What is the primary condition that justifies the use of safeguard measures?

• A. Unforeseen surge in imports causing serious injury to domestic industry
• B. Demonstrated dumping of products
• C. Subsidies to foreign producers
• D. Administrative delays in enforcement

Answer: (A)

Safeguard measures are designed to shield a domestic industry from a sudden, unforeseen surge in imports that causes or threatens serious injury. That combination of an unexpected rise in import volume and resulting harm to domestic producers is the precise trigger for these temporary remedies. The injury must be serious, such as a significant decline in production, sales, or employment, and the surge must be unforeseen rather than anticipated in policy planning.

That’s why this option fits best: an unforeseen surge in imports causing serious injury to the domestic industry. The other options point to different trade remedies or issues—dumping leads to anti-dumping duties, subsidies lead to countervailing duties, and administrative delays don’t justify safeguards.