Turkish Ministry Initiates Sunset Review of Safeguard Measures on Grinding Balls
On March 4, 2025, the Turkish Ministry of Trade announced the initiation of a sunset review of the safeguard measures on imports of grinding balls and similar articles used in grinding. This review is focused on products under HS codes 7325.91.00.00.00 and 7326.11.00.00.00 and is set to examine whether the safeguard measures, imposed on these products, should be continued, modified, or removed.
The review comes in response to an application from domestic producers who argue that the removal of these safeguard measures could harm the local industry by allowing an influx of cheaper foreign imports. The review process is a critical step for determining the future of these measures, which have been in place to protect local manufacturing from potentially unfair competition due to imports.
Understanding the Sunset Review Process
A sunset review is a process whereby the government evaluates the effectiveness of previously imposed safeguard measures. This review aims to assess whether the conditions that led to the imposition of the measures still persist and whether they continue to be necessary for protecting the domestic industry.
• The first sunset review initiated on March 4, 2025, will assess the need to continue the safeguard measures on grinding balls and similar products.
• The final determination regarding the continuation or removal of the safeguard measures is expected to be made within ten months, with the possibility of an extension of up to six months.
This review will provide a detailed examination of the current market situation and the impact of the safeguard measures on domestic producers, imports, and the competitive environment.
Key Focus of the Review
The review will focus on imports of grinding balls and other articles for grinding, which are primarily used in industrial processes such as mining, cement production, and energy production. These products are critical in various industries, as they are used in mills for grinding raw materials into finer particles.
The domestic producers who requested the review argue that imports of grinding balls from foreign countries, particularly those with lower production costs, have put pressure on the local market. This has led to reduced prices for Turkish manufacturers, which they claim is unsustainable and harms the industry.
The key aspects of the review include:
• Impact on Domestic Production: An assessment of how the removal of safeguard measures could affect local manufacturers of grinding balls.
• Price Competition: Evaluating whether cheaper imports could undermine the price competitiveness of domestic products.
• Market Trends: Analyzing import and export trends, including the volume of imports over the review period and the domestic demand for grinding balls.
What Happens Next?
As part of the investigation, interested parties, such as importers, exporters, industry associations, and other stakeholders, are invited to submit their responses and relevant data by filling out the questionnaire provided by the Ministry. The deadline for submitting these responses is 30 days from the publication date of the notice, which means all interested parties must act quickly to ensure their inputs are considered.
Timeline and Decision
Once the information is gathered, the Ministry will conduct an in-depth analysis of the data and stakeholder inputs. The final determination is expected to be made within ten months, which would put the deadline around January 2026. However, the Ministry has the option to extend this review for an additional six months if further time is needed to finalize the decision.
During this period, the existing safeguard measures on grinding balls will remain in place. The final decision will either extend, modify, or end the safeguards, depending on the findings of the review.
Key Takeaways:
• Sunset Review: Turkey’s Ministry of Trade has initiated the first sunset review of the safeguard measures on grinding balls and related products.
• Review Focus: The review examines products under HS codes 7325.91.00.00.00 and 7326.11.00.00.00.
• Domestic Producers' Request: The review was launched at the request of domestic producers concerned about the impact of imports on local industry.
• Deadline for Submissions: Interested parties must submit responses to the Ministry’s questionnaire within 30 days from the notice date.
• Final Decision: The final decision on the safeguard measures will be made within ten months (around January 2026), with a possible extension of up to six months.
• Current Safeguard Measures: The existing safeguard measures will remain in place during the review period.
• Market Impact: The review will assess the impact of continued safeguard measures on imports, domestic production, and industry competition.
