NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 12.1(A) OF THE
AGREEMENT ON
SAFEGUARDS ON INITIATION OF AN INVESTIGATION
AND THE REASONS FOR IT
Philippines
Cement
The following communication,
dated and received on 4 November 2024, is being circulated at the request of
the delegation of the Philippines.[*]
_______________
Further
to Article 12.1 (a) of the WTO Agreement on Safeguards, the Permanent Mission
of the Philippines to the WTO hereby notifies the Committee on Safeguards
of the initiation of a preliminary safeguard investigation on the importation
of cement from various countries.
1 DATE OF INITIATION OF THE INVESTIGATION
Notice
of initiation of preliminary safeguard investigation was published on 31 October
2024 in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
2 Product Subject to the investigation
Cement
classified under ASEAN Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature (AHTN) 2523.2990 and
2523.9000.
3 Reasons for initiation of investigation procedure
The
investigation was initiated on the basis of import data obtained from official
sources and information submitted by members of the Cement Manufacturers
Association of the Philippines that increased imports of cement are a
substantial cause of serious injury to the domestic industry in terms of declining
market share, production sales, capacity utilization, profitability, price
depression, suppression and undercutting.
The investigation has been
initiated to determine whether safeguard measures are warranted.
__________
[*] A copy of the application of cement
industry and the notice of the initiation of a preliminary safeguard
investigation have been submitted electronically. To consult this document,
please contact Ms Anne Richards of the Rules Division (anne.richards@wto.org).