Madagascar Fears Sugar from Brazil, Mauritius and South Africa, Initiates
Safeguard Proceedings
On 12 October 2026, Madagascar notified the WTO's Committee on
Safeguards that it had initiated on 9 October 2026 a safeguard investigation on
imports of sugar confectionary as well as chocolate and cocoa confectionary.
·
Madagascar
initiated a safeguard investigation on 9 October 2026 into imports of sugar
confectionery, chocolate and cocoa confectionery, notifying the WTO Committee
on Safeguards on 12 October 2026.
·
The
investigation aims to determine whether increased imports of these products are
causing or threatening to cause serious injury to Madagascar’s domestic
industry.
·
Importers,
exporters and other interested parties have 30 days from the initiation of the
investigation to register with the ANMCC, submit comments and request
questionnaires.
·
Responses
to questionnaires and other relevant information must be submitted within 30
working days.
·
Public
hearings may be held at the request of interested parties or on the initiative
of the ANMCC.
·
Failure
to meet deadlines or submission of inaccurate or incomplete information may
result in determinations based on the best information available.
·
Under
WTO rules, Madagascar may impose temporary safeguard measures only if the
investigation establishes that increased imports are causing or threatening to
cause serious injury to its domestic industry.
G/SG/N/6/MDG/21
(Currently
available in French only)
[ABS News Service/14.10.2026]
In the notification
Madagascar indicated, among other things, as follows (provisional English
translation):
"4. Provide a point of
contact for the investigation and identify the preferred means for
corresponding.
The point
of contact would be available to respond to enquiries relating to the
procedures applicable to the investigation.
Director General of the
ANMCC
Boulevard de Tokyo,
Ankadievo Alasora, Antananarivo 103 - Madagascar
Email: dg.anmcc@gmail.com
Website: www.anmcc.org
5.
Provide the deadlines and procedures for importers, exporters and other
interested parties to present evidence and their views, including: (i) deadlines and
procedures for Members and exporters to identify themselves as interested
parties, if so required, to participate in the investigation and (ii) the date
of an intended public hearing as provided for in Article 3.1. [..]
Interested parties have 30
days from the initiation of the investigation to make themselves known to the
ANMCC, submit their comments, and request a questionnaire. Responses to the
questionnaire and other relevant information must be submitted within 30 working
days. Public hearings may be held at the request of the parties or on the
ANMCC's own initiative. If responses are not submitted within the prescribed
deadlines, or if the information provided is inaccurate or incomplete,
determinations may be made on the basis of the best information
available."
A safeguard investigation
seeks to determine whether increased imports of a product are causing, or are
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.