NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 12.1(A) OF THE AGREEMENT
ON SAFEGUARDS ON INITIATION OF AN INVESTIGATION
AND THE REASONS FOR IT

VIET NAM

(Pre-painted Galvanized steel sheet and strip)

The following communication, dated 18 July 2016, is being circulated at the request of the Delegation of Viet Nam.

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Pursuant to Article 12.1 (a) of the WTO Agreement on Safeguards, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam hereby wishes to notify the Committee on Safeguards that the Vietnam Competition Authority hereafter referred as "the Investigating Authority" has initiated a safeguard investigation on the imports of " Pre-painted Galvanized steel sheet and strip under HS Code 7210.7010, 7210.7090, 7212.4010, 7212.4020, 7212.4090, 7225.9990, 7226.9919, 7226.9999".

On 24 May 2016, the Investigating Authority received an application for a safeguard measure from the three companies, hereinafter referred to as "the Applicant". After examining the properly documented application, the Investigating Authority concluded that there was sufficient evidence to justify the initiation of a safeguard investigation.

1    THE DATE OF INITIATION

The investigation was initiated on 6 July 2016.¹

2    SUBJECT GOOD

The steel products covered by the investigation include: Pre-painted Aluminum – Zinc alloy coated steel sheet and strip, Pre-painted Galvanized steel street and strip. Pre-pained Cold – rolled steel sheet and strip. PPGL, PPGI, PPCR.

Certain steel products under HS Code: 7210.7010, 7210.7090, 7212.4010, 7212.4020, 7212.4090, 7225.9990, 7226.9919, 7226.9999.

3    REASONS FOR INITIATION OF INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE

The investigation was initiated following an evaluation of prima facie evidence provided in the application for a safeguard measure by the Applicant which accounts for a major proportion in the total production of products in Vietnam.

The data submitted by the Applicant showed that there was an increase of volume of import of the subject good that caused a serious injury to the domestic industry producing similar products.

The currently available data also showed a situation of sharply declining in capacity, market share, productivity, labor and losses, in conjunction with the increase in imports.

4    FURTHER INFORMATION

Any request for information regarding the investigation must be submitted within 30 days after the initiation of the investigation.

Interested parties who desire to present evidence, documents and opinions pertaining to the investigation could submit evidence, documents and opinions in Vietnamese, in both computer files and hardcopy during the investigation.

Interested parties who want to receive the public information and documents on the investigation shall submit the registration for interested parties within a period of 30 days after the initiation of the investigation to the following address:

VIETNAM COMPETITION AUTHORITY

(Trade Remedies Investigation Division)

25 Ngo Quyen Street, Hanoi, Vietnam

Tel: (84 4) 22205002 ext. 1038

Fax: (84 4) 22205003

Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

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¹ A copy of the Decision has been submitted electronically (in Vietnamese only) . To consult this document please contact Ms. Budd ([email protected]) or Ms. Richards ([email protected]) of the Rules Division.