Glass maker fulfills safeguard duty requirement

The TariffCommission has declared that the country’s sole glass pane manufacturer — which constitutes the local "industry" — has complied with a requirement that it implement a program to boost its competitiveness, in exchange for the safeguard duty slapped on competing imports.

This is one of the two conditions the industry must fulfill for the safeguard duty to be extended past its expiry this Dec. 8.

The state agency did not declare whether imports continue to threaten injury to the local industry — the second condition for extension — but noted that the market share of foreign-made glass panes declined last year.

This comes as the Tariff Commission has slated a public hearing this week on whether to again extend an order imposing safeguard duties on the goods. The state agency first imposed the duties in 2004 and renewed it for 2006-2009.

The hearing this week will pit local manufacturer AGC Flat Glass Philippines Inc. — formerly called Asahi Glass Philippines — against foreign firms and Philippine-based importers, according to an Oct. 19 BusinessWorld Online report.

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