Does the increase in rice imports threaten national production? To find the answer, the National Authority in charge of Trade Remedial Measures (ANMCC) launched a safeguard investigation on August 31, 2026, covering several categories of imported rice. The procedure was notified to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on September 2, specifically concerning husked, semi-milled, wholly milled, and broken rice.
Imports rose from 500,000 tons in 2021 to 800,812 tons in 2025. This trend occurs as the national rice sector experiences a decline in performance. Between 2023 and 2025, production and sales decreased by 25.6% and 25.4%, respectively. The investigation will determine whether this surge in imports is causing or threatening to cause serious injury to domestic production.
If significant damage is established, Madagascar could implement temporary measures, such as additional customs duties or quantitative restrictions. Importers, exporters, and other interested parties have 30 days to submit their observations following the publication of the notice. Questionnaires must also be returned within 30 working days.
This procedure comes as imports remain necessary to meet domestic demand, with a gap estimated at approximately 250,000 tons per year. A 20% customs duty on imported rice, combined with a 5% VAT on luxury rice, had been planned in the 2026 supplementary finance law, but these duties and taxes were temporarily suspended in August due to insufficient local production.
For 2026, the rice sector projects 5.17 million tons of paddy, compared to 4.68 million in 2025. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Agriculture anticipates a nearly 6% increase in milled rice imports, reaching 850,000 tons. Authorities must therefore balance support for national production with supply security.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-07 09:23:59 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.2424.mg/commerce-lanmcc-ouvre-une-enquete-de-sauvegarde-sur-plusieurs-categories-de-riz-importe/
