN codes are given for information only.   
 3. Reasons for initiation 
 
(i) The investigation was initiated following a requ est from the Government of Belgium pursuant 
to Council Regulation (EC) No 260/2009
 and (EC) No 625/2009.   
(ii) Belgium has provided evidence pursuant to Article 10 of Council Regulation (EC) 
No 260/2009 and article 8 of Council Regulation (E C) No 625/2009 showing that imports into the 
                                                      
1 A copy of the Notice of Initiation (OJ C171, 30.6.2010 - in English only) has been submitted 
electronically.  To consult this document, pleas e contact Mrs Budd (hilary.budd@wto.org) or 
Mrs Naville (delphine.naville@wto.org) of the Rules Division. 
2 OJ L84, 31.3.2009, p. 1.   
3 OJ L185, 17.7.2009, p. 1.   
4 OJ C171, 30.6.2010, p. 6.   G/SG/N/6/EEC/5 
Page 2  
 
  Union of the product concerned are recently increasing rapidly both in absolute terms, and relative to 
Union production and consumption, and, in particul ar, that imports have increased by more than 
4100 percentage points from 2006 to 2009.   
 
 It is alleged that the volumes and conditions  of the imports concerned have, among other 
consequences, had a negative impact on the prices of like or directly competitive products in the 
Union, and on the market share held, the quantities sold and the level of prices charged by the Union 
producers, resulting in serious injury to the Union producers.  A table of economic indicators is 
attached in Annex 1.  As there is one sole producer  in the EU, the data is indexed for confidentiality 
reasons.    4. Contact 
 
 For any question on the above proceeding, please contact Mr. Wolfgang Mueller by e-mail 
(wolfgang.mueller@ec.europa.eu
) or by phone (+32 2 29 63010).   
 
5. Deadlines and procedures 
 
(i) For parties to make themselves known, to  submit questionnaire replies and any other 
information:   
 
 Interested parties willing to receive a questionnaire should request it as soon as possible, but not later than 10 days after the publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the 
European Union.   
 
 All interested parties, if their representa tions are to be taken into account during the 
investigation, must make themselves known by co ntacting the European Commission, presenting their 
views and submitting questionnaire replies or any othe r information within 21 days of the date of 
publication of this notice in the Official Journal of  the European Union, unl ess otherwise specified.   
 (ii) Hearings 
 
 Pursuant to Article 6(4) of Regulation (EC)  No 260/2009 and Article 5(4) of Regulation (EC) 
No 625/2009, all interested parties may also apply to be heard by the European Commission within 
21 days of the publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.  G/SG/N/6/EEC/5 
 Page 3 
 
 
  ANNEX 1 
 
Economic indicators (indexed) 
 
 2006 2007 2008 2009 
 
TOTAL EU CONSUMPTION ('000 units) 100 414 863 1246 
 
IMPORTS     
Volume ('000 units) 100 1218 2743 4272 
Market share (%) 28 82 88 95 
Unit prices (Euro/unit) 100 80 40 25 
 
SITUATION OF COMMUNITY INDUSTRY  
Production (Tonnes) 100 104 163 89 
Sales volume in the EU (tonnes) 100 104 140 83 
Sales volume outside the EU (tonnes) 100 148 285 145 
Market share (%) 72 18 12 5 
Unit sales price (Index) 100 85 46 39 
Net profit/loss on EU sales (in %) [15, 20] [-2, 2] [-15, -20] [-50, -75] 
Employment  100 119 142 84 
 
  
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