The decision on whether or not the government will impose safeguard measures on automotive imports will be out soon, a trade official said. The alleged surge in imports of brand new motor vehicles with HS code 8703 — “motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, including station wagons and racing cars,” according to the Tariff Commission website — prompted the group to file the application for safeguard duty. Data showed the total number of imported brand new motor vehicles that entered the country between 2014 to 2018 reached more than a million units, with about 428,000 units coming from Thailand, 312,000 from Indonesia, and 101,000 units from South Korea. BIS Director Luis Catibayan said that within the next few days, the report will be submitted to Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez for the secretary to decide. Catibayan said that if ever the TC recommends a dismissal, then the collected bonds will be returned to importers.

Source: Manila Times December 27, 2020 16:18 UTC