Philippines considers reduced tariff on garlic imports
Agriculture Undersecretary for Operations Ariel T. Cayanan said private traders are having difficulties buying garlic from abroad because of limited supply.
“Maybe we could reduce the tariff on garlic so it would be more profitable for traders to bring it in. Traders are saying they are losing money because the cost of garlic is high. Supply is limited because it is currently the lean season for garlic in China,” Cayanan told reporters in an interview.
“We still have to consult the policy and planning office to determine if it’s possible to reduce tariffs on garlic imports. We’re also going to meet with concerned agencies to determine how we will address the situation,” he added.
Garlic exports to the Philippines are slapped with a 3-percent tariff and subjected to 12-percent value-added tax, data from the Tariff Commission showed. The country’s garlic production in the first quarter of 2017 grew by 3.1 percent to 7,030 MT, from 6,820 MT recorded a year ago, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). However with the growing size of the population and the demand for garlic growing, officials are unsure if they can meet demand locally.
source: businessmirror.com.ph
