Cutting tariffs on agriculture products will not necessarily address the inflation, but would instead lead to the death of the agricultural industries, the five-coalition Agri-Fisheries Alliance (AFA) said on Friday. Former Trade Undersecretary Ernesto Ordoñez, AFA convenor, said that the government’s proposal to abolish the 40 percent poultry tariff and the 35-40 percent hog tariff will lead to massive unemployment, discontent, and poverty. AFA issued the statement after Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) disclosed over the week that the President is set to sign an executive order which will reduce tariffs on imported rice, vegetables, corn, wheat flour, and meat that includes poultry to help address inflation.

San Juan, A. (2018, August 12). Alliance rejects tariff cut on agri products. Manila Bulletin, p. 4.