Justice Secretary Leila de Lima believes that rice quotas imposed by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and National Food Authority (NFA) allowing government to monopolize the importing of rice may have violated the terms set by the World Trade Organization (WTO).

In her 12-page confidential opinion dated December 16, 2013, a copy of which was obtained by The Manila Times, de Lima advised Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and the NFA that the Quantitative Restrictions (QR) on rice can no longer be imposed until negotiations for its extension are concluded.