Philippines Initiates Safeguard Investigation on Ceramic Tile Imports Largely from China, Italy and Spain

On 10 February 2026, the Philippines notified the WTO's Committee on Safeguards that it had initiated on 5 February 2026 a safeguard investigation on imports of ceramic tiles.

· WTO Notification Filed: The Philippines notified the WTO Committee on Safeguards of the initiation of a preliminary safeguard investigation on imports of ceramic tiles.

· Initiation Date: The investigation was initiated on 5 February 2026, with a public notice issued the same day in two newspapers of general circulation.

· Product Under Investigation:

o Product: Ceramic tiles

o Description: Ceramic flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles; ceramic mosaic cubes and the like; finishing ceramic

o HS Codes: 690722, 690723.

· Basis for Investigation: Initiated based on official import data and submissions from the Ceramic Manufacturers’ Association Inc. (CMAI) of the Philippines.

· Alleged Injury to Domestic Industry: Evidence cited includes loss of market share, declining domestic sales, lower capacity utilization, reduced labor productivity, incurred losses, and rising production costs, attributed to increased imports.

· Purpose: To determine whether safeguard measures are warranted under the WTO Agreement on Safeguards.

· Authority & Contact Point:

o Bureau: Bureau of Import Services (BIS), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippines

o Contact: bis_irmd@dti.gov.ph.

· Participation Deadline: Five (5) days from the date of publication of the notice for importers, exporters, and interested parties to submit evidence or views.

G/SG/N/6/PHL/23.

[ABS News Service/11.02.2026]

In the notification, the Philippines indicated, among other things, as follows:

"4. Provide a point of contact for the investigation and identify the preferred means for corresponding:

The point of contact would be available to respond to enquiries relating to the procedures applicable to the investigation.

Bureau of Import Services (BIS)Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)7th Floor, Filinvest Building387 Senator Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati Cityor thru electronic submission to bis_irmd@dti.gov.ph

5. Provide the deadlines and procedures for importers, exporters and other interested parties to present evidence and their views, including: (i) deadlines and procedures for Members and exporters to identify themselves as interested parties, if so required, to participate in the investigation and (ii) the date of an intended public hearing as provided for in Article 3.1. [..]

Five (5) days from the date of publication of the notice."

The notification is available in G/SG/N/6/PHL/23.