Under the WTO multilateral Trading System, a member country has the right to protect its domestic industry if it is found that imports of a specific product has increased substantially in absolute terms or relative to domestic production in the recent period. If these increased imports are causing injury to the domestic industry, this can be remedied by imposing an appropriate measure/duty. This is called safeguard measure/duty under the WTO agreement on safeguards.

Yes, Pakistan, being Member of WTO, has promulgated Safeguard Measures Ordinance 2002 to provide protection to the domestic industry from surge in imports of any specific product. The National Tariff Commission (NTC) Islamabad is responsible to process the application for imposing safeguard measures/ duty.back to top

The applicant industry has to show that there is surge in imports because of certain unforeseen developments, which cannot be remedied due to WTO obligations assumed by Pakistan, and certain unforeseen developments;

• There is surge in imports of a specific product
• There is injury to the domestic industry producing like product
• There is causal link between the surge in imports and the injury to the domestic industry.back to top

The following are basic conditions for a safeguard action to be taken.

1. There is sudden increase in imports
2. Which cannot otherwise, be remedied because of WTO obligations assumed by the Pakistan
3. There is some unforeseen development for increase imports;
4. There is serious injury to the domestic industry caused by increased imports.

Any expected event or development, which was not foresee able at the time of making commitments under the WTO Agreement are deemed to be unforeseen developments.back to top

The countries have liberty to increase the duties up to bound rates under WTO obligations; therefore, there is no need to take a safeguard action.

On receipt of a properly documented and complete application, NTC issues notice of initiation of an investigation in this regard in the newspapers. In order to solicit views/ comments of interested parties a public hearing can also be held. After having collected all relevant evidences, NTC carries out necessary analysis and prepares its recommendation for imposing an appropriate safeguard measure against the specific product. This recommendation is forwarded to the Federal Government for consideration and imposition.

No, the recommendation of NTC is not binding on the government. It is prerogative of the government to implement NTC’s recommendations wholly or partially or not at all.

Because, in case of safeguard, the federal government is supposed to negotiate with the countries, which are expected to be affected adversely from the safeguard measure/ duty, recommended by NTC.

No, the safeguard measure is imposed against the specific product across the board on an MFN basis i.e. measure is imposed on the specific product coming from any source.

The prescribed application forms are available with National Tariff Commission Islamabad. The applicant industry may obtain this application form and get it duly filled in supported by relevant evidences and fee (Rs. 75,000/- in the form demand draft) to the Secretary NTC. The application form and relevant law, rules etc are also available on NTC website.

Once a definite safeguard duty is imposed, it can be appealed through the Dispute Settlement Mechanism of the WTO by any affected country.