THE government is considering to increase tariffs on imported artificial sweeteners, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. told reporters at an Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines event late Monday.
Customs duties for sugar substitutes are currently at 5 percent.
Imports equivalent to about 200,000 metric tons of raw sugar increased last year, Tiu Laurel said, mentioning that he and Finance Secretary Frederick Go had discussed the possible additional taxes on artificial sweeteners.
“We’re going to calculate to see what the proper tariff rate should be,” Tiu Laurel said, noting that it should be at a level enough to increase demand for local sugar, and not too high that would discourage importation.
The government’s estimates on sugar consumption and requirements were “slightly ruffled” since there is no regulation on imported artificial sweeteners.
The DA and the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) had previously announced that the country won’t import sugar this year, except for the replacement of the 100,000 metric tons exported to the United States.
Meanwhile, raw sugar prices have increased from around P2,075 per 50-kilogram bag (Lkg) to a range of P2,200 to P2,400 per Lkg, Tiu Laurel said.
He also talked about the problem of unregulated imports of molasses, claiming that importers declare the items only upon arrival at the ports, after which the Bureau of Customs issues permits.
This is why the DA wants to regulate imports and conduct an audit of all molasses users in the country, Tiu Laurel pointed out.
Since only local molasses are allowed for use in alcohol production, Tiu Laurel said an audit is warranted due to discrepancies in the volume of processed molasses and those from mills.
In September 2025, the DA and SRA ordered a moratorium on imported molasses until December, but was extended until March 2026.
By then, they would be ready to resolve the issue, Tiu Laurel concluded.