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Safeguard measures A WTO member may take a “safeguard” action (i.e., restrict imports of a product temporarily) to protect a specific domestic industry from an increase in imports of any product which is causing, or which is threatening to cause, serious injury to the industry. Safeguard measures were always available under the GATT (Article XIX). However, they were infrequently used, and some governments preferred to protect their industries through “grey area” measures (“voluntary” export restraint arrangements on products such as cars, steel and semiconductors). The WTO Safeguards Agreement broke new ground in prohibiting “grey area” measures and setting time limits (“sunset clause”) on all safeguard actions. |
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Introduction back to top
Basic
introduction to the Safeguards Agreement Overview of the Safeguards Agreement
The mandate back to top The Safeguards Agreement: a detailed explanation Browse or download the text of the “Safeguards Agreement” from the legal texts gateway Find decisions of WTO bodies concerning the Safeguards Agreement in the Analytical Index — Guide to WTO Law and Practice
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Work on safeguard measures in the WTO, and official documents back to top The Committee on Safeguards monitors, and reports annually to the Goods Council, on the general implementation of the agreement. A member affected by a safeguard measure may ask the committee to make a finding on whether the measure complies with the agreement’s procedural requirements. At the request of members, the committee may assist consultations, or review proposals for retaliatory action. It monitors the phase-out of the notified “grey-area” measures, and reviews all safeguard notifications. Work in the Safeguards Committee |
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Statistics on safeguard measures back to top The data presented in the tables below are based on the notifications made by WTO Members to the Committee on Safeguards during the relevant periods, and are accurate only to the extent Members have made the relevant notification. For the purpose of these tables, “country” in each case refers to country or customs territory. The information in the tables will be updated periodically. Data in the tables have been updated as of 20 June 2008. |
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