28.9.2002 Official Journal of the European Communities L 261/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1694/2002 of 27 September 2002 imposing definitive safeguard measures against imports of certain steel products THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 3285/94 of 22 December 1994 on common rules for imports and repealing Regulation (EC) No 51894 (!), as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 2474/2000 (3, and in particular Articles 7 and 16 thereof, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 519/94 of 7 March 1994 on common rules for imports from certain third countries and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 1765/82, (EEC) No 1766/82 and (EEC) 3420/ 83 (%), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1138/98 (%), and in particular Articles 6 and 15 thereof, After consultations within the Advisory Committee established under Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 3285/94 and of Regulation (EC) No 519/94 respectively, Whereas: PROCEDURE (1)  On 6 March 2002, certain Member States (‘the Member States concerned’) informed the Commission that trends in imports appeared to call for safeguard measures; submitted information containing the evidence available as determined on the basis of Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 3285/94 and Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 519/94; and requested the Commission to impose provisional safe- guard measures and to open a safeguard investigation. (2)  The Member States concerned claimed that there had been recent substantial increases in imports of certain steel products and that the closure of the US market implied by US trade defence measures not only substantially denied the Community producers an important outlet for their exports, but also created the conditions for a huge diversion of steel trade from the US to the European Commu- nity (the Community’). They claimed that steel destined for the US would be re-directed to the Community. This could lead to a dramatic increase in the existing high level of imports at low prices, exacerbating the already serious disruption on the Community steel market due to previous increased imports which threatened serious injury to the Community producers. (3)  The Member States concerned advised that the Community producers had submitted relevant infor- mation and urged the adoption of Community safeguard measures as a matter of urgency because any delay in their adoption would cause damage which it would be difficult to repair. (4)  The Commission informed all Member States of the alleged situation and consulted with them on the terms and conditions of imports, import trends and the serious injury or threat thereof to each of the sectors concerned, and the various aspects of the economic and commercial situation with regard to the Community products in question. () OJ L 349, 31.12.1994, p. 53. () OJ L 286, 11.11.2000, p. 1. () OJ L 67,10.3.1994, p. 89. () OJL159,3.6.1998, p. 1.