The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) initiated a preliminary investigation to determine whether increased imports of ceramic tiles are causing or threatening to cause serious injury to the domestic industry.
The investigation, based on the petition by the Ceramic Manufacturers’ Association, Inc., covers imported ceramic tiles classified under Harmonized System (HS) Codes 2017/2022, subheadings 6907.22 and 6907.23 for the period of 2020 up to the first quarter of 2025.
“Increased imports of ceramic tiles have caused serious injury to the domestic industry.”
Based on the initial findings, there is substantial evidence indicating that increased imports of ceramic tiles have caused serious injury to the domestic industry.
There was an abrupt and notably sharp increase in the volume of imports reflecting a cumulative growth of 81% from 2020 and 2023 while imports remain higher in 2024 compared to the 2020 level.
For this reason, market share of the domestic industry steadily declined from 31% in 2020 to 23% in 2024.
Moreover, the industry seriously suffered as reflected by the declined domestic sales, production, utilization rate, reduction in labor productivity, increased inventory, and overall, incurred losses in the recent period.
The DTI Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque emphasized that, “At DTI, we are actively finding ways to empower Philippine industries to be competitive amidst external challenges affecting global trade.”
“We remain committed to providing an environment where the domestic industries can effectively compete with imports.”
“We remain committed to providing an environment where the domestic industries can effectively compete with imports, thus contributing to domestic job generation and economic development, as a whole,” Roque added.
The DTI invites the interested parties, particularly the exporters and importers to submit their comment and position on the matter, including their views on whether the imposition of a safeguard measure is in the public interest.
Safeguard measure, pursuant to Republic Act 8800, is a trade policy tool which allows the government to remedy serious injury caused by increased imports.
These measures are temporary and are implemented to give time for injured domestic industries to adjust to import competition, and be competitive.
