Cement firms seek anti-dumping duties for more Vietnam exports

CEMENT manufacturers have requested a review of the anti-dumping duties on specific types of cement from Vietnam in a bid to expand the measure to other types of cement and other manufacturers, the Tariff Commission said.

In a notice Wednesday, the commission said it commenced an investigation on the matter in Nov. 27, with a preliminary conference scheduled for Dec. 6.

The investigation covers the anti-dumping duties imposed on imports of ordinary Portland cement type 1 and blended cement type 1P from Vietnam.

According to the regulator, it received recommendations and endorsements from the Secretary of Trade and Industry regarding requests by domestic manufacturers.

Republic Cement & Building Materials, Inc., Holcim Philippines, Inc., and CEMEX Holdings Philippines, Inc. requested a review of the scope of the anti-dumping measure. 

In particular, the cement industry requested an interim review of the anti-dumping duty on the two cement types to include blended cement type 1T, among others.

A foreign exporter, NCL Trading Joint Stock Co., also requested a review of the anti-dumping duty against ordinary Portland cement type 1 from Vietnam.

“Considering that both requests for interim review raised issues involving common questions of law or fact, said requests shall be consolidated and only one interim review shall be undertaken by the commission,” according to the notice.

“The domestic industry shall be considered as the petitioner for the consolidated requests,” it added.

Through a department order dated Dec. 16, 2022, the Department of Trade and Industry imposed anti-dumping duties on ordinary Portland Cement Type 1 and Blended Cement Type 1P imports from Vietnam for five years. 

This was later updated in a department order dated Feb. 14, 2023.

In March 2023, the Bureau of Customs posted Customs Memorandum Order 05-2023, which imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty on the imports from Vietnam, ranging from 2.33% to 23.33% depending on the company. — Justine Irish D. Tabile