Voluntary Report - public distribution

**Date:** 3/16/2004

**GAIN Report Number:** RP4014

RP4014

**Philippines**

**Sugar**

**Duty on Powdered Sugar-containing Premix Concentrates Raised**

**2004**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)David C. Miller

FAS Manila

**Prepared by:**

Pia Abuel-Ang

**Report Highlights:**

On March 4, 2004, the President of the Philippines issued Executive
Order No. 295 (EO 295) which reclassified some sugar containing products
from H.S. 2106.90.10 and 2106.90.50 to 1701.91.00 and 1701.99.00. Under
the new headings, the applied tariffs for these products will increase
from 1-10 percent to between 48-65 percent. According to the Sugar
Regulatory Administration (SRA), EO 295 was designed to effectively
close the loophole used by domestic beverage manufacturers to bring in
raw materials at low tariffs.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Unscheduled Report

Manila \[RP1\]

\[RP\]

On March 4, 2004, the President of the Philippines issued Executive
Order No. 295 (EO 295) which reclassified sugar-containing products
under different H.S. headings. Under the new H.S. codes, the applied
tariffs for these products will increase from a range of 1-10 percent to
between 48-65 percent. These sugar-containing premix concentrates were
previously classified under H.S. Codes 2106.90.10, "flavoring materials
for beverages" and 2106.90.50, "composite concentrates to make
beverages" with tariff rates of one and ten percent, respectively.
Domestic beverage manufacturers use these premix concentrates as raw
materials for their powdered juice mixes and beverage products such as
iced tea.\
\
EO 295 was signed after the Philippine Tariff Commission approved the
petition of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to reclassify imported
powdered premixes as sugar under tariff heading 1701.91.00 or
1701.99.00. The EO expanded the definition of commodities falling under
Chapter 17, "Sugar and Sugar Confectionery" by including products
containing over 65 percent by dry weight of sugar under this specific
heading.

Powdered beverage concentrates previously classified under H.S.
2106.90.10 and 2106.90.50, containing over 65-percent sugar by dry
weight now carry a duty ranging from 48 to 65 percent. Under the
Philippine Tariff and Customs Code, sugar products imported from the
ASEAN region have a tariff of 48 percent per the ASEAN Free Trade
Agreement (AFTA). All other sugar-containing beverage mixes from
non-ASEAN countries are levied an out-of-quota rate of 65 percent and an
in-quota rate of 50 percent (see EO 295 below).

According to the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), EO 295 was
designed to effectively close the loophole that had been used by
domestic beverage manufacturers and other industrial users in the past
to bring in raw materials at low tariffs. They believe that this has
resulted in the drop in the demand for domestic sugar, subsequently
affecting the millgate price of sugar.

Data from the National Statistics Office (NSO) shows that the country
imported about \$86 million worth of premix concentrates in 2002. It is
reported that this measure is expected to result in increased tariff
revenue of \$12 million for the Philippine government.

The President signed the executive order imposing the higher tariff on
powdered premixes in response to complaints from domestic millers and
farmers about falling sugar prices. With the higher tariffs on these
products, millers and farmers expect domestic beverage firms to source
their sugar requirements from the local market.

**MALACAÑANG\
**Manila

**BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES**

**EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 295**

> ** MODIFYING THE NOMENCLATURE AND RATES OF IMPORT DUTY ON SUGAR 
> (HEADING 17.01) UNDER SECTION 104 OF THE TARIFF AND CUSTOMS CODE OF
> 1978 (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1464), AS AMENDED**
>
> **WHEREAS,** a review of the present classification of sugars under HS
> Heading 17.01, Section 104 of the Tariff and Customs Code of 1978
> (PD1464), as amended, is warranted to facilitate monitoring of
> imported sugars and establish a clear framework for rules relating to
> the classification of sugars and articles containing the same;
>
> **WHEREAS,** the NEDA Board Committee on Tariff and Related Matters
> (CTRM) approved, at its meeting of 23 February 2004, the grant of a
> tariff concession on imports of certain sugars from the ASEAN Member
> States; 
>
> **WHEREAS,** Sections 401 and 402 of the Tariff and Customs Code of
> 1978, as amended, empowers the President of the Republic of the
> Philippines to increase, reduce and remove existing rates of import
> duty, as well as to modify the form of duty and the tariff
> nomenclature, under Section 104 of the Code;
>
> **            NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO,** President
> of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in
> me by law, do hereby order:
>
> **            SECTION 1. ** The articles specifically listed in Annex
> "A" hereof, as classified under Section 104 of the Tariff and Customs
> Code of 1978, as amended, shall be subject to the rates of import duty
> \[Most- Favoured-Nation (MFN) and ASEAN Common Effective Preferential
> Tariff (CEPT)\] indicated in columns 4 and 5 opposite each article.
>
> **SECTION 2.** The ASEAN CEPT rates so indicated in Annex "A" shall be
> accorded to imports coming from ASEAN Member States applying CEPT
> concession to the same product pursuant to Article 4 of the CEPT
> Agreement and its Interpretative Notes.
>
>             **SECTION 3. ** The nomenclature and the rates of import
> duty on tariff headings not enumerated and those listed but
> represented by the symbol "x x x" shall remain in force and in effect.
>
> **            SECTION 4. ** Upon the effectivity of this Executive
> Order, all articles listed in Annex "A" which are entered and
> withdrawn from warehouses in the Philippines for consumption shall be
> levied the MFN rates of duty therein prescribed.
>
> **SECTION 5. ** Upon the effectivity of this Executive Order, all
> articles listed in Annex "A" which are entered and  withdrawn from
> warehouses in the Philippines for consumption shall be imposed the
> ASEAN CEPT rates of duty therein prescribed subject to qualification
> under the Rules of Origin as provided for in the Agreement on the CEPT
> Scheme for the ASEAN Free Trade Area signed on 28 January 1992.
>
> **SECTION 6. ** All Presidential issuances, administrative rules and
> regulations, or parts thereof, which are contrary to or inconsistent
> with this Executive Order are hereby revoked or modified accordingly.
>
> **SECTION 7. ** This Executive Order shall be subject to annual review
> by the CTRM.
>
> **            SECTION 8. ** This Executive Order shall take effect
> immediately following its complete publication in two (2) newspapers
> of general circulation in the Philippines.
>
> **            DONE** in the City of Manila, this 3rd day of March in
> the year of Our Lord, two thousand and four.
>
>  
>
>                          * (Signature of the President) *
>
>  
>
> ** **
>
> By the President:
>
>  
>
>  (Signed)\
> **ALBERTO G. ROMULO**\
>   Executive Secretary
>
>  

**                                                                                      
   Annex  "A"**  

+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
| **  |        | ** RATE OF DUTY (%)**             |        |        |
|  ** |        |                                   |        |        |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
| **  | # AHT  | **DESCRIPTION**                   | *      | **     |
| HDG | N CODE |                                   | *MFN** | CEPT** |
| .** |        |                                   |        |        |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
| *   | *      | **(3)**                           | *      | *      |
| *(1 | *(2)** |                                   | *(4)** | *(5)** |
| )** |        |                                   |        |        |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
| **  | ** **  | ** **                             | ** **  | ** **  |
|  ** |        |                                   |        |        |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
| **1 | ** **  | ## Cane or beet sugar and chemic  | ** **  | ** **  |
| 7.0 |        | ally pure sucrose, in solid form. |        |        |
| 1** |        |                                   |        |        |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
| **  | ** **  | \- Raw sugar not containing added | ** **  | ** **  |
|  ** |        | flavouring or colouring matter:   |        |        |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
|     | 1      |                                   |        |        |
|     | 701.11 |                                   |        |        |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
|     | To     |                                   |        |        |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
|     | 1701   | \- - - X X X                      |        |        |
|     | .12.00 |                                   |        |        |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
|     |        | \- Other:                         |        |        |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
|     | 1701   | \- - Containing added flavouring  |        |        |
|     | .91.00 | or colouring matter:              |        |        |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
|     |        |      A.  CONTAINING OVER 65% BY   | 50     | 5      |
|     |        | DRY WEIGHT OF SUGAR, IN-QUOTA     |        |        |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
|     |        |      B. CONTAINING OVER 65% BY    | 50     | 5      |
|     |        | DRY WEIGHT OF SUGAR, OUT-QUOTA    |        |        |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
|     |        |      C.  OTHER, IN-QUOTA          | 1      | 0      |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
|     |        |      D.  OTHER, OUT-QUOTA         | 1      | 0      |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
|     | 1      | \- - Other:                       |        |        |
|     | 701.99 |                                   |        |        |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
|     |        | \- - - Refined sugar:             |        |        |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
|     | 1701   | \- - - - White                    |        |        |
|     | .99.11 |                                   |        |        |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
|     |        |           A.  CONTAINING OVER 65% | 50     | 48     |
|     |        | BY DRY WEIGHT OF SUGAR, IN-QUOTA  |        |        |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
|     |        |           B. CONTAINING OVER 65%  | 65     | 48     |
|     |        | BY DRY WEIGHT OF SUGAR, OUT-QUOTA |        |        |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
|     |        |           C.  OTHER, IN-QUOTA     | 1      | 0      |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
|     |        |           D.  OTHER, OUT-QUOTA    | 1      | 0      |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
|     | 1701   | \- - - - Other                    |        |        |
|     | .99.19 |                                   |        |        |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
|     |        |          A.  CONTAINING OVER 65%  | 50     | 48     |
|     |        | BY DRY WEIGHT OF SUGAR, IN-QUOTA  |        |        |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
|     |        |          B. CONTAINING OVER 65%   | 65     | 48     |
|     |        | BY DRY WEIGHT OF SUGAR, OUT-QUOTA |        |        |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
|     |        |          C.  OTHER, IN-QUOTA      | 1      | 0      |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
|     |        |          D.  OTHER, OUT-QUOTA     | 1      | 0      |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
|     | 1701   | \- - - Other                      |        |        |
|     | .99.90 |                                   |        |        |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
|     |        | > A.  IN-QUOTA                    | 50     | 48     |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+
|     |        | > B.  OUT-QUOTA                   | 65     | 48     |
+-----+--------+-----------------------------------+--------+--------+