Modifying the Nomenclature and the Rates of Import Duty on Certain Iron and Steel Products

June 22, 2010 EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 898 MODIFYING THE NOMENCLATURE AND THE RATES OF IMPORT DUTY ON CERTAIN IRON AND STEEL PRODUCTS UNDER SECTION 104 OF THE TARIFF AND CUSTOMS CODE OF 1978 (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1464 ), AS AMENDED WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 375, issued on 22 October 2004, provides for the increase in the rates of duty on certain iron and steel products to set up an enabling environment for the local iron and steel industry to attain international competitiveness; cADSCT WHEREAS, the domestic production of hot-rolled coils (HRC) and cold-rolled coils (CRC) has not been sustained as required under EO 375; WHEREAS, the elimination of the rates of duty will ensure adequate supply of quality and competitively-priced HRC and CRC needed in the production of roofing materials and other construction products to support the housing industry, which is identified as one of the main drivers of the Philippine economy; WHEREAS, the NEDA Board during its meeting on 25 May 2010 approved the reduction in duty of HRC and CRC products; WHEREAS, Section 401 of the Tariff and Customs Code of 1978 (Presidential Decree No. 1464), as amended, empowers the President of the Republic of the Philippines to increase, reduce, or remove existing rates of import duty, as well as to modify the form of duty and the tariff nomenclature, under Section 104 of the Code; NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order: SECTION 1. The articles specifically listed in the Annex hereof, as classified under Section 104 of the Tariff and Customs Code of 1978, as amended, shall be subject to the Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) rate of import duty in accordance with the schedule indicated opposite each article. SECTION 2. The rates of import duty on tariff headings and subheadings not enumerated and those listed but represented by the symbol "x x x" shall remain in force and effect. SECTION 3. Upon the effectivity of this Executive Order, all articles specifically listed in the aforesaid "Annex" which are entered and withdrawn from warehouses in the Philippines for consumption shall be levied the MFN rates of duty as indicated therein. SECTION 4.The rates of duty on articles listed in the Annex shall be reverted to 7% MFN tariff rate once the domestic production of HRC and CRC has been sustained as determined by the Board of Investments and approved by the Committee on Tariff and Related Matters. SECTION 5. All other Presidential issuances, administrative rules and regulations, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent or contrary with this Executive Order are hereby revoked or modified accordingly. SECATH SECTION 6. This Executive Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines. DONE in the City of Manila, this 22nd day of June, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Ten. ANNEX Hdg. AHTN Code MFN No. 2007 Description Rate of Duty (%) 72.08 Flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of 600 mm or more, hot-rolled, not clad, plated or coated. 7208.10.00 - In coils, not further worked than hot-rolled, with 0 * patterns in relief - Other, in coils, not further worked than hot-rolled, pickled: 7208.25 - - Of a thickness of 4.75 mm or more: 7208.25.10 - - - Coils for re-rolling 0 * 7208.25.90 - - - Other 0 * 7208.26.00 - - Of a thickness of 3 mm or more but less than 4.75 mm 0 * 7208.27.00 - - Of a thickness of less than 3 mm 0 * - Other, in coils, not further worked than hot-rolled: 7208.36.00 - - Of a thickness exceeding 10 mm 0 * 7208.37.00 - - Of a thickness of 4.75 mm or more but not 0 * exceeding 10 mm 7208.38.00 - - Of a thickness of 3 mm or more but less than 4.75 mm 0 * 7208.39.00 - - Of a thickness of less than 3 mm 0 * 7208.40.00 - Not in coils, not further worked than hot-rolled, with 0 * patterns in relief - Other, not in coils, not further worked than hot-rolled: 7208.51.00 - - Of a thickness exceeding 10 mm 0 * 7208.52.00 - - Of a thickness of 4.75 mm or more but not 0 * exceeding 10 mm 7208.53.00 - - Of a thickness of 3 mm or more but less than 4.75 mm 0 * 7208.54.00 - - Of a thickness of less than 3 mm 0 * 7208.90.00 - Other 0 * 72.09 Flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of 600 mm or more, cold-rolled (cold-reduced), not clad, plated or coated. - In coils, not further worked than cold-rolled (cold- reduced): 7209.15.00 - - Of a thickness of 3 mm or more 0 * 7209.16.00 - - Of a thickness exceeding 1 mm but less than 3 mm 0 * 7209.17.00 - - Of a thickness of 0.5 mm or more but not 0 * exceeding 1 mm 7209.18 - - Of a thickness of less than 0.5 mm: 7209.18.10 - - - x x x 7209.18.20 - - - Containing by weight less than 0.6% of carbon 0 * and of a thickness of 0.17 mm or less 7209.18.90 - - - Other 0 * - Not in coils, not further worked than cold-rolled (cold- reduced): 7209.25.00 - - Of a thickness of 3 mm or more 0 * 7209.26.00 - - Of a thickness exceeding 1 mm but less than 3 mm 0 * 7209.27.00 - - Of a thickness of 0.5 mm or more but not 0 * exceeding 1 mm 7209.28 - - Of a thickness of less than 0.5 mm: 7209.28.10 - - - Containing by weight less than 0.6% of carbon 0 * and of a thickness of 0.17 mm or less 7209.28.90 - - - Other 0 * 7209.90 - Other: 7209.90.10 - - Corrugated 0 * 7209.90.90 - - Other 0 * 72.11 Flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of less than 600 mm, not clad, plated or coated. - Not further worked than hot-rolled: 7211.13 - - Rolled on four faces or in a closed box pass, of a width exceeding 150 mm and a thickness of not less than 4 mm, not in coils and without patterns in relief: 7211.13.10 - - - Hoop and strip, of a width exceeding 150 mm but 0 * not exceeding 400 mm 7211.13.20 - - - Corrugated, containing by weight less than 0.6% 0 * of carbon 7211.13.90 - - - Other 0 * 7211.14 - - Other, of a thickness of 4.75 mm or more: 7211.14.10 - - - Hoop and strip, of a width not exceeding 400 mm 0 * 7211.14.20 - - - Corrugated, containing by weight less than 0.6% 0 * of carbon 7211.14.90 - - - Other 0 * 7211.19 - - Other: 7211.19.10 - - - Hoop and strip, of a width not exceeding 400 mm 0 * 7211.19.20 - - - Corrugated, containing by weight less than 0.6% 0 * of carbon 7211.19.30 - - - Other, of a thickness of 0.17 mm or less 0 * 7211.19.90 - - - Other 0 * - Not further worked than cold-rolled (cold-reduced): 7211.23 - - Containing by weight less than 0.25% of carbon: 7211.23.10 - - - Corrugated 0 * 7211.23.20 - - - Hoop and strip, of a width not exceeding 400 mm 0 * 7211.23.30 - - - Other, of a thickness of 0.17 mm or less 0 * 7211.23.90 - - - Other 0 * 7211.29 - - Other: 7211.29.10 - - - Corrugated 0 * 7211.29.20 - - - Hoop and strip, of a width not exceeding 400 mm 0 * 7211.29.30 - - - Other, of a thickness of 0.17 mm or less 0 * 7211.29.90 - - - Other 0 * 7211.90 - Other: 7211.90.10 - - Hoop and strip, of a width not exceeding 400 mm 0 * 7211.90.20 - - Corrugated, containing by weight less than 0.6% of 0 * carbon 7211.90.30 - - Other, of a thickness of 0.17 mm or less 0 * 7211.90.90 - - Other 0 * * The tariff rate will revert to 7% once the domestic production of HRC and CRC has been sustained as determined by the Board of Investments and approved by the Committee on Tariff and Related Matters.