Fight vs petrochem smugglers launched

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Association of Petrochemical Manufacturers of the Philippines (APMP) have agreed on a number of measures to curb technical smuggling of certain petrochemical products.

This was announced yesterday by Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II following a meeting with members of the APMP.

The government and the APMP will also initiate the process for the institution of pre-shipment inspection for importations of particular petrochem tariff lines with rates ranging from zero to five percent.

For example, Roxas explained, if an importer is bringing in a product under a particular harmonized system heading with rates ranging from zero to five percent, the importer must get a pre-shipment inspection from an accredited pre-shipment inspection firm.

However, Roxas clarified, the requirement does not apply for the whole country, but only applies for the specified tariff headings.

The APMP, he said, has offered to pay for the cost of the pre-shipment inspection which would guard against technical smuggling. – Marianne Go