Alcala asked to inhibit self from anti-dumping probe on Turkish flour

MANILA, Philippines - The Turkish Flour Yeast & Ingredients (TFYI) Promotion Group, a  semi-government entity representing Turkish flour exporters, is  backing the Filipino-Chinese Bakery Association Inc.’s (FCBAI)  position to inhibit Department of Agriculture Secretary  Proceso Alcala in the ongoing investigation involving the anti-dumping  case on Turkish flour to have a fair decision on the matter.   

In a statement, TFYI chairman Turgay Unlu said  Alcala’s  pronouncement of an administrative order that recommends the  imposition of a 20-percent tariff on Turkish flour is highly  preemptive given that all parties concerned still have until Aug. 16 to respond to the petition.   

Unlu noted that their group as well as trade partners like FCBAI have  yet to receive a copy of the directive.   

“Since the onset of the dumping issue on Turkish flour in the  Philippines, the TFYI Promotion Group has relied on the merits of our  defense to dispel unfounded accusations against Turkey’s wheat flour  exports. However, with a favorable recommendation to the petitioner  even before the evaluation period has expired, Alcala explicitly  influenced the course of the investigation,” he said.   

Alcala last month signed an administrative order which recommends to  the Tariff Commission the imposition of a provisional duty on Turkish  flour at a higher 20 percent from seven percent, while an  investigation on the Philippine Association of Flour Millers, Inc.’s  (PAFMIL) petition to permanently raise the import duties is being  conducted.   

The PAFMIL filed a petition before the DA to raise the import duty on  Turkish flour claiming that Turkish flour millers are selling their  flour here at dumping prices or at prices lower than in Turkey’s  domestic market.   

The Tariff Commission has said the DA should complete its preliminary  investigation on the matter and submit its findings with the answers  of the respondents to the complaint first.   

Unlu said the approval of the motion to inhibit Alcala from the  investigation and leave the Tariff Commission to take charge “will  lead to a fair and unbiased determination on the anti-dumping case.”   

The TYFI has earlier denied the PAFMIL’s claims that Turkish flour is  being sold here at dumping prices.   

This, as the group noted that their flour shipments here are made  specifically for the Philippines and not sold in Turkey.   

Bakers announced earlier that they would raise the price of  Pinoy Tasty to P40 from P37 per loaf, and the price of Pinoy Pandesal to P24 from P22.50 per pack of 10 starting Aug. 20, due to the  non-availability of low-priced Turkish flour with the duty of  shipments of flour from overseas seen to go up.   

The Department of Trade and Industry has said there should be no price  hikes however, with Turkish flour shipments still expected to arrive  in the country.