World Trade

Organization

 

 

G/SG/N/1/CHN/2

28 August 2002

 

(02-4586)

 

 

Committee on Safeguards

Original:  English

 

 

 

notification of laws, regulations and

administrative procedures relating

to safeguard measures

 

THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

 

 

            The following communication, dated 27 August 2002, has been received from the Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China.

 

_______________

 

 

            With regard to Article 12.6 of the Agreement on Safeguards and further to my letter dated 6 June 2002 (G/SG/N/1/CHN/1), I have the honour to provide the Committee on Safeguards with the English translation of The Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Safeguards.  English translations of other Rules as notified in my letter dated 6 June 2002 are still in preparation and will be provided once they are available.

 

            Please note that the Regulations are authentic only in Chinese and that the English translation of the Regulations are for reference only by WTO Members.

 


 

REGULATIONS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON SAFEGUARDS

 

            (Adopted at the 46th Executive Meeting of the State Council on 31 October 2001, promulgated by Decree No. 330 of the State Council of the People's Republic of China on 26 November 2001, and effective as of 1 January 2002)

 

CHAPTER I - GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

            Article 1.  These Regulations are formulated in accordance with the Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China for the purpose of promoting the sound development of foreign trade.

 

            Article 2.  When a product is imported in increased quantities and such increase has caused or threatens to cause serious injury to a domestic industry that produces like or directly competitive products, an investigation shall be initiated and safeguard measures applied in accordance with provisions of these Regulations.

 

CHAPTER II - INVESTIGATION

 

            Article 3.  Any natural person, legal person or other organization (hereinafter collectively referred to as "the applicant”) related to a domestic industry may, in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations, make a written application to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (hereinafter referred to as "MOFTEC”) for applying safeguard measures.

 

            MOFTEC shall promptly examine the application submitted by the applicant and decide whether or not to initiate an investigation.

 

            Article 4.  If MOFTEC does not receive a written application for applying safeguard measures, but has sufficient evidence of injury to a domestic industry due to the increase in quantity of an imported product, it may decide to initiate an investigation.

 

            Article 5.  MOFTEC shall publish the decision to initiate an investigation.

            MOFTEC shall promptly notify the Committee on Safeguards of the World Trade Organization (hereinafter referred to as “the Committee on Safeguards”) of the decision to initiate an investigation.

 

            Article 6.  MOFTEC shall be responsible for the investigation and determination of the increase in quantity of an imported product.

 

            The State Economic and Trade Commission (hereinafter referred to as "SETC") shall be responsible for the investigation and determination of injury.  The safeguards investigation of injury to a domestic industry involving agricultural products shall be conducted by SETC jointly with the Ministry of Agriculture.

 

            Article 7.  The termincrease in quantity of an imported product means an absolute or relative increase in quantity of an imported product compared with domestic production.

 

            Article 8.  The following relevant factors shall be examined in the determination of injury to a domestic industry caused by the increase in quantity of an imported product:

 

            (1)        the rate and amount of the increase in the imported product in absolute and relative terms;

 

            (2)        the share of  the domestic market taken by the increased imports;

 

            (3)        the impact of the imported product on the domestic industry, including the impact on the production, the level of sales, market share, productivity, capacity utilization, profits and losses, and employment of the domestic industry; and

 

            (4)        other factors caused injury to the domestic industry.

 

            The determination of threat of serious injury shall be based on facts and not merely on allegation, conjecture or remote possibility.

 

            When determining the injury caused by the increase in quantity of an imported product to a domestic industry, injuries that are caused by factors other than the increase of imports shall not be attributed to the increase of imports

 

            Article 9.  During the period of an investigation, MOFTEC shall promptly publish a detailed analysis of the case under investigation and the relevant factors.

 

            Article 10.  The term “domestic industry” means the domestic producers as a whole of the like or directly competitive products within the People’s Republic of China or those of them whose collective output of the like or directly competitive products constitutes a major proportion of the total domestic production of those products.

 

            Article 11.  MOFTEC and SETC shall, on the basis of objective facts and evidence, determine whether or not there exists a causal link between the increased imports of the product concerned and the injury to the domestic industry.

 

            Article 12.  MOFTEC and SETC shall provide opportunities for importers, exporters and other interested parties to present their views and supporting arguments.

 

            The investigation may be conducted by means of sending questionnaires, holding public hearings, or other appropriate means.

 

            Article 13.  MOFTEC and SETC may treat the information collected during an investigation as confidential, if the information provider deems it necessary.

 

            If the request for confidentiality is justifiable, the information submitted by the information provider shall be treated as confidential, and the information provider shall be requested to furnish non-confidential summaries thereof.

 

            The information treated as confidential shall not be disclosed without permission of the information provider.

 

            Article 14.  The explanations to the findings of an investigation on the increase in quantity of imported products, injuries and the reasons therefor shall be published by MOFTEC.

 

            MOFTEC shall promptly notify the Committee on Safeguards of the findings and the relevant information.

 

            Article 15.  MOFTEC and SETC shall, on the basis of the findings of their investigations, make a preliminary determination which shall be published by MOFTEC.

 

            Article 16.  In the case where a preliminary determination establishes the existence of an increase in quantity of an imported product, an injury, and a causal link between the two, MOFTEC and SETC shall continue their investigations, and shall, on the basis of the findings of such investigations, make a final determination which shall be published by MOFTEC.

 

CHAPTER III - SAFEGUARD MEASURES

 

            Article 17.  In critical circumstances where there is clear evidence of increase in quantity of an imported product, and would cause injury to a domestic industry which would be difficult to remedy without the application of safeguard measures, a preliminary determination may be made and provisional safeguard measures applied.

 

            Provisional safeguard measures shall take the form of tariff increases.

 

            Article 18.  The proposal for adoption of provisional safeguard measures shall be put forward by MOFTEC, and on the basis of such a proposal the State Council Tariff Commission shall make a decision which shall be published by MOFTEC.  The Customs shall implement the decision from the effective date set forth in the public notice.

 

            MOFTEC shall notify the Committee on Safeguards of the relevant information prior to the application of a provisional safeguard measure. 

 

            Article 19.  The duration of application of a provisional safeguard measure shall not exceed 200 days from the effective date set forth in the public notice regarding the decision on safeguard measures.

 

            Article 20.  If a final determination establishes the existence of increase in quantity of an imported product and the injury caused to a domestic industry, safeguard measures may be applied.

 

            Safeguard measures may take the forms of tariff increases or quantitative restriction, etc.

 

            Article 21.  If a safeguard measure takes the form of a tariff increase, the measure shall be proposed by MOFTEC, and on the basis of such a proposal the State Council Tariff Commission shall make a decision which shall be published by MOFTEC.  If a safeguard measure takes the form of quantitative restriction, a decision shall be made and published by MOFTEC.  The Customs shall implement the decision from the effective date set forth in the public notice.

 

            MOFTEC shall promptly notify the Committee on Safeguards of the decision on the application of a safeguard measure and the related information.

 

            Article 22.  Where a quantitative restriction is applied, the quantity of imports after restriction shall not be less than the average quantity of imports in the last three representative years, unless clear justification is given  that a different level of quantitative restriction is necessary to prevent or remedy serious injury.

 

            Where a quantitative restriction is applied and it is necessary to allocate quantity among exporting countries (regions) or countries (regions) of origin, MOFTEC may consult with the exporting countries (regions) or countries (regions) of origin concerned in the allocation of quantity.

 

            Article 23.  Safeguard measures shall be applied to a product being imported irrespective of its source country (region).

 

            Article 24.  Safeguard measures shall be applied to the extent necessary to prevent or remedy serious injury and to facilitate the adjustment of the domestic industry.

 

            Article 25.  Prior to the application of a safeguard measure, MOFTEC shall provide adequate opportunities for consultations with those governments of countries (regions) having substantial interests as the exporters of the products concerned.

 

            Article 26.  Where a final determination establishes that no safeguard measures shall be applied, the provisional duty that has been levied shall be refunded.

 

CHAPTER IV - DURATION AND REVIEW OF SAFEGUARD MEASURES

 

            Article 27.  The period of application of a safeguard measure shall not exceed four years.

 

            The period of application of a safeguard measure may be properly extended if the following conditions are met:

 

            (1)        it has been determined in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Regulations that the safeguard measure continues to be necessary to prevent or remedy serious injury;

 

            (2)        there is evidence that the domestic industry concerned is adjusting;

 

            (3)        the obligations of  foreign-related notification and consultations have been fulfilled; and

 

            (4)       the extended safeguard measure is not more restrictive than the initial ones.

 

            The total period of application of a safeguard measure and any extension thereof shall not exceed eight years.

 

            Article 28.  Where the period of application of a safeguard measure exceeds one year, the measure applied shall be progressively liberalized at regular intervals during the period of application.

 

            Article 29.  Where the period of application of a safeguard measure exceeds three years, MOFTEC and SETC shall conduct a mid-term review of the measure during the period of application.

 

            The substance of the mid-term review shall include, among other things, review of the effect of the safeguard measure on domestic industry, and the adjustment of domestic industry.

 

            Article 30.  Where a safeguard measure takes the form of a  tariff increase, MOFTEC shall, on the basis of the findings of the review, put forward in accordance with provisions of these Regulations a proposal for retention, repeal or acceleration of the liberalization of the tariff increase, and in light of such a proposal the State Council Tariff Commission shall make a decision which shall be published by MOFTEC; if a safeguard measure takes the form of quantitative restriction or other forms, MOFTEC shall, on the basis of  the findings of the review and in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations, make a decision on whether or not to retain, repeal or accelerate the liberalization of the quantitative restriction and publish it.

 

            Article 31.  Where a safeguard measure is applied again to the same imported product, the interval between the current measure and the previous safeguard measure shall not be less than the period of application of the previous safeguard measure, and shall be at least two years.

 

            Notwithstanding the foregoing provision, a safeguard measure with duration of 180 days or less may be applied to the product if following conditions are met:

 

            (1)        at least one year has elapsed since the date of introduction of a safeguard measure on the import of the said product; and

 

            (2)        such a safeguard measure has not been applied on the same product more than twice in the five year period immediately preceding the date of introduction of the measure.

 

CHAPTER V - SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS

 

            Article 32.  Where any country (region) discriminatorily applies safeguard measures on exports from the People's Republic of China, the People's Republic of China may, based on the actual situations, adopt corresponding measures toward that country (region).

 

            Article 33.  MOFTEC is responsible for the foreign-related consultations, notification and dispute settlement concerning safeguard measures.

 

            Article 34.  MOFTEC and SETC may, in accordance with these Regulations, formulate specific implementing measures thereof.

 

            Article 35.  These Regulations shall be effective as of 1 January 2002.

 

 

__________

 

 

  【发布单位】国务院
  
【发布文号】国务院令第330
  
【发布日期】2001-11-26
  
【生效日期】2002-01-01
  
【失效日期】----------
  
【所属类别】国家法律法规

中华人民共和国国务院令

(第330号)

  《中华人民共和国保障措施条例》已经2001年10月31日国务院第46次常务会议通过,现予公布,自2002年1月1日起施行。

                           总理 朱镕基
                        二00一年十一月二十六日
            中华人民共和国保障措施条例

              第一章 总则

 

 第一条 为了促进对外贸易健康发展,根据《中华人民共和国对外贸易法》的有关规定,制定本条例。

 第二条 进口产品数量增加,并对生产同类产品或者直接竞争产品的国内产业造成严重损害或者严重损害威胁(以下除特别指明外,统称损害)的,依照本条例的规定进行调查,采取保障措施。 

              第二章 调查

 

 第三条 与国内产业有关的自然人、法人或者其他组织(以下统称申请人),可以依照本条例的规定,向对外贸易经济合作部(以下简称外经贸部)提出采取保障措施的书面申请。
  外经贸部应当及时对申请人的申请进行审查,决定立案调查或者不立案调查。

 第四条 外经贸部没有收到采取保障措施的书面申请,但有充分证据认为国内产业因进口产品数量增加而受到损害的,可以决定立案调查。

 第五条 立案调查的决定,由外经贸部予以公告。
  外经贸部应当将立案调查的决定及时通知世界贸易组织保障措施委员会(以下简称保障措施委员会)。

 第六条 对进口产品数量增加的调查和确定,由外经贸部负责。
  对损害的调查和确定,由国家经济贸易委员会(以下简称国家经贸委)负责;其中,涉及农产品的保障措施国内产业损害调查,由国家经贸委会同农业部进行。

 第七条 进口产品数量增加,是指进口产品数量与国内生产相比绝对增加或者相对增加。

 第八条 在确定进口产品数量增加对国内产业造成的损害时,应当审查下列相关因素:
  (一)进口产品的绝对和相对增长率与增长量;
  (二)增加的进口产品在国内市场中所占的份额;
  (三)进口产品对国内产业的影响,包括对国内产业在产量、销售水平、市场份额、生产率、设备利用率、利润与亏损、就业等方面的影响;
  (四)造成国内产业损害的其他因素。
  对严重损害威胁的确定,应当依据事实,不能仅依据指控、推测或者极小的可能性。
  在确定进口产品数量增加对国内产业造成的损害时,不得将进口增加以外的因素对国内产业造成的损害归因于进口增加。

 第九条 在调查期间,外经贸部应当及时公布对案情的详细分析和审查的相关因素等。

 第十条 国内产业,是指中华人民共和国国内同类产品或者直接竞争产品的全部生产者,或者其总产量占国内同类产品或者直接竞争产品全部总产量的主要部分的生产者。

 第十一条 外经贸部、国家经贸委应当根据客观的事实和证据,确定进口产品数量增加与国内产业的损害之间是否存在因果关系。

 第十二条 外经贸部、国家经贸委应当为进口经营者、出口经营者和其他利害关系方提供陈述意见和论据的机会。
  调查可以采用调查问卷的方式,也可以采用听证会或者其他方式。

 第十三条 调查中获得的有关资料,资料提供方认为需要保密的,外经贸部、国家经贸委可以按保密资料处理。
  保密申请有理由的,应当对资料提供方提供的资料按保密资料处理,同时要求资料提供方提供一份非保密的该资料概要。
  按保密资料处理的资料,未经资料提供方同意,不得泄露。

 第十四条 进口产品数量增加、损害的调查结果及其理由的说明,由外经贸部予以公布。
  外经贸部应当将调查结果及有关情况及时通知保障措施委员会。

 第十五条 外经贸部、国家经贸委根据调查结果作出初裁决定,由外经贸部予以公告。

 第十六条 初裁决定确定进口产品数量增加和损害成立并且二者之间有因果关系的,外经贸部、国家经贸委应当继续进行调查,根据调查结果作出终裁决定,由外经贸部予以公告。

             第三章 保障措施

 

 第十七条 有明确证据表明进口产品数量增加,在不采取临时保障措施将对国内产业造成难以补救的损害的紧急情况下,可以作出初裁决定,并采取临时保障措施。
  临时保障措施采取提高关税的形式。

 第十八条 采取临时保障措施,由外经贸部提出建议,国务院关税税则委员会根据外经贸部的建议作出决定,由外经贸部予以公告。海关自公告规定实施之日起执行。
  在采取临时保障措施前,外经贸部应当将有关情况通知保障措施委员会。

 第十九条 临时保障措施的实施期限,自临时保障措施决定公告规定实施之日起,不超过200天。

 第二十条 终裁决定确定进口产品数量增加,并由此对国内产业造成损害的,可以采取保障措施。
  保障措施可以采取提高关税、数量限制等形式。

 第二十一条 保障措施采取提高关税形式的,由外经贸部提出建议,国务院关税税则委员会根据外经贸部的建议作出决定,由外经贸部予以公告;采取数量限制形式的,由外经贸部作出决定并予以公告。海关自公告规定实施之日起执行。
  外经贸部应当将采取保障措施的决定及有关情况及时通知保障措施委员会。

 第二十二条 采取数量限制措施的,限制后的进口量不得低于最近3个有代表性年度的平均进口量;但是,有正当理由表明为防止或者补救严重损害而有必要采取不同水平的数量限制措施的除外。
  采取数量限制措施,需要在有关出口国(地区)或者原产国(地区)之间进行数量分配的,外经贸部可以与有关出口国(地区)或者原产国(地区)就数量的分配进行磋商。

 第二十三条 保障措施应当针对正在进口的产品实施,不区分产品来源国(地区)。

 第二十四条 采取保障措施应当限于防止、补救严重损害并便利调整国内产业所必要的范围内。

 第二十五条 在采取保障措施前,外经贸部应当为与有关产品的出口经营者有实质利益的国家(地区)政府提供磋商的充分机会。

 第二十六条 终裁决定确定不采取保障措施的,已征收的临时关税应当予以退还。

          第四章 保障措施的期限与复审

 

 第二十七条 保障措施的实施期限不超过4年。
  符合下列条件的,保障措施的实施期限可以适当延长:
  (一)按照本条例规定的程序确定保障措施对于防止或者补救严重损害仍然有必要;
  (二)有证据表明相关国内产业正在进行调整;
  (三)已经履行有关对外通知、磋商的义务;
  (四)延长后的措施不严于延长前的措施。
  一项保障措施的实施期限及其延长期限,最长不超过8年。

 第二十八条 保障措施实施期限超过1年的,应当在实施期间内按固定时间间隔逐步放宽。

 第二十九条 保障措施实施期限超过3年的,外经贸部、国家经贸委应当在实施期间内对该项措施进行中期复审。
  复审的内容包括保障措施对国内产业的影响、国内产业的调整情况等。

 第三十条 保障措施属于提高关税的,外经贸部应当根据复审结果,依照本条例的规定,提出保留、取消或者加快放宽提高关税措施的建议,国务院关税税则委员会根据外经贸部的建议作出决定,由外经贸部予以公告;保障措施属于数量限制或者其他形式的,外经贸部应当根据复审结果,依照本条例的规定,作出保留、取消或者加快放宽数量限制措施的决定并予以公告。

 第三十一条 对同一进口产品再次采取保障措施的,与前次采取保障措施的时间间隔应当不短于前次采取保障措施的实施期限,并且至少为2年。
  符合下列条件的,对一产品实施的期限为180天或者少于180天的保障措施,不受前款限制:
  (一)自对该进口产品实施保障措施之日起,已经超过1年;
  (二)自实施该保障措施之日起5年内,未对同一产品实施2次以上保障措施。

              第五章 附则

 

 第三十二条 任何国家(地区)对中华人民共和国的出口产品采取歧视性保障措施的,中华人民共和国可以根据实际情况对该国家(地区)采取相应的措施。

 第三十三条 外经贸部负责与保障措施有关的对外磋商、通知和争端解决事宜。

 第三十四条 外经贸部、国家经贸委可以根据本条例制定具体实施办法。

 第三十五条 本条例自2002年1月1日起施行。

 






 
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