“We terminated the study and we will now actively discuss with the EDC (Economic Development Cluster),” Dar told reporters yesterday. “The decision by the DA is to have this discussed first with the economic managers of the government,” he said. The Federation of Free Farmers has expressed disappointment over the DA’s recent decision as the safeguard measures are intended to help farmers. Under the rules of the World Trade Organization and the Safeguard Measures Act, the government can impose general safeguard duties on imports of rice on top of regular tariffs if imports are found to have caused, or threaten to cause injuries to rice farmers. If he has just delayed the decision, then the law is not being followed,” Montemayor said.

Source: Philippine Star October 11, 2019 16:30 UTC