Sunday, February 03, 2008 Tariff on veggies remain the same
AN OFFICIAL of the Tariff Commission assured Benguet officials and farmers that the government has not reduced the taxes imposed on imported farm products, which are similarly grown in the province.
Yolanda Aquino, supervising tariff specialist of the tariff commission, said the rates of duties imposed on imported agricultural crops like carrots and cabbages were not reduced, as a way of safeguarding those locally produced from the threats of globalization.
She told farmers and local officials in a recent meeting the rates imposed on potato remains at 20 percent while cabbage at 25 percent.
Farmers and local leaders have assailed government when the tariffs imposed on imported carrots and potatoes went down to five percent.
Aquino said government did not lower the 20 and 25 percent taxes on carrots and cabbages, respectively to protect the locally produced ones.
Imposition of high tariff rates on imported agricultural crops is one of the safeguards adopted by the National Government in the implementation of its bi-lateral trade agreements with other countries.
Also, Aquino assured that as of this date, there were no reported smuggled vegetables which entered the country.
Vegetable smuggling and unabated legal importation are being assailed for their negative impacts on the livelihood of local farmers.
Smuggled and imported crops sell at a lower price in the local markets. (JC)
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