Filipino importers of Turkish wheat flour are eager to resume importation once the decade-old anti-dumping duties on Turkish wheat flour are lifted.
Ernesto Chua, president of the Philippines-Türkiye Business Council, shared this during the Business Matching Meeting held on Tuesday, in conjunction with the arrival of a 12-member Türkiye Trade Delegation to the country.
“Hopefully, the anti-dumping duties will be lifted so there will be more competition, ultimately benefiting consumers with more affordable pan de sal,” he said.
The anti-dumping duties on imported Turkish flour varied by company or exporter, ranging from a minimum of 3 percent to as high as 18 percent.
As a result, the local market has not seen any Turkish wheat flour imports over the past 10 years.
Despite already intense competition among local millers, which has helped bring down flour prices, Chua believes that imported flour can further reduce the cost of flour in the country.
He recalled that prior to the imposition of the anti-dumping duties, Turkish flour was priced PHP 200 to PHP 300 lower per 25-kilogram bag compared to locally milled wheat flour.
At one point, Turkish flour imports accounted for 10 percent of total domestic consumption. This surge prompted domestic millers to file an anti-dumping petition, which eventually led to the implementation of the punitive duties by the government.
