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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
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Commercial Information Circulars

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e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 616/2

9 March 2009

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 125/2009

The Philippines : Provisional Safeguard Measure on Imports of Steel Angle Bars

According to a communication circulated by the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) of the Philippines has recommended provisional safeguard measure on imports of steel angle bar irrespective of the origin, except those economies exempted (including Hong Kong but not the Mainland of China). The communication (document number 09-1023) can be obtained from the WTO's website through the following link: 
<http://docsonline.wto.org/gen_search.asp?searchmode=simple>.

DETAILS

  1.  
  2. Salient points regarding the provisional safeguard measure are set out below :
(a) Product Coverage  : Steel Angle Bars – with the following sizes, i.e. 20mm x 20mm, 25mm x 25mm, 30mm x 30mm, 38mm x 38mm, 50mm x 50mm, 63mm x 63mm, 63.5mm x 63.5mm and 75mm x 75mm with thicknesses ranging from 2.0mm to 12mm, classified under ASEAN Harmonised Tariff Nomenclature (AHTN) Codes: 7216.2100, 7216.5010 and 7216.5090
(b) Provisional Measure : Cash bond on all imports at the rate of PHP1.00 per metric tonne for a period of 200 days
(c) Effective Date : Upon issuance of the relevant Customs Memorandum Order by the Philippine Bureau of Customs or 15 days after the publication of the DTI Order in two newspapers of general circulation, whichever is earlier.
(d) Further Procedure : A formal investigation is now being conducted by the Tariff Commission of the Philippines on the application for a definitive safeguard measure against the subject products endorsed by DTI. During the course of the formal investigation, interested parties will be given opportunity to be heard and to present evidence in support of their respective positions. For details, please contact the Task Force on Safeguards Investigation on Steel Angle Bars at Tel. Nos. (63-2) 926-8731 or (63-2) 928-8419.

BACKGROUND

  1. The Philippine authority notified the WTO Committee on Safeguards on 27 February 2009 of the results of its preliminary determination on the investigation on the imports of steel angle bars pursuant to a protest filed by Philippine companies. It was alleged that steel angle bars are being imported in increased quantities and that as a result serious injury to the domestic industry is caused. The Philippine authority has reached a preliminary determination that increased imports were the substantial cause of the serious injury to the local industry. It has recommended provisional safeguard measure in para.2 above as any delay would cause damage that would be difficult to repair.
     
  2. The provisional measure will be applicable to all imports of the subject products into the Philippines irrespective of the origin, except those economies as stipulated by the Philippine authority. In this connection, steel angle bars originating from Hong Kong but not the Mainland of China are exempted from the provisional safeguard measure.

ENQUIRIES

  1. For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5650 or jimwong@tid.gov.hk.

Yours faithfully,




(Jim WONG)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry