HDPE pellets from Vietnam not subject to Philippines safeguard duty

Vietnam's HDPE pellets not subject to safeguarding duties in Philippines. (Image for illustration/Source: the Ministry of Industry and Trade)
Vietnam's HDPE pellets not subject to safeguarding duties in Philippines. (Image for illustration/Source: the Ministry of Industry and Trade)

According to the Trade Remedies Authority under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), the Philippine Tariff Commission has issued its final conclusion in the investigation of the global safeguard measures against HDPE pellets and granules classified under ASEAN Harmonised Tariff Nomenclature (AHTN) Code. 3901.20.00, which are imported from many countries, including Vietnam.

The Philippine Tariff Commission recommended that the Philippine Department of Industry and Trade apply the safeguard duty of 2% on this item within 3 years to prevent the risk of imported HDPE plastic pellets causing serious damage to the domestic industry.

However, this duty rate will not be imposed on HDPE plastic pellets from Vietnam. It is expected that the Philippine Department of Industry and Trade will make an official decision on this issue within the next two weeks.

Earlier, on June 3, the Philippines decided not to apply safeguard measures on Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) Pellets and Granules because there was no increase in imports of LLDPE pellets and granules both in absolute terms and relative to domestic production during the period of investigation from 2015 to June 2021.