Reimposition of price-based SSG duty gives temporary relief to broiler sector - group

An agriculture stakeholder group welcomed the reinstatement of safeguard duties for select imported products, including meat, chicken, and coffee.

In a statement Wednesday, the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) urged for the proper enforcement of the price-based special safeguard duty (SSG) on eligible agriculture products under Bureau of Customs (BOC) Memorandum Circular (CMC) No. 72-2024.

“Strengthening and increasing safeguard duties imposed on chicken give immediate temporary relief to the local broiler sector without adversely affecting the chicken retail price,” PRRM president Edicio dela Torre said.

The poultry industry has been pushing for the reinstatement of price-based SSG after it was suspended six years ago, according to dela Torre.

Under BOC Memorandum Circular (CMC) No. 72-2024, all agricultural products listed in CMC No. 76-2018 should still be levied with the price-based SSG duty with their corresponding ASEAN Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature (AHTN) 2022 description and trigger prices.

Among the eligible products are live cattle, instant coffee, and meat, among others. It exempts, however, imported mechanically deboned meat. —VBL, GMA Integrated News