Gypsum boards are the drywall panels used in construction, commonly reinforced with paper or paperboard.

After a formal investigation, the Tariff Commission found that cheaper imports from Thailand were hurting the only local manufacturer, Knauf Gypsum Philippines Inc., by undercutting prices and forcing it to sell below cost just to stay competitive.

The DTI is now imposing extra charges—or anti-dumping duties—on imported gypsum boards from Thailand for several years:

• Gypman Tech Company Limited: 8.52% of the export price
• Thai Gypsum Products PCL: 9.18%
• All other Thai exporters (who did not participate in the investigation or are new to the market): also 9.18%

These duties are meant to level the playing field by offsetting the unfair pricing advantage of these imported products.

New exporters can still enter the Philippine market but new Thai exporters who didn’t ship gypsum boards to the Philippines during the investigation period can request a New Shippers Review. They need to prove they aren’t connected to any companies already hit by duties. While the review is ongoing, no extra duty will be collected from them.

This decision follows a petition filed by Knauf Gypsum Philippines. The Tariff Commission found that the influx of cheap, dumped gypsum boards from Thailand caused material injury to the local industry. Not only were they sold at unfairly low prices, but these imports also significantly hurt local business performance, leading to price suppression and losses.

When the DTI first found signs of dumping in late 2024, it ordered importers to pay a cash bond as a temporary safeguard. Now that final duties have been set and are lower than the bond amounts in some cases, the excess payments will be refunded to importers.

The DTI order (Administrative Order 25-05) will take effect after the period for filing appeals lapses or if no appeal is made. The Bureau of Customs will then issue the final implementation order.

Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Aldeguer-Roque emphasized that protecting local industries from unfair imports is a top priority, especially with many global markets slowing down.

“Our commitment is to create an environment where domestic industries can effectively compete with imports. These industries are essential to our economy in providing jobs and stable incomes for Filipino families,” she said.

This move is aligned with the Anti-Dumping Act of 1999, which allows the government to take action against imported goods sold below fair market value if they hurt the local industry.

This milestone highlights both nations’ commitment to deepen economic collaboration and unlock new opportunities for trade and investment, it said.

DTI Secretary Ma. Cristina Aldeguer-Roque and Chile’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alberto van Klaveren, signed the Joint Statement officially launching the negotiation during the latter’s official visit to Manila on December 6, 2024.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by key government officials from both sides, including Philippine Ambassador to Chile, Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat, and Chilean Ambassador to the Philippines, Alvaro Domingo Jara Bucarey.

The CEPA aims to go beyond trade in goods and services by including key areas such as intellectual property rights, digital economy, MSMEs, environment, labor, and trade and gender, among others.

Emphasizing the potential of the agreement, Secretary Roque said, “Beyond trade, the CEPA should also be driven by a commitment to sustainability, inclusivity, and economic resilience. By addressing new-generation trade issues, the agreement aligns with the Philippines’ goals of inclusivity and resilience.”

The CEPA with Chile presents significant benefits for the Philippines, including enhanced market access for key exports, increased consumer welfare with lower prices of goods, and facilitative rules of trade.  Strengthened economic ties with the Latin American region is also expected.

This joint initiative reflects the shared vision of the Philippines and Chile to expand economic opportunities and deepen their partnership on the global stage. Through the CEPA, both nations look forward to fostering a more robust and mutually beneficial relationship. 

President Marcos expressed his appreciation for Toyota’s continued investment in the Philippines, particularly the recent ₱5.5 billion-investment in the production of the Philippine-made Next Generation Tamaraw, also known regionally as the Toyota Innovative International Multi-Purpose Vehicle (IMV) 0 (Zero). This investment encompasses vehicle production, parts localization, and the establishment of a new in-house vehicle conversion capability, further solidifying TMP’s contributions to sustaining the viability of automotive and parts manufacturing industries in the country and furthermore enabling Mobility for All through the easily convertible, Tamaraw.

During the courtesy call of Toyota Motor Asia and TMP’s top officials at the Palace, the mobility leader displayed prototype conversion units of the Tamaraw, demonstrating its versatility and adaptability to the needs of Filipinos. Returning as a light commercial vehicle, TMP presented its aim to revive this iconic model into the next ‘national car’ by catering to specialized conversion needs of various Philippine Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and individuals.

At the same event, President Marcos received a letter of intent from TMP for its planned donation of five (5) Tamaraw units, which will be converted and turned over to the government in 2025. These include five (5) ambulances which will be used to support various mobility needs through the “Lab For All” health program of the First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos.

Reinforcing Toyota’s global commitment to Carbon Neutrality, the company introduced its “Beyond Zero” movement to the government. This corporate initiative supports the Philippine government’s direction toward a clean energy and low carbon economy transition, aligning with key national policies related to the transportation sector such as the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA) and Philippine Energy Plan.

Underscoring its multi-pathway approach to decarbonization, TMP also used the occasion to present the Corolla Cross H2 Concept developed by Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) in Japan. This Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Vehicle (HICEV) utilized hydrogen gas supplied by a local producer and filled through a Hydrogen Refueling Station (HRS) exclusively imported from an end-use application provider in Malaysia.

“For Toyota’s point of view, we would like to provide the most suitable vehicle technology for the country’s specific energy strategy. Matching multi-pathways with energy, Toyota has many powertrains available and currently being developed,” said Toyota Asia Region chief executive officer Masahiko Maeda.

Recognizing the country’s abundant resources, TMP also emphasized the potential of diversifying energy resources to develop related industries and complement the decarbonization goals of various sectors, including transportation. With Toyota’s widest array of xEV powertrain technologies, hydrogen has the potential to be one of the advanced alternative energy sources that presents the possibility of zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Beyond its commitment to decarbonize the entire vehicle life cycle – from raw materials sourcing, manufacturing, distribution to recycling cars and batteries – TMP stated it is also diversifying sustainable mobility with xEV usership services and exploring the benefits of data solutions and connected technology for travel or logistic efficiency resulting in CO2 reduction.