Malacañang has issued Executive Order (EO) No. 105, extending the 15 percent tariff on imported rice until December 31, 2025, while creating an Inter-Agency Group on Rice Tariff Adjustment to monitor and adjust tariffs based on global market prices.
The EO, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., introduces a new mechanism for tariff adjustments beginning January 1, 2026, depending on international rice price movements, with rates ranging from 15 percent to 35 percent.
Under the order, the Most Favored Nation (MFN) rates of duty on rice, both in-quota and out-quota, set under EO No. 62, will remain in effect until the end of 2025.
Starting January 1, 2026, tariffs will increase by five percent for every five percent drop in global rice prices, and decrease by five percent for every five percent rise in prices.
EO 105 guarantees that tariffs will not fall below 15 percent or exceed 35 percent, ensuring a balance between consumer affordability and farmer protection.
The Inter-Agency Group on Rice Tariff Adjustment (IAG-RTA) will include representatives from the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Finance (DOF), and the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAPIEA).
The group is tasked with drafting policies and guidelines for implementation, including setting price thresholds, verifying price levels through the DA, and conducting regular market monitoring.
EO No. 62 previously set the MFN tariff rate on rice at 15 percent for both in-quota and out-quota imports, subject to review every four months.
The Economy and Development Council earlier agreed to maintain the 15 percent tariff until December 31, 2025, and to implement a flexible adjustment mechanism starting January 1, 2026, based on global market conditions.