What Changed
- Switzerland noted a record 48 agenda items relating to safeguard actions at the WTO Committee on Safeguards meeting.
- Members questioned the WTO consistency of EU and UK steel tariff concession modifications implemented after safeguard expirations.
- Members raised potential compliance concerns over reports of an anticipated EU safeguard investigation into hybrid electric vehicles.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on Safeguards met under the chairship of Ms Carly Stevens of Australia to review member notifications and discuss the increasing resort to safeguard actions. During the meeting, Switzerland highlighted that the agenda contained 48 items relating to safeguard actions, marking a record for the Committee.
The Committee reviewed legislative notifications of new or amended national safeguard legislation from Comoros, Malawi, and Tajikistan, and continued its review for Liberia and the Solomon Islands. Eighteen members submitted notifications of safeguard actions taken since April. Indonesia (four), Madagascar (eight), Morocco (three), South Africa (five), and Türkiye (three) accounted for almost 60% of the reviewed actions. Notifications attracting the most interventions concerned the European Union's measure on grain oriented electrical steel and the United Kingdom's measure on polyethylene terephthalate.
Key discussions focused on steel trade adjustments following expired safeguard measures. Japan, Indonesia, China, and Australia raised concerns regarding the restrictiveness and WTO consistency of the EU's July 2026 modification of tariff concessions on certain steel products following the expiry of its steel safeguard measure. The EU maintained that its action did not constitute a safeguard measure. Similarly, Japan and the Republic of Korea questioned the UK's modification of tariff concessions on steel imports following safeguard expiry, which the UK likewise stated was not a safeguard measure.
Additionally, the UK, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Türkiye addressed reports of an anticipated global safeguard investigation by the EU into imports of certain hybrid electric vehicles. The EU stated that any initiated investigation would be formally notified to the Committee and open to substantive member questions. Brazil also urged members to improve notification transparency under Article 9.1 regarding exemptions for developing members. The Committee's next meeting is set for the week of 26 April 2027.
Who May Be Affected
Importers, exporters, trade legal counsel, and manufacturers in the steel, chemical, and automotive sectors trading within WTO member markets.
Cross-Border Context
Directly links trade regulatory actions and legal interpretations across China, Switzerland, the EU, the UK, Japan, South Korea, and other WTO member countries.
What to check next
- Check formal meeting minutes of the WTO Committee on Safeguards when published for complete delegation statements.
- Monitor WTO notification channels for any formal initiation of an EU safeguard investigation into hybrid electric vehicles.
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Consult the official text and obtain advice appropriate to your circumstances where needed.