WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SG/N/7/DOM/2 
G/SG/N/8/DOM/2 
G/SG/N/11/DOM/2 
20 May 2010 
 
 (10-2811) 
Committee on Safeguards Original:   Spanish 
  
 
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 12.4 OF THE AGREEMENT ON 
SAFEGUARDS BEFORE TAKING A PROVISIONAL SAFEGUARD 
MEASURE REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 6 
 
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 12.1(B) OF THE AGREEMENT ON 
SAFEGUARDS ON FINDING SE RIOUS INJURY OR THREAT 
THEREOF CAUSED BY INCREASED IMPORTS 
 
NOTIFICATION PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 9, FOOTNOTE 2, 
OF THE AGREEMENT ON SAFEGUARDS 
 
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 
 
(Certain Sports and Other Socks ) 
 
  The following communication, dated 17 May 2010, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of the Dominican Republic.
1 
 
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  The Dominican Republic hereby notifies that  the Regulatory Commission on Unfair Trade 
Practices and Safeguard Measures of the Domini can Republic has decided to apply provisional 
safeguard measures on imports of sports and other socks for women, men, children and babies, of 
cotton or synthetic fibres, entering under s ubheadings 6115.95.00 and 6115.96.20 of the 
Fourth Amendment to the Dominican Republic's Tariff.   This notification, together with the anne xes thereto, is made under Article 6 of the 
WTO Agreement on Safeguards, and under Articles 9. 1 and 12.1(b) and (c) of the Agreement on 
Safeguards, respectively.  The Dominican Repub lic accordingly submits the following attached 
documents:  
• Notification of the taking of a provisional safeguard measure under Article 6 of the 
WTO Agreement on Safeguards. 
• Notification upon taking a decision to apply or extend a safeguard measure under 
Article 12.l(b) and (c) of the Agreement on Safeguards. 
• Notification of non-application of a safe guard measure to developing countries 
pursuant to Article 9.1 of the Agreement on Safeguards. 
                                                     
 
1 A copy of Resolution No. CDC-RD-SG-075-2010 (in Spanish only) has been submitted 
electronically.  In order to view this document, please contact Ms H. Budd (hilary.budd@wto.org) or 
Ms D. Naville (delphine.naville@w to.org) from the Rules Division. G/SG/N/7/DOM/2 
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NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 12.4 OF THE AGREEMENT ON 
SAFEGUARDS BEFORE TAKING A PROVISIONAL SAFEGUARD 
MEASURE REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 6 
 
 
1. Provide the precise description of the product involved.  Provide the Harmonized 
System numbers under which the product enters at least at a 6-digit HS level. 
 
 Sports and other socks for women, men, child ren and babies, of cotton or synthetic fibres, 
entering under subheadings 6115.95.00 and 6115.96.20.  
2. Specify the proposed provisional safeguard measure. 
 
 The provisional safeguard measure proposed is a 40 per cent ad valorem  tariff. 
 
3. Specify the proposed date of introduction of the provisional safeguard measure. 
 
 The proposed date of introduction of the provisional measure is 20 May 2010. 
 
4. Specify the expected duration of the provisional safeguard measure, if any decision on 
the duration of the measure has been made. 
 
 The expected duration of the provisional m easure will be two hundred (200) days counted 
from 20 May 2010.  The measure will come to an end on 5 December 2010. 
 
5. Provide the basis for: 
 
 (i) Making a preliminary determination, as provided for in Article 6, that increased 
imports have caused or are threa tening to cause serious injury; 
 
 As a result of the increase in the value and volume of im ports, the domestic industry has 
suffered a significant loss of share in apparent dom estic consumption.  Impor ts relative to domestic 
production have been on a sustained upward tr end throughout the period of investigation. 
 
 This situation has caused injury to the do mestic industry, which has recorded significant 
financial losses over the period of investigation that  jeopardize the sustainability of this important 
branch of domestic production.  
 (ii) Determining that there are critical circumstances where delay would cause 
damage which it would be difficult to repair.  
 
 The domestic industry is in a critical situati on because its financial pe rformance has declined 
by 197.29 per cent.  Sales volume has fallen by 16.6  per cent.  There has been a sharp contraction in 
production levels, which are down by 44.10 per cent.  Also of note is the fact that performance of capacity utilization, productivity per worker, employ ment and inventories, among other factors, has 
adversely affected the domestic industr y during the period of investigation. 
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  6. Members are encouraged to provide the following information: 
 
 (i) The major exporting Members of  imports of the product involved. 
 
 Imports of the product at issue are chiefly fr om China;  Panama;  Hong Kong, China and the 
United States, with a percentage share during the period of investigation of 74.32, 13.06, 5.95 and 
1.33 per cent, respectively.   (ii) If there are any exporting Members to which the measure does not apply for any 
reason other than the application of Arti cle 9.1, the names of such exporting 
Members and reasons for non-application of the measure. 
 
 Not applicable.  The exporting Members to wh ich the measure will not apply will be exempt 
only under Article 9.1, and will be the following:  Af ghanistan, Albania, Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, 
Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, East Africa, El Salv ador, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, 
India, Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Nauru,  Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Saint Martin, Syria, 
Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay, Venezuela and Viet Nam,  because they are developing countries which 
collectively account for 7.27 per cent of the imports under investigation.  G/SG/N/7/DOM/2 
G/SG/N/8/DOM/2 G/SG/N/11/DOM/2 
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  NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 12. 1(b) OF THE AGREEMENT ON 
SAFEGUARDS ON FINDING SE RIOUS INJURY OR THREAT 
THEREOF CAUSED BY INCREASED IMPORTS 
 
 
1. Provide evidence, citing relevant data and the applicable period of investigation of 
serious injury or threat thereof caused by increased imports. 
  As a result of the increase in the value and volume of im ports, the domestic industry has 
suffered a significant loss of share in apparent dom estic consumption.  Impor ts relative to domestic 
production have been on a sustained upward tr end throughout the period of investigation. 
  This situation has caused injury to the do mestic industry, which has recorded significant 
financial losses over the period of investigation that  jeopardize the sustainability of this important 
branch of domestic production.  
2. Provide information on whether there is an  absolute increase in imports or an increase 
in imports relative to domestic production (please see also Article 2.1 for the context). 
  An analysis has been made of the increase in imports to the Dominican Republic of the 
products at issue, in both absolute and relative terms, over the period 2006-2009. 
  As shown in the table below, the absolute variation  in the volume of imports of sports and 
other socks for women, men, children and babies , of cotton or synthetic fibres, in 2007 was 
441,980.40 pairs over 2006, import volume rising significantly in 2007/2008 in relation to the 
previous year with an increase of 1,169,766.96 pair s, and recording an absolute decrease in 2009 of 
770,236.19 pairs over 2008.  During the period 2006-2009, import volume showed an absolute variation of 841,511.17 pairs of sports and other socks, of cotton or synthetic fibres. 
 
Absolute increase in imports of sports and other socks for women, 
men, children and babies, of cotton or synthetic fibres 
 
Volume (units) Absolute increase 
2006 2007 2008 2009 2007/2006 2008/2007 2009/2008 2009/2006 
4,184,053.10 4,626,033.50 5,795, 800.46 5,025,564.27 441,980.40 1,169,766.96 770,236.19 841,511.17 
 
 An analysis of imports relative to production revealed that imports represented 64.02 per cent 
of total domestic production in 2006, but in 2009 the share of imports had risen to 128.81 per cent, 
i.e. a significant increase in imports relative to production. 
 
Imports of sports and other socks for women, men, children 
and babies relative to domestic production 
 
No. Indicators 2006 2007 2008 2009 
1 Import volume (units)* 4,184,053.10 4,626,033.50 5,795,800.46 5,025,564.27 
2 Production (units)* 6,535,296.00 5,026,740.00 4,449,192.00 3,901,476.00 
3 Share (%) of imports under investigation 64.02% 92.03% 130.27% 128.81% 
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  3. Provide the precise description of the product involved. 
 
 Sports and other socks for women, men, child ren and babies, of cotton or synthetic fibres, 
classified under tariff subheadings 6115.95.00 an d 6115.96.20 of the Sp anish version of the 
Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, including its alignment with the Fourth Edition (HS 2007). 
 
4. If the final measure replaces a provisional me asure, or if a final measure is extended, a 
Member is encouraged to provide a written description of any part of the imported 
product that will no longer be subject to  the measure and the Harmonized System 
numbers under which it enters at least at a 6-digit level, and at a sub-national level 
(e.g. 8-digit, 9-digit or 10-digit level) if practicable.
2 
  Not applicable. 
 
5. Provide precise description of the proposed measure.  
 
 The provisional safeguard measure proposed is a 40 per cent ad valorem  tariff. 
 
6. Provide proposed date of introduction of the measure. 
 
 The proposed date of introduction of the provisional measure is 20 May 2010. 
 
7. Provide expected duration of the measure. 
 
 The expected duration of the provisional m easure will be two hundred (200) days counted 
from 20 May 2010.  The measure will come to an end on 5 December 2010. 
 
8. For a measure with a duration of more than three years, provide the proposed date for 
the review (under Article 7.4) to be held not later than the mid-term of the measure, if 
such a date for the review has already been scheduled. 
  Not applicable. 
 
9. If the expected duration is over one year , provide expected timetable for progressive 
liberalization of the measure. 
  Not applicable. 
 
10. If the notification relates only to a finding  of serious injury or threat thereof, and does 
not relate to a decision to appl y or extend a safeguard measure: 
 
 (i) Provide the deadlines for interested part ies to comment or any other procedures 
relevant to the decision to apply the measures; 
 
 Not applicable. 
  (ii) Provide information regarding proce dures for prior consultation with those 
Members having a substantial interest as exporters of the product concerned. 
 
 Not applicable. 
                                                     
 
2 The HS codes will be provided for reference purposes only. G/SG/N/7/DOM/2 
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  11. If the measure is being extended, also provide: 
 
 (i) Evidence that the industry concerne d is adjusting and that the safeguard 
measure continues to be necessary to  prevent or remedy serious injury; 
 
 Not applicable.  
 (ii) reference to the WTO document that notified the initial application of the 
measure; 
 
 Not applicable.  
 (iii) duration of the measure from initial a pplication till the date at which it will be 
extended; 
 
 Not applicable.  
 (iv) precise description of the measure in pl ace prior to the date of extension (in this 
context, please note that the last sentence of Article 7.4 states that:  "A measure 
extended under paragraph 2 shall not be more restrictive than it was at the end 
of the initial period, and should continue to be liberalized."). 
 
 Not applicable.  12. If the notification relates to a decision to  apply or extend a safeguard measure, Members 
are encouraged to provide the following information: 
 
 (i) The major exporting Members of  imports of the product involved. 
 
 Imports of the product at issue are chiefly fr om China;  Panama;  Hong Kong, China and the 
United States, with a percentage share during the period of investigation of 74.32, 13.06, 5.95 and 
1.33 per cent, respectively.  
 (ii) If there are any exporting Members to which the measure does not apply for any 
reason other than the application of Arti cle 9.1, the names of such exporting 
Members and reasons for non-application of the measure. 
 
 Not applicable.  The exporting Members to wh ich the measure will not apply will be exempt 
only under Article 9.1, and will be the following:  Af ghanistan, Albania, Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, 
Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, East Africa, El Salv ador, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, 
India, Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Nauru,  Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Saint Martin, Syria, 
Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay, Venezuela and Viet Nam,  because they are developing countries which 
collectively account for 7.27 per cent of the imports under investigation.   G/SG/N/7/DOM/2 
 G/SG/N/8/DOM/2 
 G/SG/N/11/DOM/2 
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  NOTIFICATION PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 9, FOOTNOTE 2, 
OF THE AGREEMENT ON SAFEGUARDS 
  
 Pursuant to Article 9.1, footnote 2, of th e Agreement on Safeguards, the Dominican Republic 
notifies the Committee on Safeguards of the appl ication of a provisional safeguard measure on 
imports of sports and other socks for women, men, children and babies, of cotton or synthetic fibres, 
from developing countries, in accordance with Article 9.1 of the Agreement on Safeguards. 
 
1. Specify the measure. 
 
 Provisional safeguard measure of the order of 40 per cent ad valorem  applied for a period of 
two hundred (200) days on imports to the Dominica n Republic of sports and other socks for women, 
men, children and babies, of cotton or synthetic fibr es, of all origins (entering under tariff subheadings 
6115.95.00 and 6115.96.20 of the Fourth Amendment to the Dominican Republic's Tariff).  
2. Specify the product subject to the measure. 
 
 The imported products under investigation are s ports and other socks, of cotton or synthetic 
fibres, for women, men, children and babies, entering the country under tariff subheadings 6115.95.00 
and 6115.96.20.  
3. Specify the developing countries to which th e measure is not applied under Article 9.1 of 
the Agreement on Safeguards, and the import  shares of these countries individually and 
collectively. 
 
Countries of origin Share (%) 
Afghanistan 0.00% 
Albania 0.00% 
Argentina 0.00% 
Brazil 0.68% 
Bulgaria 0.00% 
Chile 0.55% 
Colombia 1.45% 
Costa Rica 0.00% 
East Africa 0.00% 
El Salvador 0.56% 
Ethiopia 0.00% 
Gabon 0.01% 
Guatemala 0.64% 
Haiti 2.63% 
Honduras 0.00% 
India 0.02% 
Indonesia 0.00% 
Israel 0.00% 
Malaysia 0.00% G/SG/N/7/DOM/2 
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  Countries of origin Share (%) 
Mexico 0.11% 
Nauru 0.11% 
Pakistan 0.09% 
Peru 0.00% 
Philippines 0.04% 
Saint Martin 0.00% 
Syria 0.00% 
Thailand 0.00% 
Turkey 0.01% 
Uruguay 0.31% 
Venezuela 0.04% 
Viet Nam 0.00% 
TOTAL 7.27% 
 
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