On 24 September 2020, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on Safeguards announced that on 18 September 2020, Thailand had initiated a safeguard investigation on aluminium foil, classifiable in tariff subheadings 7607.11.00.000 and 7607.19.00.090.
In the notification Thailand indicated, among other things, as follows: "As a result of the extraordinary circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic, all relevant importers, exporters and any other interested parties wishing to present evidence, documents, views or comments pertaining to the investigation shall submit the aforementioned information in writing to the Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce of Thailand, by email at pavineeb@moc.go.th latest on 5 October 2020 before 16:30 ICT (GMT+7). […] The non-confidential summary of the petition for an initiation of the investigation regarding the safeguard measure (Thai version) is available in the web page https://www.thaitr.go.th/th/search/SG1006. …”
What is a safeguard investigation?
A safeguard investigation seeks to determine whether increased imports of a product are causing, or are 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.
Story by: Riaan de Lange