Philippines: Possible Resumption of Cement Zero-Tariff Policy (1/22/2010)

According to the Philippines "business world," January 18 reported that the Philippine Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Aquino said that in order to stabilize the market prices of wheat and cement, Trade and Industry this week, the President will propose to reinstate the two cement imports of wheat and zero-tariff policy . Half a year ago, the Philippine Presidential Executive Order No. 818 issued to implement zero tariff on wheat and cement import policy, the policy on January 12 this year, due to the Southeast Asian countries to resume the import tax rate to 3%, other regions recovered to 5%. Zero-tariff canceled, flour and cement manufacturers have announced price increases, the Philippine government had planned to implement price controls, but the Trade and Industry believe that the price control policy, not desirable, so a return to the zero tariff policy. (by China Leiyuan, 1/22/2010)