By CHARITY MOONGA –

ZAMBIA has launched a safeguard investigation on flat-rolled products of iron, non-alloy steel, trailers and semi-trailers.
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.
In this case, Zambia wants to find out whether increased imports of flat-rolled products of iron, non-alloy steel, trailers and semi-trailers are causing, or are threatening to cause, serious injury to the domestic industry.
Zambia this month notified the World Trade Organisation (WTO)’s Committee on Safeguards that it had initiated a safeguard investigation on the stated products.
In the notification, written by Commerce, Trade and Industry Permanent Secretary Siazongo Siakalenge, Zambia indicated that it had initiated the investigation on the concerned products.
“All interested parties may send their views within a period of thirty (30) days as from the date of notification of initiation of investigations to this ministry,” Mr Siakalenge said.
The safeguard measure, which is provisional in nature, will last for 180 days from July 10, 2015 to January 10, 2016.
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 to, in some cases, 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.
Chile has also launched a safeguard investigation on steel wire. The country has also notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it has initiated a safeguard investigation on steel wire.
In the notification, Chile says, “In accordance with Article 12.4 of the Agreement on Safeguards, Chile is prepared to hold consultations on the provisional safeguard measure, once the measure has been adopted, with those members that have a substantial interest as exporters of the subject product.”