The Tariff Commission has ruled against the imposition of definitive safeguard duties on imported glass products after it determined importation did not cause injury, nor is it a threat to the domestic industry.
The TC effectively reversed an earlier ruling by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) which earlier slapped provisional duties in the form of bonds on reflective, tinted and clear float glass.
The TC terminated its formal investigation and a final report was transmitted to the DTI.
“Considering the negative determination of the elements of serious injury and threat thereof, the Commission hereby terminates its formal investigation and recommends that no definitive general safeguard measure be imposed on importations of reflective, tinted and clear float glass,” said TC chairperson Marilou Mendoza said in a decision issued June 30, 2020.
In its final report, the TC said said t clear, tinted and reflective float glass are being imported into the Philippines in increased quantities, both in absolute terms and relative to domestic product. The increases in the volumes of imports starting in 2018 are considered recent, sudden, sharp, and of such magnitude that can be deemed significant.
But TC said the despite the deterioration in several factors such as a market shares, profitability of clear float glass operations, inventory levels of tinted (bronze) float glass), there was no significant overall impairment in the position of the domestic industry during the period of investigation that constitutes serious injury in accordance with RA No. 8800.
TC further said there is no likelihood of continued increase of imports in the near future would lead to imminent serious injury and significant overall impairment to the position of the domestic float glass industry.
“Causation has become moot and academic in view of the negative determination of the elements of serious injury and threat thereof to the domestic float glass industry,” the decision stated.
