WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SG/N/6/AUS/1
28 July 1998
(98-2940)
Committee on Safeguards Original:  English
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 12.1(a) OF THE
AGREEMENT ON SAFEGUARDS ON INITIATION OF
AN INVESTIGATION AND THE REASONS FOR IT
AUSTRALIA
The following communication, dated 16 July 1998, has been received from the Permanent
Mission of Australia.
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NOTICE OF INITIATION OF A SAFEGUARD INVESTIGATION
Pursuant to Article 12.1(a) of the WTO Agreement on Safeguards, and in light of the format
for such notifications adopted by the Committee on Safeguards (G/SG/N/6), Australia notifies that a
safeguards investigations has been initiated, as follows:
1. Date investigation was initiated
The reference to the Productivity Commission was made on 26 June 1998 at which time the
only significant supplier, Canada, was notified.  The Productivity Commission's public announcementof the investigation, calling for submissions, was on 10 July 1998.  The circular for the inquiry,
including the dates for submissions by interested parties, and an issues paper have yet to be published:
they will be provided to the Committee when they are available.  Detailed information about the
process of the inquiry including submissions and transcripts will be able to be accessed on the
Productivity Commission's web site:  www.indcom.gov.au/inquiry/current.html.
2. Product subject to investigation
Meat of swine, frozen, other (i.e. excluding:  carcasses and half-carcasses;  and hams,
shoulders and cuts thereof, with bone in), provided for in subheading 0203.29.00 of the CustomsTariff schedule of Australia.
1
3. Reasons for initiation
(i) The investigation was initiated ex officio through a decision by the Government,
following representations by industry.
                                                     
1 The reference provides for a wider report into aspects of the pig and pigmeat industry in addition to
the safeguards investigation.G/SG/N/6/AUS/1
Page 2
(ii) Data
Imports of 0203.29.00 from countries other than New Zealand (tonnes)
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
374 1,685 3,105 2,191 1,693 4,042 5,877 9,091
New Zealand is excluded from action under the Safeguards Agreement pursuant to the
Australia New Zealand Closer Economic Relatio ns Trade Agreement and Article XXIV:8(b) of
GATT 1994.  Virtually all other imports come from Canada.
The industry alleges that Canadian imports have caused and threaten to cause serious injury,
including through price depression and displacement of Australian product in the demand for pork for
manufacturing.
(iii) The current investigation is not examining the need for provisional measures.Attachments
A. The reference to the Productivity Commission.B. The public notice by the Productivity Commission.G/SG/N/6/AUS/1
Page 3
ATTACHMENT A
IMPORTS OF UNCOOKED PORK AND THE PROFITABILITY AND COMPETITIVENESS
OF THE PIG FARMING, PIGMEAT AND PROCESSED PIGMEAT INDUSTRIES
PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION ACT 1998
I, Peter Costello, Treasurer, under Parts 2 and 3 of the Productivity Commission Act 1998,
hereby:
1. refer for inquiry and report the question of whether safeguard action is warranted against
imports of meat of swine, frozen, falling within  tariff sub-heading 0203.29 of the Australian Customs
Tariff.  The Commission is to report within 140 days  (or earlier) of receipt of this reference and is to
hold hearings for the purposes of the inquiry;
2. specify that:
(a) in accordance with the WTO safeguard investigation procedures published in the
Gazette of S297 of 25 June 1998, the Commission report on whether the
circumstances are such that safeguard measures would be justified under the WTO
Agreement;  and
(b) if so, what measures would be necessary to prevent or remedy serious injury and to
facilitate adjustment;  and
3. also refer for inquiry and report within 140 days (or earlier) of the receipt of this reference the
question of the factors affecting the profitability and competitiveness of the domestic pig farming and
pigmeat processing industries, specifically examining the extent to which each factor influences
industry profitability and competitiveness.
PETER COSTELLO 26 JUNE 1998G/SG/N/6/AUS/1
Page 4
ATTACHMENT B
PUBLIC NOTICE BY PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION
Australian Financial Review of 10 July 1998
PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION
New Inquiry
Pig Farming and Pigmeat IndustriesSafeguard Action against Imports of Pigmeat
The Productivity Commission has been aske d to report by 13 November 1998 on whether
action in accordance with the World Trade Organization (WTO) Safeguards Agreement is warranted
against the import of certain pigmeat.  The Commission is required to report on:
- whether safeguard measures would be justified under the WTO;
- if so, what measures would be necessary to prevent or remedy serious injury and to
facilitate adjustment;  and
- whether, having regard to the Government 's requirement for assessing the impact of
regulation which affects business, those measures should be implemented.
The Commission has also been asked to report on factors affecting the profitability and
competitiveness of the domestic pig farming and pigmeat processing industries.
Producers, processors, importers and exporters of pigs and pigmeat and substitute
products, and other interested parties, are invited to make submissions to the inquiry.  To
obtain a copy of the terms of reference or to re gister an interest in the inquiry please contact
Ms. Andrea Coulter on phone no.:  (03) 9653 2115 or fax:  (03) 9653 2302.
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