Madagascar launches safeguard investigation on certain tableware, kitchenware, and household and packaging articles

In the notification, Madagascar indicated, among other things, as follows (provisional English translation):

"4 - Provide a point of contact for the investigation and identify the preferred means for corresponding.

The point of contact would be available to respond to enquiries relating to the procedures applicable to the investigation.

Monsieur Le Directeur Général de l'ANMCC

Immeuble Maison des Produits, 67 Ha, Antananarivo 101 - Madagascar

e-mail: [email protected]/[email protected]

website: www.anmcc.mg

 

5 - Provide the deadlines and procedures for importers, exporters and other interested parties to present evidence and their views, including: (i) deadlines and procedures for Members and exporters to identify themselves as interested parties, if so required, to participate in the investigation and (ii) the date of an intended public hearing as provided for in Article 3.1. [..]

Interested parties must make themselves known to the ANMCC, the investigating authority, within 30 days from the date of initiation of the investigation, i.e. no later than 15 May 2026. Any information or comments that interested parties would like to provide and the request for a questionnaire should be sent to the ANMCC no later than 15 May 2026.

Public hearings may be organised by the ANMCC, either at the request of interested parties or ex officio, to allow interested parties to present evidence and, in particular, to have the opportunity to respond to the submissions of other parties and to make known their views, and to defend their interests. Responses to the questionnaire as well as other relevant information that the parties wish to communicate should be sent to the ANMCC no later than 29 May 2026.

Where the replies to the questionnaire as well as any additional information requested from interested parties in the context of this investigation are not provided within the time limits set, decisions will be based on the best information available. The same applies to erroneous or incomplete information."

The notification is available in G/SG/N/6/MDG/17. (Currently available in French only.)

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.

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 (i.e. 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.