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The Bureau of Customs is imposing provisional safeguard measure on corrugating medium imports
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The measure is in the form of a cash bond amounting to P3,438 per metric ton of imported corrugating medium
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The duty remains in force for a period of 200 days from the issuance of Customs Memorandum Circular No. 188-2025 on October 6
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CMC 188-2028 implements DTI Department Administrative Order No. 25-11, which ordered the imposition of the provisional safeguard measure while a formal investigation is to be conducted to determine whether there is a need to impose definitive safeguard measures on the commodity
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The imposition of provisional safeguard measures comes after DTI established the existence of a “causal link between the increased imports of the products under consideration and serious injury to the domestic industry”
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is imposing a provisional safeguard measure on the imports of corrugating medium.
The measure is in the form of a cash bond amounting to P3,438 per metric ton of imported corrugating medium. It remains in force for a period of 200 days from the issuance of Customs Memorandum Circular (CMC) No. 188-2025 signed by Customs commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno on October 6.
The order covers corrugating medium classified under Association of Southeast Asian Nations Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature (AHTN) Codes 4805.19.10, 4805.19.90, and 4805.12.00 from various countries.
CMC 188-2028 implements Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 25-11, which ordered the imposition of the provisional safeguard measure while a formal investigation is to be conducted to determine the need for definitive safeguard measures on imports of corrugating medium.
Corrugating medium is the fluted portion of the corrugated board placed in the middle of two liner boards which provides stacking strength and impact protection. Locally produced corrugating medium are made from 100% recycled paper and are converted into corrugated boxes which protects products from possible damage during shipment and storage.
DTI said imposition of the provisional safeguard measure is not expected to cause shortage of corrugating medium in the domestic market, considering local manufacturers have sufficient capacity to meet domestic demand.
Imports originating from developing countries listed in DAO No. 25-11 will be exempted from the provisional safeguard measure, but they have to submit a Certificate of Origin, subject to affixation of Apostille to the document or authentication by the Philippine embassy/consulate general, as applicable.
The decision comes after DTI, in its preliminary investigation, established the existence of a “causal link between the increased imports of the products under consideration and serious injury to the domestic industry.”
“The increased volume of imports, both in absolute terms and relative to domestic production, was found to be the substantial cause of the over-all impairment in the operations of the local industry,” it added.
The preliminary investigation stems from the applications of safeguard measure by two members—supported by other members—of The Pulp and Paper Manufacturers Association of the Philippines that alleged that the increased imports of corrugating material have contributed significantly to the serious injury suffered by the local industry. – Roumina Pablo
