DTI begins investigation of newsprint imports

The Department of Trade and Industry has launched a preliminary safeguards investigation of the importation of newsprint.

The investigation, which covers 2007 to August 2012, was prompted by the filing of a petition for safeguard measures by Trust International Paper Corp. (Tipco), the lone producer of newsprint in the country.

“The investigation will make a preliminary determination whether the increasing volume of imported newsprint is causing serious injury to the local producer of newsprint. If DTI’s preliminary determination is positive, the case will be forwarded to the Tariff Commission, which will conduct its formal investigation of the petition,” DTI said in a statement issued yesterday.

It added that it had notified all interested parties and required them to submit their reply and other evidence or information relevant to the investigation.

According to the DTI, imports of newsprint increased by 792 percent to 26,356 metric tons in 2011 from only  2,956 MT in 2007. From January to August 2012, the volume of imported newsprint hit a high of 31,462 MT.

Newsprint is used in the production of newspapers, books, magazines, school pads, notebooks and wrappers.

Under the Safeguard Measures Act or RA 8800, safeguard measures are imposed on imported like or directly competitive products to address serious injury or threat of serious injury to domestic producers caused by increased importation of such products. Amy R. Remo