Philippines' only flat steelmaker, Global Steel Philippines Inc (GSPI), has asked its government to increase the tariffs on imports of flat steel products in order to protect the domestic industry against dumping.
In an interview, GSPI vice president for corporate communications Sangram Mohanty has called for the tariff on hot rolled and cold rolled coils to be increased to 15 percent from the current seven percent. However, Mr Mohanty did not specify any exporting country as a target of such a tariff increase.
"GSPI had requested for an import duty raise for flat steel products so domestic manufacturers are well protected from imports," said Mr. Mohanty.
On the other hand, the galvanizers, using flat steel as raw material for galvanized iron sheets and other finished goods, are opposed to any tariff increase, saying that they prefer to import flat steel products instead of relying on domestic products.