The decision to impose safeguard duties on motor vehicles is likely to come out within this month, according to Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez.
Lopez told reporters in a chance interview last week results of the study being conducted by the Bureau of Import Services on the petition filed the by Philippine Metalworkers’ Alliance (PMA) will be out within two weeks.
He said data collection, consultations and hearings will be wrapper up also within that timeframe.
The level of duties has not been determined, he said.
“The preliminary decision will soon come out. It would not take long, maybe in two or three weeks,” Lopez said.
PMA, an alliance of automotive iron and steel, electronics and electrical sectors including affiliates in key automotive industry players, last year filed a petition for the imposition of safeguard duties following a surge in imports from 2014 to 2018 which they said has injured car assembly operations that led to job losses.
The group said imports of motor cars rose to 207,000 units in 2018 from over 153,000 units in 2014. –Irma Isip
