Quantitative Restriction on Rice Imports: Issues and Alternatives

Abstract

Rice is integral to the Filipino diet, history, and culture. As the host of the International Rice Research Institute since 1959, the Philippines takes pride in its leadership in rice science and agricultural education. However, historical trade data reveal that the country has been a net importing country since the 19th century (Doeppers 2016)—a practice that Filipinos see as a national embarrassment. This 2017, the country’s quantitative restriction (QR) on rice will expire. The QR allows the government to limit the volume of rice that could be imported by the Philippines each year. It is intended to protect local rice producers from the adverse effects of cheap rice imports. This Policy Note examines the impact of the QR on rice imports and presents policy options for the Philippine government given the looming deadline for converting QR into tariffs.