1 month ago
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Louella Desiderio - The Philippine Star
February 15, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is set to start a probe to determine if safeguard measures should be imposed on imports of paper products or corrugating medium.
In a notice posted on its website, the DTI said it has received a petition from the Pulp and Paper Manufacturers’ Association of the Philippines Inc. (PULPAPEL) for the conduct of a preliminary investigation on the application for safeguard measures on imports of corrugating medium from various countries.
In its petition, PULPAPEL said that increased imports of corrugating medium have contributed to the serious injury of the local industry.
Corrugating medium paper is an essential material in the production of corrugated boxes. It is widely used in packaging industries.
PULPAPEL members account for 86 percent of the total production capacity of the country’s paper industry.
Based on its evaluation, the DTI said it “found the existence of a prima facie case that will justify the initiation of a preliminary safeguard measures investigation on the importation of corrugating medium.”
The probe will cover the years 2019 to 2023.
Under Republic Act 8800 or the Safeguard Measures Act, the government may provide a safeguard measure or temporary protection to the domestic industry if a surge in imports of like or directly competitive products causes or threatens to cause serious injury.
The temporary protection may come in the form of a tariff increase.
In determining whether a safeguard measure should be imposed, the DTI said it would consider if such would result in a political and economic crisis.
The DTI will also consider if the imposition of a safeguard measure will cause a shortage of a product in the domestic market.
As the DTI starts its probe, it is seeking inputs from interested parties on the matter.
“Interested parties are hereby invited to submit their comments and position on the matter, including their views on whether the imposition of the safeguard measures will be in the public interest,” the DTI said.
Submissions will have to be made to the DTI Bureau of Import Services.
