Japan may sell rice to RP

[The10thBEE]

TOKYO, May 13 (Reuters) — Japan is considering selling to the Philippines up to 50,000 tons of 2005 rice from private stocks, in what would be a rare commercial deal for the country, whose rice market operates in near isolation, industry sources said on Tuesday. Trading companies, the Ministry of Agriculture and other parties concerned are considering the move, aimed at using up private-sector stocks of locally grown rice from the last good harvest year, one of the sources told Reuters. Asian rice prices have almost trebled this year, but are still about a third of the wholesale price for the 2007 crop in Japan. Prices are so high that the export market is minimal for Japanese rice, seen in Asia as a luxury food. But the cost of exporting the 2005 crop in storage would be much cheaper than that of the 2007 crop.

[Jun aka Pekto]

I suppose this will be temporary/limited. The day it becomes routine, we should collectively bow our heads in shame.

[CoDer]

Our country is going down the sink.

[cutedoc]

regarding the rice problem, i think there is more to it than just that... rice isnt really running out, govt personalities would just wan to make a way to hoard more money, this is just my opinion.

well pinoy are basically very impulsive, they believe on what is laid upon them without further investigation, the more investigative people tend to be the oppositionist and or they just leave the country as their ego is affected very much...

[Jun aka Pekto]

regarding the rice problem, i think there is more to it than just that... rice isnt really running out, govt personalities would just wan to make a way to hoard more money, this is just my opinion.

well pinoy are basically very impulsive, they believe on what is laid upon them without further investigation, the more investigative people tend to be the oppositionist and or they just leave the country as their ego is affected very much...

It's not a matter of ego. Rice is the very basic staple of the Philippines and is something (at least I feel) that should never have to be imported.

Of all countries along the Pacific Rim, Japan should be the one importing rice. Yet, the fact that Japan could afford to export rice despite how much it costs to her own people shows how far Japan has gone to protect its rice market.

It's pointless playing the blame game. What's done is done. Still, it's shocking for many Pinoys (including myself) here to find out the Philippines is importing rice and one of the biggest importers at that.

[v6dreamer]

What a shame! Tayo na ang binibintahan ng bigas. What next? SALUYOT!!!!