The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors or AVID is the first industry group to release an official statement against the DTI’s plan to impose a safeguard tariff on imported passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.
Their statement reads as follows:

The move to impose provisional safeguard measures on imported vehicles is like pulling the rug from under the auto sector that is still struggling to get back on its feet with a 40 percent drop in sales in 2020. This further dampens the recovery outlook of the industry at a time when all players and stakeholders are appealing for government support. The measure will aggravate the already anemic demand and make it harder for Filipinos to afford personal mobility with the projected price hikes.

AVID has always aimed for the long-term development of the automotive sector, including the advancement of manufacturing as an inclusive means for growth. We have clearly and consistently expressed our position that penalizing imports will not trigger investments or create more jobs, much less address issues on the regional competitiveness of our local manufacturing sector. Alternatively, we call for long-term policies that will further improve the ease of doing business which would open opportunities for investments, create jobs for our workers, and provide the Filipino reliable and affordable means of transport.