LA PAZ, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Bolivian government announced on Wednesday the removal of the rice import tariff for three months starting from December, to ensure basic grain supply in the country.
The measure is taken in response to an expected decline in grain production due to adverse weather conditions and aims to stabilize the domestic market, said Nestor Huanca, minister of productive development and plural economy.
Huanca added that the decision was made also to combat speculative price increases caused by intermediaries and curb the growing smuggling of Bolivian rice to neighboring countries.
"We are taking this precaution to import at least 60,000 tons of rice from third countries for the three months," Huanca said.
The Bolivian government expects a stable supply of rice in March 2025 when the next harvest begins, and that the price will come back to normal.
In 2023, Bolivia produced 699,142 tons of rice, of which 415,033 tons were destined for domestic consumption, according to official data. ■
