Global Trade Alert

On July 10th, 2015, the Zambian authorities started a safeguard investigation on imports of flat-rolled products of iron non-alloy steel trailers and semi-trailers (WTO Document, G/SG/N/6/ZMB/1, 05.10.2015). The products subject to investigation are classified under the following HS codes: 7209.1600, 7209.1700, 7209.2800, 7210.1100, 7210.2000, 7210.3000, 7210.4100, 7210.6100, 7210.6900, 7210.7000, 8716.2000, 8716.3100, 8716.3900 and 8716.4000.
According to the UN Comtrade Database, in 2014 the following countries exported goods classified under HS code subheadings 7209.16, 7209.17, 7209.28, 7210.11, 7210.20, 7210.30, 7210.41, 7210.61, 7210.69, 7210.70, 8716.20, 8716.31, 8716.39 and 8716.40 to Zambia with a trade value over the GTA threshold of USD 1 million: South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and China.
 
On October 5th, 2015, the Zambian authorities notified to the WTO their decision to impose a provisional safeguard duty on imports of the above-mentioned goods. Details about the measure could not be found; nothing in mentioned in the Notification to the WTO and the official website of the Zambian Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry does not mention this investigation at all.
This measure entered into force on July 10th, 2015, and is applicable for a period of six months.