DTI slaps antidumping duties on China glass imports

The Department of Trade and Industry has slapped provisional antidumping duties as high as 87 percent on float glass imports from China as these were found to be causing serious injury to Philippine glass manufacturers.

Based on an order signed on Nov. 7 by Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, the DTI slapped duties ranging from $44.55 to $142.23 a metric ton on clear float glass imports from Chinese exporters, which included Rider Glass Co., Xinyi Group Glass. The DTI also slapped provisional duties of $23.06 to $104.09 a MT on bronze float glass imports from China.

“The corresponding provisional antidumping duty in the form of a cash bond will be imposed for a period of four months from the effectivity of this order on importation of clear and bronze float glass originating from (China),” the order stated.

According to the order, the antidumping petition was filed by AGC Flat Glass Philippines Inc., which alleged that the “clear float glass and bronze float glass are being imported from (China) at dumped prices and that as a result thereof causes material injury to the domestic industry producing like product.”

The DTI has already endorsed the case before the Tariff Commission, which already started a formal investigation. The commission will determine whether there is a need to impose a definitive antidumping duty.

Since the antidumping duties are only provisional, this meant that the amount paid for by the importers can be returned to them should the case be dismissed.

In 2015, the Philippine flat glass industry, represented by the AGC Flat Glass, had sought the reimposition of safeguard duties on imported float glass to give local players more time to implement their adjustment plans and efficiency measures.

Ronnie C. Matas, executive vice president for sales and marketing at AGC Flat Glass, explained in a previous hearing at the Tariff Commission that the local industry players had encountered challenges beyond their control and which had hampered their “adjustment plans” to make their respective operations more competitive.