Tariff Commission starts probe on cement safeguard measure

MANILA, Philippines — The Tariff Commission (TC) has launched a formal investigation to determine whether a definitive safeguard duty should be imposed on cement imports.

In a notice yesterday, the TC said it has started its investigation on the merits of imposing a definitive safeguard duty on imports of Ordinary Portland Cement and blended cement, following a request from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

As part of its probe, the TC will be conducting a preliminary conference on March 13.

“Matters for discussion include the timelines, nature of investigation, appearance of counsel and parties, number of witnesses, notification, accessibility of documents and public file, confidentiality of information or documents, submission of position papers and memoranda, conduct of onsite inspection and data verification, schedules of public hearing and other activities and other topics that may aid in the prompt disposition of the case,” the TC said.

All interested parties, including those on record in the preliminary investigation by the DTI are required to attend the preliminary conference.

In an order issued last month, the DTI slapped a provisional safeguard duty in the form of cash amounting to P400 per metric ton of cement.

The provisional safeguard measure will be in place for 200 days from the date of issuance of the Bureau of Customs’ order or circular.

The DTI decided to impose a provisional safeguard measure as it found a causal link between increased cement imports and serious injury to the local industry.

In October last year, the DTI announced that it is initiating motu proprio, a preliminary investigation to determine if increased cement imports are hurting the domestic industry and if there is a need to impose safeguard measures.

The DTI’s probe covered cement imports from 2019 to June 2024.

Under Republic 8800 or the Safeguard Measures Act, a safeguard measure may be imposed through increased tariff on certain imports as a relief to the domestic industry when there is serious threat or injury caused by a surge in imports of like products.