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Article: Neri bats for rice tariffs over QRs.(Business)
- Article from:
- Manila Bulletin
- Article date:
- February 20, 2003
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Romulo L. Neri yesterday batted for the imposition of tariffs on rice imports to replace quantitative restrictions (QRs), which involved the issuance of import licenses, as this is very prone to corruption.
In a speech at the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Neri said that putting a high tariff on rice imports and opening it up to everyone is a transparent system than the granting of import licenses which normally goes to unscrupulous traders.
Neri noted that rice in Vietnam is sold at only R8 per kilo and R10 in Thailand but the commodity is sold here at R22 a kilo.
It is a very corrupt system, he ...