Safeguard duties imposed on China, Indonesia cement

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it imposed a safeguard duty of P349 per metric ton on cement imports from China and Indonesia, citing the need to support domestic cement producers.

In Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 26-03, series of 2026, the DTI removed China and Indonesia from the list of developing countries that were exempt from safeguard measures on imports of ordinary Portland cement and blended cement.

The amount or rate of safeguard measure will be subject to regular review and modification in accordance with Republic Act No. 8800 or the Safeguard Measures Act.

The DTI first imposed a safeguard duty last year on cement imports from various countries, except for shipments from developing countries.

The Tariff Commission has since recommended the imposition of a definitive safeguard duty on cement imports after it ruled that imports have caused injury to the domestic industry.

Citing the Bureau of Customs, the DTI noted that the share of total import volume from China and Indonesia in the first quarter was 23% and 8%, respectively.

The DTI said cement imports from China and Indonesia exceed the less than 3% de minimis threshold, or the allowable minimum volume to be excluded from safeguard measures.

It added that while Vietnam remains the leading supplier of cement in the Philippines, its share of total imports declined to 63% in the first three months from 79% in 2025.

The  Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CeMAP) backed DAO 26-03, noting that the prior exclusion of China and Indonesia gave undue advantage to its imports.

In a statement on Tuesday, the group called the order “a long‑awaited correction that restores fairness, strengthens local manufacturing, and protects jobs.”

“Safeguard measures are crucial for Filipino livelihoods, national industry resilience, and the country’s long‑term economic strength,” CeMAP Executive Director Renato Baja said.

The group earlier had asked the DTI to impose a safeguard on duty on cement imports to level the playing field between imported and domestic cement. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz