Marcos maintains modified import duty rates on deboned chicken, turkey

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has kept the temporary modification of import duty rates on mechanically deboned meat of chicken and turkey.

Through Executive Order No. 13, Marcos said, "There is a need to maintain the reduced tariff rates on mechanically deboned meat of chicken and turkey to ensure the continued supply of essential food products at affordable prices, diversity the country’s market sources and help businesses recover and sustain their operations."

Marcos pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic and the other factors affecting the country’s traditional sources of mechanically deboned meat of chicken and turkey have caused uncertainty in the steady supply of these commodities.

"The high inflation prompted by supply constraints, expected shortage in the global supply, and rise in international commodity prices present economic and trade implications to the country and the Filipino people," Marcos said in his order signed on January 13.

To recall, Executive Order No. 82 temporarily modified the Most Favored Nation (MFN) rates of import duty on mechanically deboned meat of chicken and turkey until December 31, 2020.

On January 15, 2021, then-President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. 123, retaining the tariff on mechanically deboned meat of chicken and turkey at 5% until December 31, 2022.

According to Marcos, the MFN rates shall be subjected to review after one year of implementation of Executive Order No. 13. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA Integrated News