THE Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) wants the tariff on rice imports restored to its old rate, arguing that its reduction to 15 percent from the previous 35 percent has not helped consumers, but instead only benefited rice importers and wholesalers.
On June 20, 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order 62 modifying the import duty rates of various commodities, including rice, which was expected to pull down the staple's retail prices.