Farmers seek 30% safeguard duty on rice imports

The Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) and the Magsasaka Party-list have asked the Tariff Commission to impose a 30% definitive safeguard duty on rice imports, according to BusinessWorld.

The two groups also called for a modified minimum access volume (MAV) system that would allow the government to manage the entry of imports more actively, rather than relying on a fixed annual quota. They argued that a more flexible MAV scheme would help stabilize domestic prices and protect farmers from sudden surges in imported rice.

The safeguard duty is intended to shield local rice growers from cheap imports that could undermine farm incomes, particularly after the liberalization of rice trade. The Tariff Commission is expected to evaluate the petition based on evidence of serious injury or threat to the domestic industry.