Lifting the Suspension of the Application of the Tariff Reduction Schedule on Petrochemicals

January 12, 2006

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 486

LIFTING THE SUSPENSION OF THE APPLICATION OF THE TARIFF REDUCTION SCHEDULE ON PETROCHEMICALS AND CERTAIN PLASTIC PRODUCTS UNDER THE COMMON EFFECTIVE PREFERENTIAL TARIFF (CEPT) SCHEME FOR THE ASEAN FREE TRADE AREA (AFTA)

WHEREAS, Executive Order 234 dated 27 April 2000, which implemented the 2000-2003 Philippine schedule of tariff reduction of products transferred from the Temporary Exclusion List and the Sensitive List to the Inclusion List of the accelerated CEPT Scheme for the AFTA, provided that the CEPT rates on petrochemicals and certain plastic products will be reduced to 5% on 01 January 2003; CAIaHS

WHEREAS, Executive Order 161 issued on 9 January 2003 provides for the suspension of the application of the tariff reduction schedule on petrochemicals and certain plastic products in 2003 and 2004 only;

WHEREAS, the government recognizes the need to provide an enabling environment for the naphtha cracker plant to attain international competitiveness;

WHEREAS, the NEDA Board approved the lifting of the suspension of the aforesaid tariff reduction schedule on petrochemicals and certain plastic products and the reversion of the CEPT rates on these products to EO 161 (s. 2003) levels once the naphtha cracker plant is in commercial operation;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, pursuant to the powers vested in me under Section 402 of the Tariff and Customs Code of 1978 (Presidential Decree No. 1464), as amended, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. The articles specifically listed in Annex "A" (Articles Granted Concession under the CEPT Scheme for the AFTA) hereof, as classified under Section 104 of the Tariff and Customs Code of 1978, as amended, shall be subject to the ASEAN CEPT rates in accordance with the schedule indicated in Column 4 of Annex "A". The ASEAN CEPT rates so indicated shall be accorded to imports coming from ASEAN Member States applying CEPT concession to the same product pursuant to Article 4 of the CEPT Agreement and its Interpretative Notes.

SECTION 2. In the event that any subsequent change is made in the basic (MFN) Philippine rate of duty on any of the article listed in Annex "A" to a rate lower than the rate prescribed in Column 4 of Annex "A", such article shall automatically be accorded the corresponding reduced duty.

SECTION 3. From the date of effectivity of this Executive Order, all articles listed in Annex "A" entered into or withdrawn from warehouses in the Philippines for consumption shall be imposed the rates of duty therein prescribed subject to qualification under the Rules of Origin as provided for in the Agreement on the CEPT Scheme for the AFTA signed on 28 January 1992.

SECTION 4. The Department of Trade and Industry, in coordination with the National Economic and Development Authority, the Department of Finance, the Tariff Commission and the Bureau of Customs, shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations that will govern the reversion of the CEPT rates on petrochemicals and plastic products to EO 161 (s. 2003) levels once the naphtha cracker plant is in commercial operation.

SECTION 5. All presidential issuances, administrative rules and regulations, or parts thereof, which are contrary to or inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby revoked or modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately following its complete publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 12th day of January, in the year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Six. AaDSEC

ANNEX "A"

Articles Granted Concession Under the Common Effective Preferential Tariff
(CEPT) Scheme for the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA)
Hdg.	Tariff		Applicable
No.	Code	Description	CEPT Rate of
			Duty (%)
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
39.01		Polymers of ethylene, in primary forms.
	3901.10	Polyethylene having a specific gravity of less than 0.94:
	3901.10.10	- - In powder form	5*
		- - Granules:
	3901.10.21	- - - Pharmaceutical grade	5*
	3901.10.22	- - - Cable grade	5*
	3901.10.23	- - - Other, used in the manufacture of telephonic or electric	5*
		wire
	3901.10.29	- - - Other	5*
	3901.10.30	- - Liquids or pastes	5*
		- - Other forms:
	3901.10.91	- - - Used in the manufacture of telephonic or electric wire	5*
	3901.10.99	- - - Other	5*
	3901.20	- Polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0.94 or more:
	3901.20.10	- - In powder form	5*
		- - Granules:
	3901.20.21	- - - Cable grade	5*
	3901.20.22	- - - Other, used in the manufacture of telephonic or electric	5*
		wire
	3901.20.29	- - - Other	5*
	3901.20.30	- - Liquids or pastes	5*
	3901.20.90	- - Other forms	5*
39.02		Polymers of propylene or of other olefins, in primary
		forms.
	3902.10	- Polypropylene:
	3902.10.10	- - In powder form	5*
		- - Granules:
	3902.10.21	- - - Used in the manufacture of telephonic or electric wire	5*
	3902.10.29	- - - Other	5*
	3902.10.30	- - Liquids or pastes	5*
		- - Other forms:
	3902.10.91	- - - Used in the manufacture of telephonic or electric wire	5*
	3902.10.99	- - - Other	5*
39.03		Polymers of styrene, in primary forms.
		- Polystyrene:
	3903.11	- - Expansible:
	3903.11.10	- - - In powder form	5*
	3903.11.20	- - - Granules	5*
	3903.11.30	- - - Liquids or pastes	5*
	3903.11.90	- - - Other	5*
	3903.19	- - Other:
	3903.19.10	- - - In powder form	5*
	3903.19.20	- - - Granules	5*
	3903.19.30	- - - Liquids or pastes	5*
	3903.19.90	- - - Other	5*
39.04		Polymers of vinyl chloride or of other halogenated
		olefins, in primary forms.
	3904.10	- Poly (vinyl chloride), not mixed with any other substances:
	3904.10.10	- - PVC homopolymers, suspension type	5*
39.18		Floor coverings of plastics, whether or not self-
		adhesive, in rolls or in the forms of tiles; wall or ceiling
		coverings of plastics, as defined in Note 9 to this Chapter.
	3918.10	- Of polymers of vinyl chloride:
		- - Floor covering:
	3918.10.11	- - - Tiles	5*
	3918.10.19	- - - Other	5*
	3918.10.90	- - Other	5*
39.20		Other plates, sheets, film, foil and strip, of plastics,
		non-cellular and not reinforced, laminated, supported
		or similarly combined with other materials.
		- Of polymers of vinyl chloride:
	3920.43	- - Containing by weight not less than 6% of plasticisers:
	3920.43.10	- - - Tapes used in the manufacture of telephonic or electric	5*
		wires
	3920.43.90	- - - Other
		A. Rigid	5*
		B. Flexible	5*
	3920.49	- - Other:
	3920.49.10	- - - Tapes used in the manufacture of telephonic or electric	5*
		wires
	3920.49.90	- - - Other
		A. Rigid	5*
		B. Flexible	5*
56.07		Twine, cordage, ropes and cables, whether or not
		plaited or braided and whether or not impregnated,
		coated, covered or sheathed with rubber or plastics.
		- Of polyethylene or polypropylene:
	5607.41.00	- - Binder or baler twine	5*
	5607.49	- - Other:
	5607.49.10	- - - Industrial safety lines	5*
	5607.49.90	- - - Other	5*
*	To revert to EO 161 s. 2003 levels once the naphtha cracker plant is in commercial operation as determined by the TRM Committee.