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The Bureau of Customs implements safeguard duty on cement imports from China and Indonesia after a monitored increase in imports from the two Asian countries
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BOC has updated its system effective July 6
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China and Indonesia’s share on cement imports from 2025 and the first quarter of 2026 exceeded the minimum 3% de minimis threshold, thus, their exemption from the safeguard measure was removed
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is now implementing the safeguard duty on cement imports from China and Indonesia after a monitored increase in imports from the two Asian countries.
BOC Management Information System and Technology Group (MISTG) deputy commissioner Atty. Revsee Escobedo, in MISTG Memo No. 15-2026, said BOC’s Electronic-to-Mobile (E2M) has been updated to implement the safeguard duty on China and Indonesia cement imports effective July 6.
The imposition is prescribed under Customs Memorandum Circular (CMC) No. 164-2026, which is pursuant to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 26-03, which should take effect upon issuance of a BOC memo.
READ: PH imposes safeguard duty on cement from China, Indonesia
China and Indonesia were removed from the list of countries exempted from the imposition of the safeguard measure through DAO No. 26-03, which amended “Annex A” of DTI DAO No. 25-15.
DAO No. 25-15 ordered a three-year definitive safeguard measure on importations of ordinary Portland cement Type I (Association of Southeast Asian Nations Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature or AHTN 2022 Subheading No. 2523.29.90) and blended cement (AHTN 2022 Subheading No. 2523.90.00). The policy exempts cement products originating from developing countries whose share of the total import is less than 3%.
DAO No. 26-03 said the share of cement imports from China and Indonesia in 2025 and the first quarter of 2026 have exceeded the less than 3% de minimis threshold, which led to their removal from the list of developing countries excluded from the imposition of safeguard measures on cement imports under DAO No. 25-15.
Under DAO No. 26-03, imports of cement from China and Indonesia will be imposed with the safeguard duty for the first year of application at P14 per 40 kilogram (kg) bag or P349 per metric ton (MT).
BOC last March already started implementing the safeguard duty under DAO No. 25-15.
READ: BOC starts collecting safeguard duty for imported cement
DTI earlier said the imposition of a safeguard duty on cement imports is intended to level the playing field between domestic manufacturers and importers and is not expected to be passed on to consumers, as the safeguard duty applies solely to imported cement.
DTI said the Tariff Commission’s (TC) recommended safeguard duty rate represents only around 3-4% of prevailing retail prices.
Prior to TC’s recommendation, DTI was already imposing a provisional safeguard measure on imports of cement from various countries after its initial investigation found increased imports caused substantial injury to the domestic industry.
BOC last year also implemented the provisional safeguard measure in the form of a cash bond amounting to P400 per mt or P16 per 40 kg bag on ordinary Portland cement and blended cement, pursuant to DTI DAO No. 25-01, which approved the imposition of provisional safeguard measure.
This was pursuant to Republic Act No. 8800, or the Safeguards Measures Act, which authorizes the imposition of such measure “in critical circumstances where a delay would cause damage which would be difficult to repair, and pursuant to a preliminary determination that increased imports are the substantial cause of injury to the domestic industry.”— Roumina Pablo
