The Department of Agriculture (DA) is exploring the possibility of raising tariffs on imported artificial sugar to boost demand for locally produced sugar, GMA News Online reported.
The move aligns with the government’s decision to extend the ban on sugar imports until December 2026. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. shared the plan on Monday evening during the induction of officers of the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) in Makati City.
Laurel said he discussed the proposal with Finance Secretary Frederick Go. “I asked him what he thinks about increasing tariffs on artificial sugar. He said it looks okay with them,” the agriculture chief said.
He added that the department is now determining the appropriate tariff rate. “We’re going to formulate and calculate what would be the right amount of tariff we can increase,” he said, noting that the rate would not be “too high.”
The plan comes after imports of artificial sugar jumped by 200,000 tons in 2025, a rise attributed to a lack of regulation, according to Laurel.
In December 2025, the DA announced it would extend the sugar import moratorium until the end of 2026, prioritizing locally produced sugar and stabilizing the market amid stronger domestic production.
The department is also finalizing rules for molasses imports. Proposed measures would require users to first purchase locally produced molasses before imports are allowed.
