At its regular meeting on 26 October, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on Safeguards reviewed safeguard actions covering 39 products, 11 of which were steel/metal products. Several members expressed their views on the actions of the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) concerning certain steel products. The UK, Japan, the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and Türkiye commented on reports that the EU may be considering initiating an investigation into imports of certain hybrid vehicles. Brazil proposed improvements to notifications concerning the non-application of safeguard measures to developing members.
The meeting was chaired by Australia.
Review of legislative notifications
The Committee reviewed notifications of new or amended national safeguard legislation or regulations from Comoros, Malawi and Tajikistan. It continued its review of legislative notifications from Liberia and the Solomon Islands.
Notifications of safeguard action
The Committee also reviewed notifications of safeguard actions submitted by members since the last Committee meeting in April. Eighteen (18) members submitted notifications, including Indonesia (four), Madagascar (eight), Morocco (three), South Africa (five), and Türkiye (three). These constituted almost 60% of the actions reviewed. Safeguard actions notified by the EU (grain-oriented electrical steel) and the United Kingdom (polyethylene terephthalate) attracted the most interventions.
Increasing number of safeguard actions
Switzerland and Japan commented on the growing use of safeguard measures. Switzerland noted that the agenda contained 48 agenda items relating to safeguard actions, a record for the Committee.
EU and UK measures on steel products
Referring to the expiry of the EU’s steel safeguard measure and subsequent modification of its tariff concessions regarding certain steel products in July 2026, Japan was concerned that the EU’s modification appeared to be intended to maintain restrictions equivalent to the expired safeguard measure. Japan and Indonesia questioned whether the EU’s approach was consistent with the Agreement on Safeguards. The People’s Republic of China (China) and Australia also expressed concerns regarding the restrictiveness of the measure. The EU responded that its new measure did not constitute a safeguard measure.
Japan and South Korea also raised concerns regarding the UK’s recent modification of its tariff concessions on steel imports after the expiry of the UK’s safeguard measure on steel products. The UK responded that its steel trade measure did not constitute a safeguard measure.
Potential EU investigation on hybrid electric vehicles
The UK, referring to an “anticipated” global safeguard investigation by the EU into imports of certain hybrid electric vehicles, urged the EU to ensure that any such investigation complies with the Agreement on Safeguards. Japan, South Korea and Türkiye also commented on reports of an anticipated investigation and the potential quantitative restrictions which might follow, highlighting the need to ensure that the investigation is conducted in accordance with WTO rules. The EU responded that, if any such investigation were initiated, it would notify the Committee, and the EU would answer any member’s substantive questions.
Non-application of safeguard measures to developing members
Brazil urged members to improve the transparency of their notifications under Article 9.1 of the Agreement on Safeguards, particularly regarding the non-application of safeguard measures to developing members.
Next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee on Safeguards is scheduled for the week of 26 April 2027.
Background
Under WTO rules, a member may temporarily apply measures to imports of a product (take “safeguard” actions) through higher tariffs or other measures if it determines, through an investigation, that increased imports of a product are causing or threatening to cause serious injury to its domestic industry. Unlike anti-dumping duties, safeguard measures cover imports from all sources. However, imports from developing country members with a small share of imports are exempted through special and differential treatment provisions.
More background on safeguards is accessible at: