Philippines puts 60-day ban on rice imports to protect local farmers
Philippines , among the world's largest buyers of rice, will suspend imports of the grain for 60 days from September 1 to protect local farmers affected by falling prices during the harvest season, the government said on Wednesday.
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President
Ferdinand Marcos Jnr ordered the suspension, Communications Secretary Dave Gomez told reporters, adding that tariff increases on imported rice had been ruled out for now. 'We will still see if we need to resort to that,' Gomez said.
Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the suspension period covered the country's peak harvest season, when domestic supplies were adequate.
Output of paddy rice, usually planted twice a year, reached 8.2 million tonnes (9 million tons) in the first half of the year. The government is targeting to produce a record 18.5 million tonnes (20.5 million tons) for the full year.
Last year, the government cut the import duty on rice to 15 per cent from 35 per cent until 2028 in a bid to tame inflation. Rice prices in the Philippines dropped by a record 15.9 per cent last month.
Workers move sacks of rice for transport from a National Food Authority warehouse in Valenzuela City, Metro Manila, Philippines, on February 19 after the Department of Agriculture declared a food security emergency. Photo: EPA-EFE
The announcement comes after Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jnr pushed for a temporary halt in imports of the national staple as well as an increase in rice import tariffs. He has said an influx of imported rice was hurting local producers and could force millers to shut operations.
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