Exemption from zero tariffs sought for chicken

THE Philippines will also appeal for the exemption of chicken products from the zero-tariff regime under the Asean Free Trade Area-Common Effective Preferential Tariff (AFTA-CEPT) scheme. The AFTA-CEPT schedule to bring down tariffs to between 0 percent and 5 percent on most products will take effect next year.

Donald Dee, the government’s special trade envoy, told reporters on Friday that they will officially bring up this matter at the upcoming Asean Business and Investment Summit on October 22 to 23 in Phuket, Thailand.

The envoy said that since many Filipinos prefer dressed and frozen chicken available at supermarkets, entry of imported processed chicken from neighboring countries at zero duty would give domestic chicken growers stiff competition.

Dee said tariff on chicken stands at 30 percent, adding that the country will appeal for a five-year extension of the prevailing duty.

Trade Secretary Peter Favila had said the Philippines will invoke the special protocol to exempt the domestic rice and sugar industries from zero tariff under AFTA-CEPT by 2010. Tariff on rice and sugar stand at 40 percent and 38 percent, respectively. –Ben Arnold O. De Vera, Manila Times