Flexible rice tariff adjustments OKd

THE Economy and Development (ED) Council has approved the recommendation to allow a more flexible rice tariff scheme starting in 2026, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) said.

- Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

"Starting Jan. 1, 2026, a more gradual and flexible tariff adjustment shall be adopted, with adjustments by 5 percentage points per 5% change in international prices, subject to a minimum rate of 15% and a maximum rate of 35%," DEPDev said in a statement on Tuesday.

This was the recommendation presented by the Tariff and Related Matters Committee (TRMC).

However, this fell short of farmer groups' demand to restore the 35% rice tariff, slamming the lower rate for flooding the market with cheap imports and gutting farmgate prices.

The ED Council also approved the TRMC recommendation to maintain the current Most Favored Nation tariff rate on rice imports at 15% until Dec. 31, for both in-quota and out-quota imports.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. had issued Executive Order (EO) No. 102 extending the rice import freeze until Dec. 31, in line with the Department of Agriculture recommendation.