On 27 October 2020, Indonesia notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it initiated on 26 October 2020 a safeguard investigation on cigarette paper.

What is a safeguard investigation?

A safeguard investigation seeks to determine whether increased imports of a product are causing, or is threatening to cause, serious injury to a domestic industry.

During a safeguard investigation, importers, exporters and other interested parties may present evidence and views and respond to the presentations of other parties.

A WTO member may take a safeguard action (i.e. restrict imports of a product temporarily) only if the increased imports of the product are found to be causing, or threatening to cause, serious injury.

On 1 October 2020, an application for a safeguard measures was received by the Investigating Authority from Indonesia Pulp and Paper Association. After examining the properly documented application, the Investigating Authority concluded that there was a sufficient evidence to justify the initiation of a safeguard investigation.

1. THE DATE OF INITIATION OF SAFEGUARD INVESTIGATION
The investigation initiated on 26 October 2020.

2. PRODUCT UNDER INVESTIGATION
Cigarette paper and plug wrap paper non-porous in form of rolls, whether or not coated, under Harmonized System (HS.) codes ex. 4813.20.00, ex. 4813.90.10 and ex. 4813.90.90.

3. REASONS FOR INITIATION OF INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE

(i) The Investigating Authority initiated a safeguard investigation following an evaluation of the application documents filed by the Applicant, which constitutes a major proportion of the total domestic production of the subject goods in Indonesia.

(ii) The non-confidential summary of the application can be found at the internet address below, following the link:
http://kppi.kemendag.go.id/

4. POINT OF CONTACT FOR THE INVESTIGATION

The contact information of the Investigating Authority for correspondence is:

THE INDONESIAN SAFEGUARDS COMMITTEE
Komite Pengamanan Perdagangan Indonesia (KPPI)
Jl. M.I. Ridwan Rais No. 5, Building I, 5
th Floor, Jakarta 10110
Telephone / Facsimile: (62-21) 3857758
Email: kppi@kemendag.go.id

5. DEADLINES AND PROCEDURES TO PRESENT EVIDENCE AND VIEWS BY INTERESTED PARTIES

(i) Those having substantial interest and wishing to be considered as interested parties in this investigation should submit written request within a period of 15 working days in Indonesia from the date of initiation to the Investigating Authority. All submissions and request made by interested parties must be sent both in written letter and in electronic format, and must indicate the name, address, email address, telephone number and fax number of the interested parties.

(ii) In Accordance with article 3.1 WTO Agreement on Safeguard, the Government of the Republic of Indonesia will conduct a hearing in order to provide opportunities for those Members who having a substantial interest to present their evidence and views, Hearing is scheduled to be held on Thursday, 19 November 2020 at 10.00-11.30 am. All interested parties, who wish to participate in the hearing and all written evidence and views, submitted to the Investigating Authority not later than 16 November 2020. Registration on the day of the hearing (19 November 2020) will start at 09.00 am and only authorized representatives will have access to the hearing.

Further information is available in G/SG/N/6/IDN/37., as bellow: