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By Katrina Mennen A. Valdez, Reporter
DESPITE quality issues, the Philippines is set
to import more flour from China, the Department of Trade and
Industry said.
Trade Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya told
reporters the agency will request a bigger allocation of flour this
year, or up to 10 percent for a total of 150 metric tons from the
Chinese government not-withstanding issues over the quality of the
product.
“Trade Secretary [Peter B.] Favila will write
a follow up letter to the new trade minister of China for [our]
request for more flour allocation,” Maglaya said.
At present, China flour accounts for four to
five percent of the Philippines’ annual requirement of the
commodity.
Maglaya admitted a “quality problem” exists
with respect to China flour. But she said the Bureau of Food and
Drugs is conducting a series of laboratory tests to ensure the
imported product is safe for human consumption.
“China requires a three-year track record of
exporters, since right now [they] have been receiving a lot of
requests for flour allocation from other countries. But RP has no
problem because [we] have been importing from them for years,” she
said.
Hard flour costs between P670 and P880, while
soft flour is priced at P670 to P780. In contrast, China-made flour
is P130 cheaper, Maglaya said.
The trade official also said the Department of
Finance is unlikely to pursue a plan to impose higher tariffs on
wheat and wheat products, as doing so would invite similar requests
from producers of other commodities.
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