The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has started collecting P400.00 per metric ton or P16.00 per 40 kilogram provisional safeguard duty on imported cement.
The BOC circular stated that the safeguard duty took effect immediately upon the issuance of Memorandum Circular No. 70-2025 on March 21, 2025. The safeguard duty will be slapped on imported cement over a period of 200 days from the date of the issuance of the circular.
The collection of the safeguard duty is based on the decision of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) under Department Administrative Order No. 25-01 pursuant to the Safeguard Measures Act.
It could be recalled that DTI imposed the provisional safeguard duty on imported following its preliminary determination that increased cement importation has caused serious injury to the domestic cement manufacturing industry. Cement types affected by the safeguard duty are under tariff classifications AHTN Coe 2523.29.90 or ordinary Portland cement and AHTN Code 2523.90.00 or blended cement.
