China has initiated a safeguard investigation into the imports of bovine meat, as per a notification issued by the Ministry of Commerce. The move aims to determine whether increased imports are causing or threatening to cause serious injury to domestic producers.
The Trade Remedy and Investigation Bureau will handle the process, with contact details provided for interested parties. "Trade Remedy and Investigation Bureau, Ministry of Commerce, The People’s Republic of China, 2 Dong Chang An Street, Beijing, China," reads part of the notice. For inquiries, they can be reached via telephone at 0086-10-65198435 or fax at 0086-10-65198172. Further information is available on their website.
Interested parties have specific deadlines to present evidence and comments. Comments on the initiation must be submitted within 20 days from the publication date of the notice. Registration for participation in the investigation also closes within this timeframe.
A safeguard investigation is conducted to assess if increased imports threaten local industries significantly. During this process, various stakeholders including importers and exporters can submit evidence and viewpoints while responding to others' presentations.
According to WTO rules, member countries may impose temporary restrictions on imports if it is found that these imports are indeed causing harm or posing a threat to domestic industries.
Further details about this investigation can be accessed through document G/SG/N/6/CHN/3.