G/SG/N/8/PHL/11/Suppl.1  
G/SG/N/10/PHL/9  
G/SG/N/11/PHL/11/Suppl.1  
 
16 September 2019  
(19-5907) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Safeguards  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION UNDER A RTICLE 12. 1(B) OF THE AGREEMENT ON  
SAFEGUARDS ON FINDING A SERIOUS  INJURY OR THREAT  
THEREOF CAUSED BY IN CREASED IMPORTS  
 
NOTIFICATION PURSUANT TO  ARTICLE 12. 1(C) 
OF THE AGREEMENT ON  SAFEGUARDS  
 
NOTIFICATION PURSUAN T TO ARTICLE 9, FOOTNOTE 2  
OF THE AGREEMENT ON SAFEGUARDS  
 
PHILIPPINES  
(Cement)  
The following communication, dated 12 September  2019, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the Philippines.1 
 
_______________  
 
 
Further to G/SG/N/ 7/PHL/ 9 - G/SG/N/8/PHL /10 - G/SG/N/11/PHL/11  dated 4 February  2019 and 
pursuant to Article 12 and Article 9 of the WTO Agreement on Safeguards, the Permanent Mission 
of the Philippines to the WTO hereby notifies that a decision to apply a definitive safeguard measure 
on cement from  various countries has been made . 
 
1  SERIOUS INJURY OR TH REAT CAUSED BY INCRE ASED IMPORTS  
The increased imports were the substantial cause of threat of serious injury to the domestic industry 
based on the following:  
 
• Imports of Type I (Portland Cement) and Type IP (Blended Cement) by traders grew at 
significant rates during the period of import surge (2016 -2018) and continued to 
significantly rise in 2019, despite the imposition of a provisional safeguard measure, 
indicating the high likelihood of substantially increased importations in the near future.  
 
• There was a significant deterioration in the overall position of the domestic cement industry 
during the period of import surge.  
 
2  ABSOLUTE INCREASE IN  IMPORTS OR AN INC REASE IN IMPORTS REL ATIVE TO 
DOMESTIC PRODUCTION  
Based on import data from 2013 to 2018, the surge in imports of cement (Type I and Type IP) 
commenced in 2016. The increase in volume of imports in 2016 was recent, sudden, sharp, and 
more importantly, was o f such magnitude which can be considered significant.  
 
The movements in the shares of imports relative to domestic production from 2013 to 2018 confirm 
that the surge in imports of cement began in 2016.  
 
                                                
1 A copy of the DTI Administrative Order has been submitted electronically. To consult this document 
please contact Ms. Richards  (anne.richards@wto.org ) or Ms. Naville ( delphine.naville@wto.org ) of the Rules 
Division.  G/SG/N/8/PHL/11/Suppl.1 • G/SG/N/10/PHL/9 • G/SG/N/11/PHL/11/Suppl.1  
 
- 2 - 
 
  A. Increased Volume of Imports: In Absolute Terms  
 
From zero/minimal levels in the first two (2) years of the POI, imports of cement grew to 
nearly 300,000 MT in 2015. The following year, the volume spiked to 1.7M MT (a 491% 
increase from the previous year’s level). In 2017, imports expanded by another 77% and  
peaked in 2018 at 4.6M MT, the highest over the POI and 168% higher than the 2016 
volume.  
 
B. Increased Volume of Imports: Relative to Domestic Production  
 
Imports of cement represented a significant share of domestic cement production starting 
2016. During this year, the import volume of 1.7M MT represented nearly 7% of domestic 
cement production of 23.4 M MT, from minimal levels in the previous years. The share of 
imports to domestic production rose  to 12% in 2017 and climbed further to 17% at the end 
of the  period.  
 
3  PRECISE DESCRIPTION OF THE PRODUCT INVOL VED 
Type I Portland Cement (Ordinary Portland Cement) and Type IP Blended Cement (Portland -pozzolan 
Cement ), classified under AHTN Codes 2523.2990 and 2523.9000 , respectively . 
4  PRECISE DESCRIPTION OF THE PRO POSED MEASURE  
The Order provides the imposition of the definitive general safeguard measure in the amount of 
Php250/MT or Php10 per 40kg. bag for the first year, Php225/MT or Php9 per 40kg. bag for the 
second year and Php200/MT or Php8 per 40kg. bag for th e third year of the implementation period. 
The amount of the measure shall be subject to regular review to give DTI the opportunity to modify 
the amount of the duty if necessary.  
 
5  DATE OF INTRODUCTION  OF THE DEFINITIVE G ENERAL SAFEGUARD MEA SURE  
The definitive general safeguard measure is scheduled to enter into force upon the issuance of the 
relevant Customs Memorandum Order or fifteen (15) days after the publication of the DTI Order in 
two (2) newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes e arlier. The Order signed by the 
Secretary of the DTI on 27 August 2019 was published in two (2) newspapers of general circulation 
on 11 September 2019.  
 
6  EXPECTED DURATION OF  THE SAFEGUARD MEASU RE 
The safeguard measure shall be imposed on imported cement fr om various countries for a period of 
three (3) years . 
 
7  EXPECTED TIMETABLE F OR PROGRESSIVE LIBER ALIZATION OF THE MEA SURE  
A definitive safeguard duty effective for three (3) years shall be imposed on imported cement from 
various countries to encourage and ch allenge the local cement industries to be globally competitive. 
The amount of the safeguard duty to be imposed shall be Php250/MT or Php10 per 40kg bag for the 
first year, Php225/MT or Php9 per 40kg bag for the second year, and Php200/MT or Php8 per 40kg 
bag for the third year of the implementation period. The amount of the measure shall be subject to 
regular review to give DTI the opportunity to modify the amount of the duty if necessary.  
 
8  MAJOR EXPORTING MEMB ERS OF IMPORTS OF TH E PRODUCT INVOLVED  
Viet Nam , China, Chinese Taipei and Thailand .  
  G/SG/N/8/PHL/11/Suppl.1 • G/SG/N/10/PHL/9 • G/SG/N/11/PHL/11/Suppl.1  
 
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  ANNEX  
LIST OF DEVELOPING C OUNTRIES AND SEPARAT E CUSTOMS TERITORIES  EXCLUDED 
FROM THE IMPOSITION OF THE PROVISIONAL S AFEGUARD MEASURE ON THE 
IMPORTATION OF CEMEN T 
 
East & Southern 
Africa  West Africa  North Africa  South Asia  
Angola  
Botswana  
Burundi  
Comoros  
Congo Dem. Rep.  
Djibouti  
Eritrea  
Eswatini  
Ethiopia  
Kenya  
Lesotho  
Madagascar  
Malawi  
Mauritius  
Mozambique  
Namibia  
Reunion  
Rwanda  
Seychelles  
Somalia  
South Africa  
Sudan  
Tanzania  
Uganda  
Zambia  
Zimbabwe  Benin  
Burkina Faso  
Cameroon  
Cape Verde  
Central African Rep.  
Chad 
Congo, Rep.  
Cote d'Ivoire  
Equatorial Guinea  
Gabon  
Gambia, The  
Ghana  
Guinea  
Guinea, Bissau  
Liberia  
Mali 
Mauritania  
Niger  
Nigeria  
Sao Tome & Principe  
Senegal  
Sierra Leone  
Togo Algeria  
Egypt, Arab Rep.  
Libya 
Morocco  
Tunisia  Afghanistan  
Bangladesh  
Bhutan  
British Indian Ocean  
  Territory  
East Timor  
India 
Maldives  
Nepal  
Pakistan  
Sri Lanka  
 
  G/SG/N/8/PHL/11/Suppl.1 • G/SG/N/10/PHL/9 • G/SG/N/11/PHL/11/Suppl.1  
 
- 4 - 
 
   
Europe  & Central Asia  Middle East  Americas  East Asia & Pacific  
Albania  
Armenia  
Azerbaijan  
Belarus  
Bosnia &  
  Herzegovina  
Bulgaria  
Croatia  
Cyprus  
Czech Republic  
Estonia  
Georgia  
Greenland  
Hungary  
Kazakhstan  
Kyrgyz Republic  
Latvia  
Lithuania  
Macedonia, FYR  
Malta  
Moldova  
Poland  
Romania  
Russian Federation  
Slovakia  
Slovenia  
Tajikistan  
Turkey  
Turkmenistan  
Ukraine  
Uzbekistan  
Yuguslavia, Fed. Rep.  Bahrain  
Iran, Islamic Rep.  
Iraq 
Israel  
Jordan  
Kuwait  
Lebanon  
Oman  
Qatar  
Saudi Arabia  
Syrian Arab Rep.  
United Arab Emirates  
West Bank & Gaza  
Yemen, Rep.  Anguilla  
Antigua & Barbuda  
Argentina  
Aruba  
Bahamas  
Barbados  
Belize  
Bermuda  
Bolivia  
Brazil  
British Virgin Islands  
Cayman Islands  
Chile 
Colombia  
Costa Rica  
Cuba 
Dominica  
Dominican Rep.  
Ecuador  
El Salvador  
Falkland Is. (Malvinas)  
French Guiana  
Grenada  
Guadaloupe  
Guatemala  
Guyana  
Haiti 
Honduras  
Jamaica  
Martinique  
Mexico  
Montserrat  
Netherland Antilles  
Nicaragua  
Norfolk Islands  
Panama  
Paraguay  
Peru 
Puerto Rico  
St. Helena  
St. Kitts & Navis  
St. Lucia  
St. Pierre & Miquelon  
St. Vincent & the  
  Grenadines  
Suriname  
Trinidad & Tobago  
Turks & Caicos Islands  
Uruguay  
US Virgin Islands  
Venezuela  American Samoa  
Brunei Darussalam  
Cambodia  
Christmas Is.  
Cocos (Keeling) Is.  
Cook Is.  
Fiji 
French Polynesia  
Guam  
Hong Kong, China  
Indonesia  
Johnston Is.  
Kiribati  
Korea, Dem. Rep. 
Korea, Rep.  
Lao, PDR  
Macau, China  
Malaysia  
Marshall Islands  
Micronesia, Fed. Sts.  
Midway Is.  
Mongolia  
Myanmar  
Nauru  
New Caledonia  
Niue 
Northern Marianas Is.  
Palau  
Pitcaim Is.  
Papua New Guinea  
Samoa  
Singapore  
Solomon Islands  
Tokelau  
Tonga  
Tuvalu  
Vanuatu  
Wake Is.  
Wallis & Futuna Is.  
 
__________