President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., after consulting select members of his Cabinet, decided to suspend for 60 days the importation of rice to protect local farmers from the influx of cheap rice, said Press Secretary Dave Gomez said Wednesday.
“To protect local farmers reeling from low palay prices during this current harvest season, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. today announced the suspension of all rice importation for 60 days beginning Sept. 1, 2025,” Secretary Gomez said.
Gomez said, however, that President Marcos held in abeyance any decision on the recommendation of the Department of Agriculture to raise rice tariff gradually back to 35 percent from the current 15 percent, a policy move more difficult to reverse company to the temporary import ban.
President Marcos and some members of the Cabinet are in India for a 5-day State Visit.
