DA warns Vietnam: Don’t challenge PH’s rice import suspension

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) warned Vietnam not to challenge the Philippines’ move to suspend rice importation before the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The 60-day rice import pause will start on Sept. 1. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued the order to protect farmers during the incoming harvest. 

“I also would like to openly warn Vietnam: Please do not try to do this to the Philippines,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Wednesday, Aug. 20, said in a congressional hearing that tackled proposed amendments for the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).

“We have to protect our farmers, we will do what is needed,” Tiu Laurel said.

According to a Reuters report on Aug. 13, the Vietnam Food Association asked the country’s trade ministry to challenge the suspension order, with traders saying it will harm local production.

The Philippines is Vietnam’s biggest rice buyer.

Tiu Laurel told reporters that there was no official communication yet from the Vietnamese government if it would indeed sue the Philippines. He only cited news reports of Vietnam’s industry making the request.

But the DA chief was already confident that under WTO rules, national interest is “superior,” especially that the RTL empowers the president to halt importation under specific conditions.

“So kung talagang pipilitin nila ‘yan, we will find ways, hindi tayo bibili sa Vietnam,” he warned.

[Translation: If they will really go through with it, we will find ways, we will not buy from Vietnam.]

Tiu Laurel believed the two-month suspension will not affect Vietnam in the long-term.

“I’m sure they are right-minded individuals, our neighbors, they know we need to do what we need to do,” he told reporters.

As of Aug. 14, around 2.6 million metric tons of rice imports have arrived in the country. Around two million MT came from Vietnam.

Tiu Laurel said the government will assess the impact of the import pause after a month, with economic managers expected to weigh if there’s a need to adjust the rice tariff.

He said the suspension could also be shortened or extended depending on the assessment.