On July 23, 2020, the WTO's Committee on Safeguards issued the safeguards notification submitted by the UAE on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The GCC preliminarily ruled that the surge in certain steel products imports has caused substantial damage or threat of damage to the domestic industries of GCC member states.

The products involved in the case include flat hot-rolled coils and sheets (720827, 720837, 720838, 720839, 720851, 720853, 720854, 721113, 721114, 721119), flat cold-rolled coils and sheets (720916, 720917, 720918, 720926, 720927, 720928, 720990, 722550), metallic coated steel (721030, 721049, 721069, 721220, 721250, 721260, 722591, 722592, 722599), organic coated steel (721240), reinforced steel bars and wire rod (721310, 721320, 721391, 721399, 721410, 721430, 721510, 721550, 721590, 722710, 722720, 722810, 722820, 722840, 722850, 722860), circular, square, and rectangular sticks and rods (721491, 721499, 722211, 722219), steel sections (721610, 721631, 721632, 730810), steel angles and shapes (721621, 721650, 730120), and welded seamless pipes for transporting water, gas, and oil (730424, 730520, 730531, 730539, 730611, 730619, 730640, 730661, 730690).