Government mulls higher tariff on artificial sweeteners

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February 11, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said he is considering to hike the tariff on artificial sweeteners to curb importation of the product, which has risen to a volume that has affected local sugar producers.

He said the plan has received support from Finance Secretary Frederick Go.

“We are going to formulate and calculate what is the correct tariff rate,” Tiu Laurel told reporters on the sidelines of the induction of officers of the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines Monday evening.

While he did not provide the specific increase in the tariff rate, he noted that they want the rate to be at a level sufficient to encourage local consumption while not totally deterring importation.

Tiu Laurel said importation of artificial sweeteners last year rose by 200,000 metric tons (in raw sugar equivalent), an increase he described as “significant.”

The country consumed 814,000 metric tons of artificial sweeteners (in raw sugar equivalent) last year, according to a report by the US Department of Agriculture - Foreign Agricultural Service in Manila. The artificial sweeteners include aspartame, acesulfame, sucralose, saccharin and stevia.

At present, tariffs on these commodities range from one to three percent.

The issue on the surge of imported artificial sweeteners as well as sugar alternatives came to light in 2024 after various industry groups lamented the plunge in demand for locally produced sugar.

Industry groups pointed out that the use of artificial sweeteners and sugar alternatives by end-users affected the demand for local sugar, resulting in a subsequent drop in prices of the commodity to which they said was detrimental to both planters and millers.

“But at least we will increase the tariff so that there will be additional demand for our local sugar,” Tiu Laurel said.

“It was a decision by the Sugar Regulatory Administration and DA to pursue that,” he added.

Government officials and sugar industry stakeholders have noted that the importation of artificial sweeteners have been unregulated, thus, resulting in the surge in imports in recent years, diminishing market demand for locally produced sugar since the former are cheaper.

In 2025, the SRA moved to impose import clearance fees on sugar alternatives to monitor the actual volume that enters the country.

Earlier this month, Tiu Laurel said the DA and SRA have received a manifesto from various sugar industry stakeholders that asked the government to regulate the importation and use of artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes in the market.

“We have brought this issue to the attention of all the stakeholders involved, and after meetings with leaders, I am very happy that everyone has come together for this common cause,” SRA administrator and CEO Pablo Luis Azcona said.

“It is probably one of the few times the stakeholders have one common stand, and the SRA will surely take action,” Azcona added.