THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it is bracing for more goods to be dumped in the Philippines after US imposed reciprocal tariffs in August.
Speaking at the Federation of Philippine Industries Business Summit 2025, Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque said she is enlisting the aid of the Bureau of Customs (BoC) to address the expected surge in imports.
“We really have to work together. A lot of dumping is expected to happen, dahil medyo challenging ang tariffs ng US (because the US tariffs are a bit challenging),” she said on Wednesday.
“We are expecting a lot of goods to be brought in here from China, Vietnam, and many other countries,” she added, singling out shipments of cement, steel, and garments.
“These are products that are being sold to the US, especially from China. And (the dumping is taking place) not only in the Philippines but also in Southeast Asia,” she said.
“When all of us trade ministers talk, that is what we are expecting — that there will be dumping,” she added.
She said industry representatives have already reported increasing imports of cheap garments and school supplies.
“We have to work with the BoC because if the goods cannot enter, then there’s no issue,” she said.
“Dapat talaga maghigpit sa goods (They need to be strict with these goods) or they need to tax them,” she added. “I don’t know what the commissioner will decide, but we need to protect the manufacturing sector.”
BoC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said that dumping of goods may result in government revenue taking a hit, which will need to be offset in some other way.
He added that some of the foregone revenue will stem from the zero-tariff concessions won by the US for its goods, which he estimated at P30 billion, judging from volumes shipped in 2024, when the goods were still charged tariffs. — Justine Irish D. Tabile
