March 8, 2007

Philippines to buy 200,000 tonnes duty-free corn
 

The Philippines is set to buy 200,000 tonnes of duty-free corn to fill in a shortfall in local supply, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said Thursday.

Yap said the corn should arrive by July this year, which is an off-season for local harvests.

He told reporters that the department may bring another 200,000 tonnes of corn, also at zero-tariff, depending on actual demand by local livestock and poultry industries.

The current tariff for corn imports is at 35 percent.