OF ARTICLE 8 OF THE AGREEMENT

ON SAFEGUARDS

Japan

The following communication, dated and received on 9 May 2025, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of Japan.

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In accordance with the agreed format for notifications (_G/SG/1, 1 July 1996; amended 19 October 2009, _G/SG/1/Rev.1 - _G/SG/N/6/Rev.1 - _G/SG/89), Japan notifies the Council for Trade in Goods of the proposed suspension of concessions and other obligations referred to in paragraph 2 of Article 8 of the Agreement on Safeguards, in respect of which it reserves its rights, as well as the adjusted coverage of Japan's rights reserved under its previous notifications[1] dated 18 May 2018, 20 June 2018, and 2 April 2020.

1. Which Member is proposing suspension of concessions and other obligations referred to in Article 8.2.

Japan.

2. Specify the measure, the product subject to the measure, the WTO document that notified the safeguard measure, and the Member imposing the measure in relation to which the Member is proposing suspension of concessions and other obligations referred to in Article 8.2

The measures in question are tariff increases and other import adjustment measures imposed by the United States on the imports of steel, aluminum, automobiles and automobile parts from certain WTO members including Japan, as revised and supplemented over time. The measures on the imports of steel and aluminum have been applied since 23 March 2018, and are maintained to date with some revisions and supplements, including most recently on 10 February 2025. The measures on the imports of automobiles and automobile parts have been applied since 3 April 2025, with some revisions and supplements, including most recently on 3 May 2025.

Although the United States has not notified these measures under the Agreement on Safeguards, Japan notes that these measures appear to have the characteristics of the measures to which Article XIX of GATT 1994 and the Agreement on Safeguards are applicable.

3. Describe the proposed suspension of concessions and other obligations referred to in Article 8.2 and the proposed date from which it will come into effect

The proposed suspension of concessions referred to in Article 8.2 of the Agreement on Safeguards will take the form of an equivalent increase in duties on selected products originating in the United States. Details of the said suspension of concessions based on an equivalent increase in duties based on the most recent export data, including the proposed date from which it will come into effect, will be provided to the Council for Trade in Goods before the suspension of concessions is actually applied. The suspension will continue to apply until the United States’ measures are lifted. Japan reserves its rights accordingly. This notification is without prejudice to Japan’s rights and obligations in any other proceedings.

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