The Department of Agriculture has requested additional tariffs on several imported agricultural goods including pork, chicken and coffee to shield local producers from low-priced shipments.
In Department Order No. 15 the DA asked the Bureau of Customs through the Department of Finance to apply price-based special safeguard duties on a shipment-by-shipment basis.
The order lists specific trigger prices such as P89.22 per kilogram for frozen bovine meat and P93.96 per kilogram for certain chicken cuts and offal. Similar thresholds cover sausages, prepared meats, onions and various coffee products.
The Safeguard Measures Act permits the agriculture secretary to impose these duties once import prices breach the monitored levels without requiring a formal investigation.
The Trade Remedies Office confirmed that recent CIF prices for the listed items have fallen below the established triggers.
