THE Ceramic Tile Manufacturers’ Association (CTMA) on Tuesday urged the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to approve the recommendation of the Tariff Commission to extend the definitive safeguard duty on imported tiles for another three years.

In a press briefing in Makati City yesterday, CTMA president Edison T. Co Seteng noted that the safeguard duty is about to expire on January 12.

“The safeguard duty is needed to ensure that the local industry will remain competitive in light of the increasing competition posed by manufacturers based in China,” said Co Seteng.

CTMA noted that Tariff Commission has already recommended the extension of the safeguard duty for another three years in a letter to the trade department dated December 6, 2007.

If approved, the safeguard duty would be pegged at P2 a kilogram for imported tiles this year. This amount will gradually decline by 2011. CTMA, however, did not say the possible safeguard duty after three years.

The Philippine government first imposed the tariff-rate quota and the safeguard duty in 2002, after it determined that the influx of imported ceramic tiles from China has caused injury to local manufacturers.

Prior to the lapse of the safeguard duty in 2002, trade department approved a second extension of the definitive safeguard duty beginning January 12, 2005.

For his part, Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) president Jesus Arranza noted that despite the imposition of the definitive safeguard duty, imported tiles continue to flood the local market.

“The growth in imports has been phenomenal, especially in recent years,” said Arranza. For the period of 2004-06, figures from CTMA show that imports from China grew at an average annual rate of 104 percent.

Aside from the extension of the safeguard duty, CTMA is also calling on the government to help the industry find ways to reduce its power costs. Power is considered as one of the major costs incurred by tile manufacturers.

THE Ceramic Tile Manufacturers’ Association (CTMA) on Tuesday urged the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to approve the recommendation of the Tariff Commission to extend the definitive safeguard duty on imported tiles for another three years.

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