Morocco launches safeguard investigation on certain types of rice

In the notification Morocco indicated, among other things, as follows (provisional English translation):

"4 - Provide a point of contact for the investigation and identify the preferred means for corresponding.

The point of contact would be available to respond to enquiries relating to the procedures applicable to the investigation.

Ministère de l'Industrie et du Commerce

Direction Générale du Commerce

Direction de la Défense et de la Réglementation Commerciale

Division de la Défense Commerciale

Parcelle 14, Business center, aile Nord bd Riad,

Hay Riad. BP 610, Rabat Chellah, Maroc

Tel: +212537. 70.18.46

Fax: +212 537. 72.71.50

E-mail: [email protected]

5 - Provide the deadlines and procedures for importers, exporters and other interested parties to present evidence and their views, including: (i) deadlines and procedures for Members and exporters to identify themselves as interested parties, if so required, to participate in the investigation and (ii) the date of an intended public hearing as provided for in Article 3.1. [..]

All parties have a period of 30 days from the date of initiation of the investigation to make themselves known as interested parties, and to submit their comments on the investigation, by contacting the Ministry by fax or e-mail at the contact details mentioned above. During the investigation, the Department is prepared to listen to the arguments of the various interested parties. Any request for a hearing must be made in writing, be duly reasoned and contain the elements that the interested party wishes to address."

The notification is available in G/SG/N/6/MAR/16. (Currently available in French only.)

A safeguard investigation seeks to determine whether increased imports of a product are causing, or is threatening to cause, serious injury to a domestic industry.

During a safeguard investigation, importers, exporters and other interested parties may present evidence and views and respond to the presentations of other parties.

A WTO member may take a safeguard action (i.e. restrict imports of a product temporarily) only if the increased imports of the product are found to be causing, or threatening to cause, serious injury.