DTI to issue ruling on newsprint, galvanized iron importation

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) aims to come up with its recommendations to impose safeguard measures on imports of newsprints and galvanized iron (GI) and pre-painted galvanized iron sheets (PPGI) within the month.

“At the technical level, (we want to complete recommendations) within the month,” DTI Bureau of Import Services director Luis Catibayan said, in a text message.

Trade undersecretary Adrian Cristobal Jr. earlier said the DTI initially wanted to complete the preliminary investigation  for both cases  by the end of January.

“We just need a little more time. It is quite technical,” he said.

The DTI started its preliminary investigation on imports of newsprint as well as GI and PPGI sheets in September last year.

Trust International Paper Co. (TIPCO) and Puyat Steel Corp. have filed petitions seeking to impose safeguard measures on newsprint as well as GI and PPGI sheets, respectively.

The department wants to determine if there was an increase in newsprint imports and if it has caused serious injury to the local industry as claimed by TIPCO.

Locally produced newsprint made mainly from recycled paper, is used for newspapers, books and school pads.

The DTI is also looking into imports of GI and PPGI sheets as Puyat Steel claimed have caused serious injury to the domestic industry, citing declining market share, production sales, capacity utilization, productivity, profitability, as well as price suppression and undercutting.

Safeguard measures refer to higher duties which a country can impose on imported goods in order to provide relief to domestic industries.