BOC halts safeguard dutyon steel angle bar imports

MANILA, Philippines —The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has stopped the collection of safeguard duty on imported steel angle bars as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)’s order extending the safeguard measure on this product has already lapsed.

In Customs Memorandum Circular 248-2019, dated Oct. 28, 2019, Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero ordered the BOC’s Management Information System and Technology Group (MISTG) to remove the safeguard duty on imported steel angle bars, pursuant to an Oct. 22 letter from the DTI.

The letter stated that the last year of the implementation period of the definitive general safeguard duty for imported steel bars was on March 22, 2018 to March 23, 2019.

“Pursuant to Customs Memorandum Order 26-2015…and the attached Oct. 22, 2019 letter from the Department of Trade and Industry, all concerned are informed that the imposition of definitive safeguard duty on steel angle bar has ended on March 23, 2019,” Guerrero said.

“Consequently, the MISTG is ordered to remove the said duty on the above-mentioned tariff heading in the E2M System effective immediately,” he said.

BOC deputy commissioner and MISTG head Allan Geronimo, in response to the order, said the safeguard measure against these imports has already been stopped effective Nov. 13.

Steel angle bars are angle-shaped steel used for trusses, roof frames, steel frames, and steel structures of billboards, transmission towers, bridges, and other structures.

These are used by companies engaged in the construction of houses, condominiums, malls, and infrastructure projects.

The DTI introduced the safeguard measure to allow the domestic steel industry to be able to implement adjustment plans and compete with imports.

Last July 16, 2015, the DTI ordered the final extension of the safeguard measure against steel bars for an additional four years.

Under the order, imported steel angle bars were imposed a definitive general safeguard duty of P3,345 per metric ton (MT) in the first year, P3,178 per MT in the second year, P3,019 per MT in the third year, and P2,868 per MT for the fourth year.