Importing Steel from China to the Philippines: ACFTA 0% Duty, VAT 12% & Clearance Rules (2026)
Verified 2026-10-30 against official Philippine and WTO sources. Under ACFTA (Form E), most Chinese steel enters the Philippines at 0% duty; without it, MFN rates on steel are low — typically 1–7%. VAT is 12%. The Philippines is one of the few Asian markets with no active anti-dumping duty on Chinese flat steel, which makes landed-cost planning unusually predictable.
Import duty on steel
| HS heading | Product group | Import duty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7208 | Hot-rolled flat, non-alloy (HRC, plate) | ACFTA 0% / MFN 1–7% | EO 375 rate schedule lists HS 72.08 lines individually — check your exact AHTN line. |
| 7209 / 7212 | Cold-rolled flat (CRC) | ACFTA 0% / MFN 1–7% | — |
| 7210 / 7212 | Coated flat (galvanised, prepainted) | ACFTA 0% / MFN 1–7% | — |
| 7225 | Alloy flat: wear plate, high-strength plate | ACFTA 0% / MFN 1–7% | No AD measures on alloy plate — one of the clearest lanes for Chinese wear plate in Asia. |
| 7213 / 7214 | Bars, rods, rebar, wire rod | ACFTA 0% / MFN 1–7% | — |
| 7301 / 7306 | Sections, beams, welded tubes | ACFTA 0% / MFN 1–7% | — |
Anti-dumping & trade-remedy measures in force
The Philippines has no active anti-dumping duty on Chinese flat steel as of 2026-10-30. The Tariff Commission and the Department of Trade and Industry have the legal toolkit (RA 8752, Safeguard Measures Act RA 8800) and have used it historically — the terminated cases list includes hot-rolled steel — but current enforcement focuses on customs valuation and product standards rather than duties. Two practical watch-items:
- Customs valuation scrutiny: the Bureau of Customs runs reference-price monitoring on steel; under-declared CIF values trigger audits.
- Product standards: DPWH and BPS standards apply to rebar and structural steel used in government projects — third-party inspection (SGS/BV) is commonly required in contracts.
How the duties stack up — landed-cost cascade
Worked example — US$700/t wear plate with Form E: duty US$0 → VAT 12% = US$84 → 12% of CIF total. Without Form E: typical MFN 3% (many 72.08 lines are at 1–7%) + 12% VAT ≈ 15.4%. Add arrastre, wharfage and insurance (~1–2%) and you have a genuinely predictable landed cost — one reason Philippine distributors quote Chinese wear plate so aggressively.
Documents & certificates you need
- Form E certificate of origin (ACFTA) — issued before shipment; without it you pay MFN.
- Import Entry (IF) and customs declaration filed through the Bureau of Customs' electronic system by your Philippine importer.
- BOC accreditation of the importer; regulated steel lines may need a Certificate of Product Registration or ICC stickers for retail.
- Mill test certificate per heat; wood packaging ISPM 15.
Official sources for this page
- Philippine Tariff Commission — AHTN tariff schedule & EO 375 rates
- Bureau of Customs — import procedures & valuation
- Department of Trade and Industry — product standards & trade remedies
- WTO Tariff Download Facility — applied MFN rates
Every figure above was re-checked against these portals on 2026-10-30. Philippine MFN lines vary by AHTN code — confirm your exact line with the Tariff Commission schedule.
Change log — what moved, and when
| Date | Change (source: Tariff Commission / BOC) |
|---|---|
| 2026-10 | Confirmed on re-verification: no anti-dumping duties in force on Chinese flat steel; ACFTA Form E remains the operative 0% channel. |
| 2021-06 | EO 375 (2021) set the current MFN rate schedule applied by the Tariff Commission, with most steel lines at 1–7%. |
Philippines steel import FAQ
Is the Philippines really free of anti-dumping on Chinese steel?
Yes — as of 2026-10-30 there is no AD duty on Chinese flat steel. Historical cases (e.g. hot-rolled steel) were terminated. The Tariff Commission can open new cases, so we re-check before each contract.
What MFN rate applies if we forget the Form E?
Typically 1–7% depending on the AHTN line — far lower than ASEAN peers. Many importers still ship without Form E for steel lines with low MFN rates, but for lines at 7% the certificate pays for itself.
How current is this page?
Verified 2026-10-30. The Philippine tariff schedule is stable; we still confirm each AHTN line against the Tariff Commission schedule on every quote.
Sources & verification
- 1Philippine Tariff Commission
- 2Bureau of Customs
- 3Department of Trade and Industry
- 4WTO Tariff Download Facility
Figures on this page were verified on 2026-10-30 against the official sources below. Data is reviewed and re-verified monthly; dates of each review are shown on this page.
