Philippine Cement Workers Council Seeks to Preserve Tariffs

The Philippine Cement Workers Council (PCWC) has joined with the country’s Department of Trade and Industry in efforts to overturn a Supreme Court decision nullifying safeguard tariffs on imported cement. The High Tribunal ruled 12 July against the legal measure put into effect late last year, which guarantees mechanisms protecting industries from cheap imports. Institution of such mechanisms is sanctioned under the WTO. PCWC Gen. Sec. Samuel Eslava said the safeguard measures saved jobs and “paved the way for industrial peace” in the Philippines.