Peasant group wary slashed import tariffs will hurt local farmers, consumers

Market vendors sell their wares at a market in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on December 15, 2022.

Philstar.com, file

MANILA, Philippines — Extending reduced import duties for another year will not help consumers and local food producers as the government hopes, peasant women and rice watch groups said.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has extended the Duterte-era Executive Order 171 to reduce tariffs on imported agricultural products until December 2023 amid "supply shortages" and high inflation rates. Tariffs are imposed to give locally-produced goods a price advantage over imports.

"The extension of tariff cuts on pork, rice, corn and coal is another year of local production destruction and bankruptcy of local food producers," said Amihan secretary general Cathy Estavillo on Tuesday. Estavillo is also spokesperson for Bantay Bigas.

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/12/20/2232076/peasant-group-wary-slashed-import-tariffs-will-hurt-local-farmers-consumers