notification under article 12.1(a) of the agreement on
safeguards on initiation of an investigation and
the reasons for it

questions posed by THE Russian Federation
regarding the notification of india^[1]

(Seamless pipes, tubes and hollow profiles of iron or non – alloy steel

(other than cast iron and stainless steel))

The following communication, dated 16 April 2014, is being circulated at the request of the Delegation of the Russian Federation.

_______________

The Ministry of Finance of India has published on 11 March 2014 a notification of final findings of the safeguard investigation concerning imports of seamless tubes, pipes and hollow profiles of iron, alloy or non-alloy steel into India (hereinafter referred to as "notification"). The Government of the Russian Federation and the Russian interested producers (namely, "TMK Group") have been closely monitoring the investigatory process, participating at the hearings and submitting the relevant comments. But despite the clear statement of concerns by the interested parties regarding doubtful legitimacy within the WTO law of the sought measure the Ministry of Finance of India has recommended to impose the safeguard duty.

With regard to the above mentioned notification the Russian Federation would like to ask India to clarify the following issues.