The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) set aside petitions for motion for reconsideration (MRs) on an administrative order (AO) imposing definitive anti-dumping duties against cement imports from Vietnam, saying the issues raised are a mere rehash of their earlier objections.
“Definitive anti-dumping duties shall be imposed for a period of five years on imports of Ordinary Portland Cement Type 1 (AHTN 2017/2022 Subheading No. 2523.29.90) and Blended Cement Type 1P (AHTN 2017/2022 Subheading No. 2523.90.00) originating from Viet Nam,” said DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual in a resolution contained in DAO 23-01 dated Feb. 14, 2023.
The resolution upholds DAO 22-17 on Dec. 16, 2022 imposing the anti-dumping duties after the Tariff Commission (TC) in its final report dated Oct. 11, 2022 found the existence of imminent threat of material injury to the domestic cement industry caused by the imports from Vietnam.
“Given the extensive evaluation and analysis made by the TC in deriving its findings, and considering that the arguments raised by the movants are mere rehash of previously submitted arguments, the TC finds no cogent reason to deviate from its final determination/decision as stated in toto in Chapter 10.2 of its Final Report dated Oct. 11, 2022,” Pascual said in DAO 23-01.
Following the issuance of the DAO, Pascual said certain exporters and importers filed with the DTI MRs, which were endorsed to the TC. The movants also commented on the TC’s final report.
In a submission to the DTI dated February 13, TC said “there is nothing novel” in the issues raised by the movants in their respective MRs in so far as the TC final report is concerned.
“The points raised are mere repetitions of comments/position papers earlier submitted and were already exhaustively passed upon and duly resolved during the evaluation of the instant investigation, the TC finds no reasonable justification to reverse or modify the conclusions reached in its final determination/decision of its final report, “ the TC said.
