Palace order needed to put up tariff system for rice

Following the Duterte economic team’s decision to lift import curbs on milled rice come June 30, Malacañang is readying an executive order that will help the domestic rice market transition to a tariff system for inbound grains, according to an official of the National Economic and Development Authority.

The Philippines was able to secure three times quantitative restriction (QR) on rice imports, a mechanism of the World Trade Organization that suspended the implementation of tariffs on rice for countries where trade of the staple grain is socially sensitive.

The latest extension is set to expire by mid-year and the Philippines did not take steps toward a possible renegotiation for a fourth extension.

Mercedita A. Sombilla, director of Neda’s agriculture, natural resources and environment staff, told reporters a new law was needed to define a tariff system for rice imports, but there appeared to be not more time to have this before June 30.

“We still don’t have defined tariffs on rice and we can’t do that without a new law or an amendment (to existing laws),” Sombilla said. “The countries which agreed to give us the concession (to implement the QR) will be complaining.”

She said the most practical way was to come out with an executive order that would define the transition to a tariff system, which should be done before June 30.

As late as last February, the Department of Agriculture continued to push for an extension of the QR for at least two more years.