DA seeks immediate tariff scheme for rice
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is calling for the immediate implementation of a tariff scheme for rice as the quantitative import restriction (QR) regime will end by end-June, contrary to reports that it has been extended for three more years.
Agriculture Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Segfredo Serrano said Executive Order 23 signed by President Duterte is not an extension of the QR, but of the effectivity of tariffs of several agricultural products.
“We at the DA just want tariffication. We want it immediately because the longer that we are in breach, the more dangerous it is for us to be sued,” Serrano said on the sidelines of the Rice Achievers Awards Tuesday night.
“The EO of the President is good because we preserved the concessions so negotiating partners have no motivation with the waiver and QR. Even if the waiver lapses, we will not hike our tariff of the products which is part of the concession,” Serrano said.
With the lapsing of the QR by end-June, the country’s deficiency with the World Trade Organization is the tariffication of rice but until now, lawmakers have not passed a bill signifying a tariff scheme.
“Even if we preserved the concession, it is not a guarantee that our negotiating parties will not sue us. If ever they sue us, the likely result is that we will lose because we did not comply with the commitment,” Serrano said.
“It’s like you have been caught for a certain violation and yet you are still hoping to win in that case. So let’s just tariffy so it will be safe for the country,” he said.
The DA continues to urge lawmakers to prioritize the tariff scheme before the session ends by first week of June.
“It’s better that they do everything that can be done now instead of just telling the public that they will do it next time. That’s the only thing that we are asking, for them to prioritize the tariffication,” he said.
Pending bills in the House include House Bill 5433 by Rep. Jose Panganiban Jr. which seeks to replace the quantitative import restriction on rice with tariffs.
Based on the bill, rice will now be among the agricultural products subject to tariff “in lieu of non-tariff import restrictions to protect local producers of agricultural products.”