DTI seeks public input on cement safeguards probe

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is seeking inputs from interested parties as it is set to start its probe on whether safeguard measures should be imposed on cement imports.

- By LOUELLA DESIDERIO

In a notice posted on its website on Oct. 31, DTI said it will initiate, motu proprio, a preliminary investigation to determine if increased cement imports are causing serious injury to the domestic industry and if safeguard measures should be imposed.

Under Republic 8800 or the Safeguard Measures Act, the country may impose a safeguard measure like increased tariff on certain imports to provide relief to the domestic industry when there is serious threat or injury caused by a surge in imports of like products.

The same law provides that the trade secretary may launch a preliminary safeguard investigation, if there is evidence that increased imports of the product under consideration are a substantial cause of or are threatening to bring serious injury to the local industry.