MANILA, Philippines—The Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) on Tuesday urged the House of Representatives to investigate and suspend the implementation of Executive Order No. 135, which President Rodrigo Duterte issued to lower tariffs on rice imports from non-Asean countries.
In a letter addressed to Congress, the FFF said reducing rice import tariffs was “totally unjustified.”
The President’s EO temporarily reduces most favored nation (MFN) tariffs for rice to 35 percent from 40 percent for in-quota imports and 50 percent for out-quota imports, according to Malacaang.
Malacaangexplained that the directive was intended to “diversify the country’s market sources, augment rice…
Keep on reading: Congress urged to probe, stop lower tariff on rice imports