Unlike anti-dumping/anti-subsidy measures, Safeguard measures are essentially temporary and conditional protection measures for domestic industries against imported goods (without being related to unfair competition of imported goods).

However, Safeguard measures are not used frequently. Governments in some countries prioritize the protection of their industries through voluntary export restraint agreements for products.

According to WTO statistics, India is the country that conducts the most Safeguard investigations in the world with 48 cases (accounting for 11.3% of the total number of Safeguard investigations initiated globally), of which 24 cases were subject to Safeguard measures.

Chart 1: Top economies using the most Safeguard measures (1995-2023)

Source: WTO statistics

For Australia, in the period 1995-2023, this country has only initiated a total of 4 Safeguard investigations (1 in 1998, 1 in 2007 and 2 in 2013). After the investigation, Australia has not imposed any Safeguard measures.

The product groups subject to Safeguard investigations in Australia include: animals and animal products (2 cases) and processed foods; beverages, wine, vinegar; tobacco (2 cases). After the investigation, no products were subject to safeguard measures when imported into Australia.

Source: Center for WTO and International Trade - VCCI