Tariff agency reviews extension of dumping duty on Turkish flour

MANILA, Philippines — The Tariff Commission (TC) is reviewing whether the anti-dumping duty on Turkish flour should be extended for five years as requested by local flour millers.

In an order dated Sept.12, the TC said the schedule to be followed for the review was set during the preliminary conference held earlier this week.

Based on the timeline, parties should submit their position papers by Sept.24.

Public hearings have been scheduled on Dec. 2 to 6.

After the public hearings, the parties shall give their final position papers to the TC by Dec.20.

TC is undertaking a review on the five-year anti-dumping duty on Turkish flour imports following an application filed by the Philippine Association of Flour Millers (PAFMIL) to extend the implementation for five years.

The anti-dumping duty on Turkish flour was ordered by the TC on Jan.8, 2015.  It is set to expire by Jan. 8 next year.

PAFMIL is composed of Universal Robina Corp.,  RFM Corp., Liberty Flour Mills Inc., General Milling Corp., Wellington Flour Mills, Pilmico Foods Corp. and Philippine Flour Mills.

Other mills that joined PAFMIL in seeking the extension of the anti-dumping duty are San Miguel Mills, Philippine Foremost Milling Corp., Atlantic Grains Inc., and Asian Grains and Morning Star Milling Corp.

PAFMIL earlier said the anti-dumping duty on Turkish flour needs to remain in place “due to the likelihood of recurrence of dumping and again becoming a threat to the local industry which is still recovering from losses caused by dumped Turkish flour in the past.”

There are reports showing Turkey as the leading flour exporter in the world, processing 18 million tons of flour for local and export markets.

The Philippines ranks as the third largest market for Turkish flour, next to Iraq and Syria.

Shipments of wheat flour from Turkey to the Philippines reached $68.5 million in 2012, making up eight percent of total Turkish wheat flour exports.