EU initiates WTO safeguard investigation on certain new hybrid vehicles

safeguard measures

On 30 October 2026, the European Union notified the WTO's Committee on Safeguards that it had initiated, on the same day (30 October 2026), a safeguard investigation on imports of certain new hybrid vehicles.

In the notification, the EU indicated, among other things, as follows:

"4. Provide a point of contact for the investigation and identify the preferred means for corresponding

European Commission

Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security

Directorate G, Unit G5

Office: CHAR 05/152

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

Email address: [email protected]

5. Deadlines and procedures to present evidence and views by interested parties

In order to obtain the information necessary for the investigation, the Commission will collect questionnaire replies from producers, associations of producers, importers and dealers in the Union. The questionnaires will be published on the day of publication of this Notice on the website of the Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security https://tron.trade.ec.europa.eu/investigations/ongoing. The completed questionnaires must reach the Commission within 21 days from the date of the date of publication of this Notice.

All interested parties including exporting producers, importers and dealers of the product concerned, their associations and third country representations are invited to make known their views in writing, submit information and to provide supporting evidence. Written submissions in a free format should be submitted within 21 days of the date of publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

All interested parties may request to be heard by the Commission's investigation services. Any request to be heard must be made in writing and within 21 days of the date of publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union."

The notification is available in G/SG/N/6/EU/4.

What is a safeguard investigation?

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.

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