Tariff Commission sets new hearing on cement imports

MANILA, Philippines — The Tariff Commission has set a new hearing to determine if the preliminary safeguard duty on cement imports should stay.

Tariff Commission chairperson Marilou Mendoza said the hearing was set on May 20 until May 24 at the agency’s office in Quezon City.

All parties are directed to attend the first day of the public hearing, Mendoza said.

“Should a party desire to submit additional issues, other than the issues on product comparability and volume of increased imports, for public hearing, the party shall submit the same on  May 9, 2019,” she said.

Initially scheduled to be held on May 6 to 10, the public hearing was deferred by the Tariff Commission as the body needs more time to complete its plant visits and verify data.

The Tariff Commission started its probe to establish whether the preliminary safeguard duty on cement imports imposed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on cement should be made permanent last Feb. 4.

The DTI issued administrative order 19-02 on Jan. 17, imposing  a provisional safeguard measure in the form of a cash bond amounting to P210 per metric ton on cement imports.

The provisional safeguard duty will be in place for a period of 200 days, while the Tariff Commission is undertaking its formal investigation.

DTI decided to impose a provisional safeguard measure as increased cement imports have hurt domestic players.

Based on DTI’s findings, cement imports rose to more than three million metric tons (MT) in 2017 from only 3,558 MT in 2013, while the share of imports in the market went up to 15 percent from just 0.02 percent in the same period.

While the Tariff Commission is conducting its formal investigation, the DTI has required local cement manufacturers to maintain the suggested retail price for cement.

The government can impose safeguard measures or higher duties on goods under Republic Act 8800 of the Safeguard Measures Act when it is found increased imports of such have caused harm to the local industry.