Cement makers welcome anti-dumping duties

MANILA, Philippines — Local cement manufacturers welcome the government’s move to impose five-year anti-dumping duties on imports of two types of cement from Vietnam.

In a statement, the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CeMAP) lauded the move of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to impose definite anti-dumping duties for five years on imports of ordinary Portland Cement Type 1 and Blended Cement Type 1P originating and exported from Vietnam.

“This positive move is a show of support for the investments and development of the domestic cement manufacturing industry for job creation and economic multiplier as the economy goes back to growth,” CeMAP said.

“CeMAP reiterates that there is sufficient domestic capacity to serve local demand for cement. Even without cement imports, the domestic industry is highly competitive, with 14 integrated cement plants operating in the country and with a couple more being constructed,”the group said.

CeMAP said local manufacturers continue to expand the capacity of their plants and upgrade existing facilities in order to sufficiently serve market demand, adding that this provides much comfort on stability of supply.

“With this boost received from DTI, the domestic industry is very much reassured of the partnering and unwavering support from the Philippine government in upholding fair competition in the market,”the group said.

“It also increases industry’s resolve to continue pursuing investments, developing further this proudly-local industry in areas such as sustainable manufacturing and greener cement products, generating local employment and other socio-economic benefits for Filipinos, and ultimately contributing to economic recovery and overall nation building,” it further said.

Based on DTI-Department Administrative Order (DAO) 22-17 signed by Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, the anti-dumping duties for Type 1 cement for the identified Vietnamese exporters range from $1.61 per metric ton (MT) to $10.29 per MT or 3.9 percent to 27.64 percent of the export price.

Meanwhile, the definitive anti-dumping duties for 1P cement for the identified Vietnamese exporters range from $1.43 per MT to $16.42 per MT or 3.41 percent to 54.82 percent of the export price.

All other exporters will be slapped with an anti-dumping duty worth $10.29 per MT or 27.64 percent of export price for Type 1 and $16.42 per MT or 54.82 percent of export price for 1P cement.

All others rates shall be applied to foreign exporters who did not make themselves known to the TC; those who did not cooperate sufficiently during the formal investigation, and new foreign exporters that have not exported subject articles to the Philippines during the POI (2017-2021) and updated period.

“However, for those exporters or producers in Vietnam who have not exported Type 1 and Type 1P cement to the Philippines during the POI, their individual margin of dumping may be determined following a review pursuant to Section 3 of RA 8752 (Anti-Dumping Act of 1999) and elaborated under Section 18 (g) of the IRR (New Shippers Review),”the DTI said.

It said the review shall be initiated and carried out on an accelerated basis, provided that such exporters or producers can show that they are not related to any of the exporters or producers in Vietnam who are subject to anti-dumping duties on their aforementioned product.

An application must be submitted to the TC in writing containing a description of the foreign exporter’s product and the basis of the request, according to the DTI.

It said that no anti-dumping duties shall be levied on imports from such exporters or producers while the review is being carried out.

“The order shall take effect after the lapse of the period to file a motion for reconsideration in case no motion for reconsideration has been filed or upon a negative resolution of the motion in case one is filed, in accordance with sections 16 and 20 of the IRR of RA 8752,”the DTI said.