Tariff body sets consultations on agri imports

MANILA, Philippines - The Tariff Commission is set to hold consultations this week on tariffs for agricultural goods in relation to the country’s extension of quantitative restriction (QR) on rice until 2017.

In a notice posted on its website, the Tariff Commission said it will conduct a public hearing on the request of the Philippines for waiver relating to the special treatment for rice under the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Sept. 3.

The public consultation will cover the following products: rice; frozen livers of swine; frozen separated meat of chicken; frozen turkey; frozen cuts and other offals of turkey; fresh, chilled frozen, salted, dried or smoked pig fat; buttermilk; butter; grated or powdered cheese; peas; walnuts; fresh grapes; rape or colza seeds; flours and meals of oil seeds; and prepared or preserved potatoes.

The consultations will also involve products covered by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations – Australia-New Zealand Free Trade

Agreement such as milk and cream; yoghurt; butter; processed cheese which are not grated or powdered; chocolate and other food preparations containing cocoa; filled milk, wine as well as grape.

“Interested parties will be given the opportunity to be heard and to present evidence in support or opposition of their positions,” the Tariff Commission said.

Earlier this year, the WTO approved the request of the Philippines to extend the QR or special treatment on rice imports until 2017.

The Department of Agriculture asked for a five-year extension of the QR which expired in June 2012 to give Filipino farmers time to build their production capability and enable them to cope with increased pressure that comes with the enforcement of free trade within Southeast Asia in 2015.

With the approval of the QR, the Philippines has agreed to cut the tariff for imported rice and to raise the minimum access volume (MAV) or rice imports that can enjoy a lower tariff.

The Philippines has cut the tariff rate for rice imports within the MAV to 35 percent from 40 percent.

The country has also increased the MAV to 805,200 metric tons (MT) from 350,000 MT previously.

Imports outside of the MAV are imposed a higher rate of 50 percent.

Aside from increasing the MAV for rice and reduction of tariff, the Philippines also allowed concessions or importation of other commodities such as butter milk, butter, grated or powdered cheese, French fries and frozen turkey at a lower duty from countries such as Australia, China, El Salvador, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and the United States, in exchange for the QR extension.