What is a Section 201 (Global Safeguard) investigation?
Investigations under this law may be requested when increased imports of a product are alleged to be a substantial cause of serious injury, or threat of serious injury, to a U.S. industry. If the Commission makes an affirmative determination, this law allows the United States to “escape” from our obligations under our international trade agreements to give affected industries temporary relief for a limited period of time to enable them to adjust to import competition. The U.S. law implements U.S. obligations under the WTO Agreement on Safeguards and Article XIX of GATT 1994. • Is there an unfair trade practice involved? No. Global safeguard investigations do not require the finding of an unfair trade practice. The Commission’s responsibility is to decide whether an article is being imported in such increased quantities that it is a substantial cause of serious injury, or threat of serious injury, to the U.S. industry. However, the injury requirement under section 201 is considered to b
