Background and Legal Authority
- Executive Order No. 61 (s. 2011) established the Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) tariff schedule for 2011-2015.
- The 2015 tariff rates were extended to 2016 due to no amendments in EO No. 61.
- The need for a new multi-year tariff schedule to promote transparency, stability, trade facilitation, and consumer welfare.
- Section 1608 of Republic Act No. 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act or CMTA) empowers the President to adjust import duty rates based on NEDA recommendations.
- On 20 February 2017, the NEDA Board approved the MFN tariff schedule for 2017-2020.
Scope and Application of Tariff Rates
- Article classifications under Section 161 of the CMTA are subject to the MFN rates as per the schedule in Annex A.
- The listed articles are explicitly subject to tariff adjustments according to their classification.
Imposition of Duties
- Upon effectivity, all articles listed in Annex A, whether entered or withdrawn from warehouses for consumption in the Philippines, shall be levied MFN import duties as prescribed.
Repeal and Modification of Previous Issuances
- All conflicting orders, rules, regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with this Order are repealed or modified accordingly to ensure legal consistency.
Separability Clause
- If any provision is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions shall continue to be valid and enforceable.
Effectivity
- The Order takes effect thirty (30) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Administrative Details
- The Order was issued in Manila on April 27, 2017.
- Signed by the President and the Executive Secretary to signify its authority and promulgation.