Hanoi, April 7 -- Hanoi (VNA) - The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) has initiated an investigation on preliminary safeguard measures on imported rice that may lead to the imposition of additional tariffs or even import restrictions to protect local farmers.

The probe covers various rice products, including paddy rice, brown rice, semi-milled or wholly milled rice and broken rice under AHTN codes 1006.10, 1006.20, 1006.30 and 1006.40. The investigation period runs from 2020 to August 2025.

The launch of the investigation came almost six months after local groups filed a petition to the DA to impose provisional safeguard duties on imported rice and initiate a safeguard investigation.

Under Republic Act 8800 or the Safeguard M...