What is the role of safeguards measures in tariff proceedings?

• A. Temporary reductions of tariffs without conditions.
• B. Permanent expansion of barriers beyond WTO rules.
• C. Temporary adjustments to duties or other actions to prevent serious injury while the industry adjusts.
• D. Eliminating all duties on all sectors.

Answer: (C)

Safeguard measures are temporary actions designed to prevent serious injury to a domestic industry caused by a surge in imports. They are meant to give the industry time to adjust, not to provide permanent protection. Typically this can involve a temporary increase in duties or other measures (like quotas) that apply to imports of the product, implemented in a nondiscriminatory way and after a formal investigation. They are not about reducing or eliminating duties, nor about permanently expanding barriers. This is why the best description is a temporary adjustment to duties or other actions to prevent serious injury while the industry adjusts.