DTI junks petition to extend cement safeguard duty – Manila Bulletin

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)has concurred with the recommendation of the Tariff Commission (TC) not to extend the definitive general safeguard duty on imported cement from various countries.

Department Administrative Order 22-14 Series of 2022 signed by DTI Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual on Oct. 24, 2022, dismissed the petition filed by local cement manufacturers to extend the tariff protection. This means the three-year definitive general safeguard measure that started on October 22, 2019 was allowed to expire last Oct. 22, 2022. The cement classification include Ordinary Portland Cement Type 1 and Blended Cement Type 1P.

The DTI decision was based on the results of the TC formal investigation, which showed that during the period under review, there was no significant overall impairment in the position of the domestic cement industry that constituted serious injury.

“There is no existence of an imminent threat of serious injury and significant overall impairment to the position of the domestic cement industry in the near future,” the DAO stated.