Philippines: Rice Tariffication Law Enacted
On February 14, 2019 President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act (RA) No. 11203, which replaces rice import quantitative restrictions with tariffs. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRRs) will be issued within 45 days and are expected to clarify specific roles of the agencies involved in the law’s implementation. Increased rice imports are expected from Association of Southeast Asian Nations member countries as a result of this legislation. Legal challenges in the form of lawsuits are also likely in the near future.
