WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SG/N/16/COL/1 
G/SG/N/16/COL/2 3 October 2005 
 
 
(05-4405) 
Committee on Safeguards Original:   Spanish 
  
TRANSITIONAL PRODUCT – SPECIFIC SAFEGUARD ON IMPORTS 
TO COLOMBIA OF CERTAIN TEXTILE PRODUCTS AND 
STOCKINGS AND OTHER HOSIERY FROM THE 
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA 
 
 
The following communications, dated 24 Septembe r 2005, are being circulated at the request 
of the delegation of Colombia.  
 
_______________ 
 
 
 Pursuant to section 16 of the Protocol on the Ac cession of the People's Republic of China, the 
Government of Colombia hereby notifies to the Committee on Safeguards:  (i) Decree No. 2839 of 
17 August 2005 adopting provisional safeguard measures for certain textile products of Chinese origin 
imported into the territory of Colombia and ( ii) Decree No. 3090 of 6 September 2005 adopting 
provisional safeguard measures for imports of stocki ngs and other hosiery originating in the People's 
Republic of China.   Pursuant to a preliminary determination that the imports have caused or threaten to cause 
market disruption, the investigating authorities repor t the existence of critical circumstances in which 
any delay would cause damage to the domestic i ndustry which it would be difficult to repair. 
  The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Touris m of Colombia has been holding consultations 
with the Government of the People's Republic of Chin a with a view to finding a mutually satisfactory 
solution. G/SG/N/16/COL/1 
G/SG/N/16/COL/2 Page 2 
 
 
 MINISTRY OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND TOURISM 
DECREE N° 2839 OF 2005 
 
(17 AUGUST 2005) 
 
 
To adopt provisional safeguard measures on impor ts of textile products originating in the 
People's Republic of China 
 
THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA 
 
Pursuant to the authority conferred on him by th e Constitution and the law, particularly Article 189 
(25) of the Political Constitution, and subject to the provisions Laws No. 6
a of 1971 and No. 7a of 
1991, and Decree No. 1480 of 2005, and 
WHEREAS 
 
Section 16 of the Protocol on the Accession to the World Trade Organization of the People's Republic 
of China establishes a transitional safeguard mech anism for specific products of Chinese origin 
imported into the territory of any WTO Member in  such increased quantities or under such conditions 
as to cause or threaten to  cause market disruption in the importing country; 
 
Decree No. 1480 of 11 May 2004 issued regulations  on the procedure for applying transitional 
safeguard measures for specific products, as provi ded in section 16 of the Protocol of Accession; 
 Pursuant to Resolutions 0223 of 26 July and 0227 of 1 August 2005, the Ministry of Trade, Industry 
and Tourism, at the request of a major proportion of  the domestic industry, ordered the initiation of 
administrative investigations with a view to de termining the imposition of safeguards on imports of 
textile products of Chinese origin;  Under Article 26 of Decree No. 1480 of 2005, pursuant to a preliminary determination that imports 
have caused or threaten to cause market disruption,  provisional safeguard measures may be adopted in 
the event of critical circumstances where delay would cause damage which it would be difficult to 
repair;   In Sitting No. 142 of 3 August 2005, the Committee  on Customs, Tariffs and Trade assessed the 
technical reports on critical circumstances submit ted by the Trade Practices Sub-Directorate of 
Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism, and recommended the adoption of provisional safeguard 
measures on imports of some textile products originating in People's Republic of China; 
 At the same sitting, the said Committee advised ag ainst applying provisional measures for critical 
circumstances to imports of some textile products originating in the People's Republic of China, but 
recommended pursuing the administrative investigation in respect of the said products; 
 
HEREBY DECREES 
 
ARTICLE 1 .  A provisional safeguard measure shall appl y to imports of textile products originating 
in the People's Republic of China, in the form of an additional tariff on each group of products 
classified in the tariff sub-headings indicated below:  
    G/SG/N/16/COL/1 
 G/SG/N/16/COL/2 
 Page 3 
 
 
 GROUP DESCRIPTION TARIFF 
SUB-HEADING ADDITIONAL 
TARIFF % 
  
 
WOVEN 
FABRICS 
 Woven fabrics of synthetic filament yarn, including 
woven fabrics obtained from materials of heading 54.04.  Other woven fabrics containing 85% or more by weight of textured polyester filaments.   
Dyed 
 Printed  Unbleached or bleached  
    
54.07.52 
 
54.07.54 
 
54.07.51  
    
61 
 
61 
 
61 
 
TEXTILE 
FABRICS 
WITH 
PLASTIC 
 Textile fabrics impregnated, coated, covered or 
laminated with plastics, other than those of 
heading 59.02.   
 With polyvinyl chloride  Other  
 
 
 
59.03.10 
 
59.03.90  
 
 
 
67 
 
67 
 
POLYESTER 
LININGS 
 Woven fabrics of synthetic filament yarn, including 
woven fabrics obtained from materials of 
heading 54.04, containing 85% or more by weight of 
non-textured polyester filaments.  54.07.61 59 
 
CURTAINS 
 Curtains (including drapes) and interior blinds;  
curtain or bed valances, of synthetic fibres, knitted or 
crocheted. 63.03.12 91 
 
 
 
TOWELS 
 Terry towelling and similar woven terry fabrics, 
other than products of heading 57.03.  Other, of 
cotton.  
Toilet linen and kitchen linen, of terry towelling or similar terry fabrics, of cotton. 58.02.19 
 
 
63.02.60 82 
 
 
82 
 
FABRIC OF 
MAN-MADE 
FIBRES 
 Fabric of man-made fibres; 
Warp knit fabrics (including those made on galloon knitting machines), other than those of headings 60.01 to 60.04.   
 
Dyed  Printed  
   
 
60.05.32 
 
60.05.34  
   
 
73 
 
73 G/SG/N/16/COL/1 
G/SG/N/16/COL/2 Page 4 
 
 
 ARTICLE 2 .  A provisional safeguard measure shall appl y to imports of textile products originating 
in the People's Republic of China, in the form of an additional tariff on each group of products 
classified in the tariff subheadings indicated below:  
GROUP DESCRIPTION TARIFF 
SUB-HEADING ADDITIONAL  
TARIFF % 
  
 
KANSAS - 
INDIGO 
 Woven fabrics of cotton, of yarns of different 
colours, weighing more than 200 G/M2.  Denim. 
 Woven fabrics of cotton, containing less than 85% by weight of cotton, mixed mainly or solely with 
man-made fibres, of yarns of different colours, 
weighing more than 200 G/M
2.  Denim.  
 
Other woven fabrics of cotton of yarns of different 
colours, weighing more than 200 G/M2.  
 52.09.42 
  
52.11.42 
 
 
  
52.12.24 70 
  
70 
 
 
  
70 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COTTONS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Woven fabrics of cotton, unbleached, plain weave, 
weighing more than 100 G/M2, but less than 
200 G/M2.  
  Woven fabrics of cotton, bleached, plain weave, weighing more than 100 G/M
2 but less than 
200 G/M2. 
 
Woven fabrics of cotton, bleached, 3-thread or 4-thread twill, including cross twill, weighing not more than 200 G/M
2. 
 
Woven fabrics of cotton, dyed, plain weave, 
weighing more than 100 G/M2 but less than 
200 G/M2. 
 Woven fabrics of cotton, dyed, 3-thread or 
4-thread twill, including cross twill, weighing less 
than 200 G/M
2. 
 Other fabrics of cotton, dyed, weighing less than 200 G/M
2. 
 
Woven fabrics of cotton, printed, plain weave, weighing more than 100 G/M
2 but not more than 
200 G/M2. 
 Woven fabrics of cotton, bleached, plain weave, 
weighting more than 200 G/M
2. 
 Woven fabrics of cotton, bleached, 3-thread or 4-thread twill, including cross twill, weighing more than 200 G/M
2. 
 
 52.08.12 
 
  
52.08.22 
  
 
52.08.23 
   
52.08.32 
   
52.08.33 
 
  
52.08.39 
 
 
52.08.52 
   
52.09.21 
 
 
52.09.22 
  
 
 69 
 
  
69 
  
 
69 
   
69 
   
69 
 
  
69 
 
 
69 
   
69 
 
 
69 
  
 
  G/SG/N/16/COL/1 
 G/SG/N/16/COL/2 
 Page 5 
 
 
 GROUP DESCRIPTION TARIFF 
SUB-HEADING ADDITIONAL  
TARIFF % 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COTTONS 
(Cont'd) Woven fabrics of cotton, dyed, plain weave,  
weighing more than 200 G/M2. 
 Woven fabrics of cotton, dyed, 3-thread or 4-
thread twill, including cross twill, weighing more 
than 200 G/M
2. 
 Woven fabrics of cotton, printed, plain weave, weighing more than 200 G/M
2. 
 
Woven fabrics of cotton, containing less than 85% by weight of cotton, mixed mainly or solely with man-made fibres, dyed, plain weave, weighing more than 200 G/M
2. 
 
Woven fabrics of cotton, containing less than 85% by weight of cotton, mixed mainly or solely with man-made fibres, dyed, 3-thread or 4-thread twill, including cross twill, weighing more than 200 G/M
2. 
 
Woven fabrics of cotton, containing less than 85% by weight of cotton, mixed mainly or solely with man-made fibres, printed, 3-thread or 4-thread twill, including cross twill, weighing more than 
200 G/M
2. 
 Other woven fabrics of cotton, containing less than 85% by weight of cotton, mixed mainly or solely with man-made fibres, printed, weighing more 
than 200 G/M
2. 52.09.31 
  
52.09.32 
 
  
52.09.51 
 
 
52.11.31 
   
 
52.11.32 
   
 
 
52.11.52 
   
 
 
52.11.59 
  
 
 69 
  
69 
 
  
69 
 
 
69 
   
 
69 
   
 
 
69 
   
 
 
69 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRE-DYED 
AND MIXED 
FABRICS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Woven fabrics of cotton, of yarns of different 
colours, plain weave, weighing more than 100 G/M
2 but less than 200 G/M2. 
 Other woven fabrics of cotton, of yarns of 
different colours, weighing less than 200 G/M
2. 
 Woven fabrics of cotton, containing less than 85% by weight of cotton, mixed mainly or solely with man-made fibres, of yarns of different colours, 
plain weave, weighing less than 200 G/M
2. 
 Other woven fabrics of cotton, containing less than 85% by weight of cotton, mixed mainly or solely man-made fibres, of yarns of different colours, weighing less than 200 G/M
2. 
 
Woven fabrics of synthetic filament yarn, dyed, 52.08.42 
   
52.08.49 
 
 
52.10.41 
  
 
 
52.10.49 
   
 
54.07.42 87 
   
87 
 
 
87 
  
 
 
87 
   
 
87 G/SG/N/16/COL/1 
G/SG/N/16/COL/2 Page 6 
 
 
 GROUP DESCRIPTION TARIFF 
SUB-HEADING ADDITIONAL  
TARIFF % 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRE-DYED 
AND MIXED 
FABRICS 
(Cont'd) 
 
 100% nylon. 
 Woven fabrics of synthetic filament yarn, printed, 100% nylon. 
 
Woven fabrics of synthetic filament yarn, containing 85% or more by weight of non-textured polyester filaments.  
Unbleached or bleached woven fabrics of 
polyester staple fibres, containing less than 85% by weight of such fibres, mixed mainly or solely with cotton, dyed, plain weave, of a weight not exceeding 170 G/M
2. 
 
Woven fabrics of polyester staple fibres, containing less than 85% by weight of such fibres, mixed mainly or solely with cotton, dyed, plain weave, of a weight not exceeding 170 G/M
2. 
 
Woven fabrics of polyester staple fibres, containing less than 85% by weight of such fibres, mixed mainly or solely with cotton, of yarns of different colours, plain weave, weighing less than 170 G/M
2. 
 
Printed woven fabrics of polyester staple fibres, containing less than 85% by weight of such fibres, mixed mainly or solely with cotton, plain weave, weighing less than 170 G/M
2. 
 
Woven fabrics of synthetic staple fibres, containing less than 85% by weight of such fibres, mixed mainly or solely with cotton, dyed, 3-thread or 4-thread twill, including cross twill, of a weight 
exceeding 170 G/M
2. 
 Other woven fabrics of polyester staple fibres, mixed mainly or solely with viscose rayon staple fibres.  
Other woven fabrics of polyester staple fibres, 
mixed mainly or solely with man-made filaments.   
 
54.07.44 
 
 
54.07.61 
   
55.13.11 
    
 
55.13.21 
   
 
55.13.31 
    
 
55.13.41 
   
 
55.14.22 
   
 
 
55.15.11 
   
55.15.12 
    
 
87 
 
 
87 
   
87 
    
 
87 
   
 
87 
    
 
87 
   
 
87 
   
 
 
87 
   
87 
    G/SG/N/16/COL/1 
 G/SG/N/16/COL/2 
 Page 7 
 
 
 GROUP DESCRIPTION TARIFF 
SUB-HEADING ADDITIONAL  
TARIFF % 
HOUSEHOLD 
ARTICLES Printed bed linen, of man-made fibres. 
Other bed linen.  Of man-made fibres. 
Other bed linen, of cotton. 
Other bed linen, of man-made fibres. 
 Articles of bedding and si milar furnishing (quilts, 
eiderdowns, etc.) stuffed or internally fitted with 
any material. 63.02.22 
63.02.32 
63.02.51 
63.02.53 
 
94.04.90 87 
87 
87 
87 
 
87 
ARMY 
ARTICLES Men's or boys' car-coats, of cotton. 
 Men's or boys' bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts, of cotton.  
Men's or boys' bib and brace overalls, breeches 
and shorts, of synthetic fibres.  Men's or boys' jackets and blazers, of cotton.  
Men's or boys' jackets and blazers, of synthetic 
fibres.  Men's or boys' shirts, of cotton.  Men's or boys' shirts, of man-made fibres. 
 
Tents, of synthetic fibres.  Other made-up articles, other. 62.01.12 
 
62.03.42 
  
62.03.43 
  
62.03.32 
 
62.03.33 
  
62.05.20 
 
62.05.30 
 
63.06.22 
 
63.07.90.90 61 
 
61 
  
61 
  
61 
 
61 
  
61 
 
61 
 
61 
 
61 
 ARTICLE 3 .  Provisional safeguard measures shall not apply to imports from the People's Republic 
of China of the textile products classified in the tariff subheadings indicated below, and the 
investigation shall be continued:  
GROUP DESCRIPTION TARIFF SUBHEADING 
LACE Mechanically made lace in the piece, of man-made fibres, other than products of headings 60.02 to 60.06.  
Knitted or crocheted fabrics of a width not 
exceeding 30cm, containing by weight 5% or more of elastomeric yarn, but not containing rubber thread, other than those of heading 60.01. 58.04.21 
   
60.02.40 
TABLE LINEN Knitted or crocheted table linen, of man-
made fibres and of other textile materials. 63.02.40 G/SG/N/16/COL/1 
G/SG/N/16/COL/2 Page 8 
 
 
 GROUP DESCRIPTION TARIFF SUBHEADING 
FABRIC WITH 
ELASTAN Knitted or crocheted fabrics of a width 
exceeding 30cm, containing by weight 5% or more of elastomeric yarn, but not 
containing rubber thread, other than those of 
heading 60.01.  Other knitted or crocheted fabrics of cotton, dyed. 
 
Other knitted or crocheted fabrics of cotton, printed. 60.04.10 
  
 
  
60.06.22 
 
 
60.06.24 
KNITTED OR 
CROCHETED FABRICS Other knitted or crocheted fabrics of cotton, 
of yarns of different colours.  Other knitted or crocheted fabrics of man-
made fibres, unbleached or bleached. 
 Other knitted or crocheted fabrics of man-made fibres, dyed. 60.06.23 
  
60.06.31 
 
 
60.06.32 
NON-WOVENS Other non-wovens, weighing not more than 25 G/M
2. 
 
Other non-wovens, weighing more than 
25 G/M2 but not more than 70 G/M2. 
 Other non-wovens, weighing more than 70 G/M2 but not more than 150 G/M
2. 
 
Other non-wovens, weighing more than 150 G/M
2. 
 Other textile fabrics impregnated, coated, covered or laminated with plastics, with 
polyethylene. 56.03.91 
  
56.03.92 
  
56.03.93 
 
 
56.03.94 
  
59.03.90 
 ARTICLE 4 .  Pursuant to Article 30 of Decree No. 1480 of 2005, upon submitting import 
declarations importers may choose to pay the cu stoms duties arising from the application of the 
measures provided for in Articles 1 and 2 of this Decree, or to deposit a surety with the National 
Customs and Excise Directorate (DIAN) to guarantee payment for the period indicated in this Decree 
and in accordance with the relevant customs regulations.  ARTICLE 5 .  The provisional safeguard measures laid dow n in Articles 1 and 2 of this Decree shall  
apply for the duration of the investigations initia ted by Resolutions 0223 of 26 July and 0227 of 
1 August 2005 and until the adoption of the definitive measures.  The duration of these provisional measures shall be added to the total period of application of the definitive measures. 
 ARTICLE 6 .  The measures laid down in Articles 1 and 2 of this Decree shall not apply to goods 
already dispatched to Colombia at the da te of entry into force of this Decree. 
  G/SG/N/16/COL/1 
 G/SG/N/16/COL/2 
 Page 9 
 
 
 ARTICLE 7 .  The provisions of this Decree shall not a pply to imports covered by the Special System 
of Importation and Exportation (Plan Vallejo).  ARTICLE 8 .  This Decree shall take effect from the da te of its publication in the Diario Oficial. 
 
FOR PUBLICATION AND EXECUTION 
 
Done at Bogotá, D.C. on 17 August 2005  
ALVARO URIBE VELEZ 
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC 
 
  
TECHNICAL DEPUTY MINISTER OF FINANCE AND PUBLIC CREDIT ACTING FOR THE 
MINISTER OF FINANCE AND PUBLIC CREDIT   
MARIA INES AGUDELO VALENCIA 
 THE MINISTER OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND TOURISM 
 
 
 JORGE H. BOTERO 
 G/SG/N/16/COL/1 
G/SG/N/16/COL/2 Page 10 
 
 
  
DECREE NUMBER 3090 OF 2005 
(6 SEPTEMBER 2005) 
 
To adopt provisional safeguard measures fo r imports of stockings and other hosiery 
originating in the People's Republic of China 
 
THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA  
 
Pursuant to the powers conferred on him by the Co nstitution and the law, particularly Article 189(25) 
of the Political Constitution, and subject  to the provisions of Laws No. 6
a of 1971 and No. 7a of 1991, 
and Decree No. 1480 of 2005, and  
WHEREAS 
 
Section 16 of the Protocol on the Accession to the World Trade Organization of the People's Republic 
of China establishes a transitional safeguard mech anism for specific products of Chinese origin 
imported into the territory of any WTO Member in  such increased quantities or under such conditions 
as to cause or threaten to  cause market disruption in the importing country; 
Decree No. 1480 of 11 May 2004 issued regulations  on the procedure for applying transitional 
safeguard measures for specific products, as provi ded in section 16 of the Protocol on Accession; 
Pursuant to Resolution 249 of 16 August 2005, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism, at the 
request of a major proportion of the domestic indus try, ordered the initiation of an administrative 
investigation with a view to determining the im position of safeguards on im ports of stockings and 
other hosiery. 
Under Article 26 of Decree No. 1480 of 2005, pursuant to a preliminary determination that imports 
have caused or threaten to cause market disruption,  provisional safeguard measures may be adopted in 
the event of critical circumstances where delay would cause damage which it would be difficult to repair;  
In Sitting 143 of 24 August 2005, the Committee on Cust oms, Tariff and Trade assessed the technical 
reports on critical circumstances submitted by the Trade Practices Sub-Directorate of Ministry of 
Trade, Industry and Tourism, and recommended th e adoption of provisional safeguard measures on 
imports of certain stockings and hosiery products originating in the People's Republic of China; 
At the same meeting, the said Committee advised ag ainst applying provisional measures for critical 
circumstances to imports of some stockings and hos iery products originating in the People's Republic 
of China, but recommended pursuing the administrati ve investigation in respect of the said products; 
HEREBY DECREES 
 
ARTICLE 1 .  A provisional safeguard measure shall apply to imports of hosiery products originating 
in the People's Republic of China, in the form of an additional tariff on each group of products 
classified in the tariff sub-headings indicated below:   G/SG/N/16/COL/1 
 G/SG/N/16/COL/2 
 Page 11 
 
 
 DESCRIPTION Tariff sub-heading  Additional  
tariff 
Knitted or crocheted stockings, socks and other 
hosiery, of cotton  61.15.92.00.00 88%  
Other knitted or crocheted stockings, of synthetic fibres 61.15.93.20.00 88%  
Knitted or crocheted socks and other hosiery, of 
synthetic fibres  61.15.93.90.00 88%  
Knitted or crocheted stockings, socks and other hosiery, of 
other textile materials  61.15.99.00.00 88%  
 
The safeguard measures laid down in this Article sha ll not apply to imports of stockings for varicose 
veins classified in tariff sub-heading 61.15.93.10. 00, anti-embolism and other stockings for medical 
use, classified under tariff sub-heading 61.15.93.20.00.  
ARTICLE 2.  Provisional safeguard measures shall not a pply to imports from the People's Republic 
of China of stockings and hosiery classified under the tariffs sub-head ings 61.15.11.00.00, 
61.15.12.00.00, 61.15.19.00.00, 61.15.20.20.00, 61.15.20.90.00 and 61.15.91.00.00, and the investigation shall be pursued.  ARTICLE 3.   Pursuant to Article 30 of Decree No. 1480 of 2005, upon submitting import 
declarations importers may choose to pay the cu stoms duties arising from the application of the 
measures provided for in Articles 1 and 2 of this Decree, or to deposit a surety with the National 
Customs and Excise Directorate (DIAN) to guarantee payment for the period indicated in this Decree 
and in accordance with the relevant customs regulations.  
ARTICLE 4.   The provisional safeguard measures laid dow n in Article 1 of this Decree shall apply 
for the duration of the investigation initiated by Resolution 249 of 16 August 2005 and until the 
adoption of the definitive measures.  The duration of  the provisional measures shall be added to the 
total period of application of the definitive measures. 
 
ARTICLE 5 .  The measures laid down in Article 1 of th is Decree shall not apply to goods already 
dispatched to Colombia at the date of entry into force of this Decree. 
 ARTICLE 6  The provisions of this Decree shall not apply to imports covered by the Special System 
of Importation and Exportation (Plan Vallejo).  
ARTICLE 7.  This Decree shall take effect from the date  of its publication in the Diario Oficial. 
 
FOR PUBLICATION AND EXECUTION 
 
Done at Bogotá, D.C. on 6 September 2005 
 
ALVARO URIBE VELEZ 
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC 
 
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND PUBLIC CREDIT 
ALBERTO CARRASQUILLA BARRERA 
THE MINISTER OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND TOURISM 
 
JORGE H. BOTERO 
__________