Reply: Safeguard investigations are initiated based on the applications received in a given period as per the provisions of the safeguards agreement.
Canada 23:
Report by the Secretariat (WT/TPR/S/249): 1Part III. Trade Policies and Practices by Measure: (2) Measures Directly Affecting Imports; (viii) Contingency Measures: (b) Safeguards: paragraph 92, page 65:
The Secretariat's Report indicates that the advice of the Standing Board on Safeguards is presented to the Finance Minister (in cases regarding the imposition of safeguard duties) and to the Commerce Minister (in cases regarding the imposition of quantitative restrictions).
Are the 1Board's recommendations publicly disclosed? When safeguard duties or quantitative restrictions are imposed, is a statement of reasons released to the public to explain the rationale for employing the measure? Is India planning to implement any changes to improve transparency within the safeguard adoption process?
Reply: The recommendations of the Standing Board on Safeguards are not disclosed publicly. The Board functions as an intervening stage of decision making after the recommendation of the DG Safeguards, the Investigating Authority and the final consideration by the Central Government to decide whether to impose safeguard measures. India makes notifications to the WTO Committee on Safeguards as per the requirements of the Safeguard Agreement with a view to ensure transparency of the safeguard measures imposition.
