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Safeguards Measures in African Regional Economic Communities: Zambia’s Provisional Safeguard Measures on Flat-Rolled Products of Iron, Non-Alloy Steel, Trailers and Semi-Trailers

Trade Briefs

Safeguards Measures in African Regional Economic Communities: Zambia’s Provisional Safeguard Measures on Flat-Rolled Products of Iron, Non-Alloy Steel, Trailers and Semi-Trailers

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On 5 October 2015, Zambia notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it initiated, on 10 July 2015, a safeguard investigation on “Flat-Rolled Products of Iron, Non-Alloy Steel, Trailers and Semi-Trailers”, and that it imposed a “safeguard measure provisional in nature and will last for 180 days from 10th July 2015 to 10th January 2016”.

This is an important development; for a number of reasons:

  • It is an example of the use, in a proper rules-based manner, of a multilateral trade remedy by an African member of the WTO

  • The safeguard measure in question was properly notified to the relevant WTO Committee

  • This measure is based on national legislation providing for all the required due process procedures

  • The required domestic institutions are in place in Zambia

This Trade Brief discusses the Zambian safeguard measures and the role of trade remedies within the context of multilateral and regional trade governance. It also asks whether there are new signs that African Governments and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to which they belong are moving towards the rules-based utilization of measures protecting domestic industries. Is this a necessary development? What are the prospects and the challenges for the RECs and their member states?


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