MANILA, Nov. 9 -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has approved a new "trigger-based" rice tariff mechanism designed to automatically adjust import duties depending on global prices as part of the government's thrust to stabilize rice costs and protect farmers.

Under Executive Order (EO) No. 105, signed on Friday, the existing 15 percent tariff on rice imports will remain in place until Dec. 31, 2025.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, the rate will adjust automatically by 5 percentage points for every 5 percent movement in world rice prices, within a 15 percent to 35 percent range.

Malacanang said the new mechanism replaces the flat tariff system under EO 62 (s. 2024) that balances consumer protection and farmgate support.

"The automatic tarif...