Safeguard Investigations Initiated on Ceramic Tiles Imported into Malaysia

On 11 September 2020, the Government of Malaysia initiated a safeguard investigation on imports of ceramic floor and wall tiles products into Malaysia.
 
The safeguard investigation was initiated by virtue of a petition filed by the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers – Malaysian Ceramic Industry Group (“FMM”).
 
FMM alleges that imports of ceramic floor and wall tiles products into Malaysia have increased by 13.23% from 2017 to 2018; and by 4.67% from 2018 to 2019.
 
This increase in imports, FFM alleges, have caused serious injury to the domestic industry in Malaysia producing like products as indicated by the declining market shares, sales, profitability, production volume, productivity rate and reduction in employment and wages.
 
In the event the Government of Malaysia finds that the allegations of the FMM are true, the Government of Malaysia may impose safeguard measures such as safeguard duties and import quotas, or a combination of both, on imports of such products into Malaysia.
 
Safeguard measures are “emergency” actions which can be taken in response to increases in quantities of particular imports where such imports have caused or threaten to cause serious injury to the importing country.
 
Any interested party, whether an international manufacturer and exporter of such products or a domestic importer or user, who wishes to respond must do so by 25 September 2020.
 
If you have any queries on this investigation or require any further information, please contact our Ms. Lim Koon Huan (lkh@skrine.com) or Mr. Manshan Singh (manshan.singh@skrine).