28.3.2002 Official Journal of the European Communities L 85/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 560/2002 of 27 March 2002 imposing provisional 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 518/94 (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2474/2000 (3, and in particular Articles 6 and 8 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 Regula- tion (EC) No 1138/98 (%), and in particular Articles 5 and 6 thereof, After consultations within the Advisory Committee established under Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 3285/94 and of Regula- tion (EC) No 519/94 respectively, Whereas: PROCEDURE (1)  Several Member States (‘the Member States concerned’) have informed the Commission that trends in imports appear to call for safeguard measures; submitted infor- mation 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 asked the Commission to impose provisional safeguard measures and to open a safeguard investigation. (2)  The Member States concerned claim that there have been recent substantial increases in imports of certain steel products and that the closure of the US market implied by US measures not only substantially denies the Community producers an important outlet for their exports, but also creates the conditions for a huge diver- 1 () O L 349, 31.12.1994, p. 53. () O] L 286, 11.11.2000, p. 1. () O] L 67, 10.3.1994, p. 89. (% O] L 159, 3.6.1998, p. 1. sion of imports from the US to the Community market. They claim that this could lead to a dramatic increase in the existing high level of imports at low prices, exacer- bating the already serious disruption on the Community steel market which threatens serious injury to the Community producers. The Member States concerned advise that the Community producers have submitted relevant informa- tion and urge 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. The Commission has informed all Member States of the situation and consulted the Advisory Committee on Safeguards on the terms and conditions of imports, import trends and the threat of serious injury to each of the sectors concerned, the various aspects of the economic and commercial situation with regard to the products in question, and the measures to be taken. On 28 March 2002, the Commission published Notice of Initiation of a safeguard investigation concerning the products concerned. In order to make a preliminary determination as to whether there exists a threat of serious injury to the Community producers caused by increased imports arising from unforeseen developments, and a critical situation justifying the urgent adoption of provisional safeguard measures; the Commission has considered both the evidence submitted, and that already obtained from its own sources. In particular, it has examined the evidence submitted by the Member States concerned, and carried out on the spot investigations at the prem- ises of the main Community producers. The Commission notes the recent announcement by the US of safeguard measures and the threat that this presents to the current critical situation of the Community producers.