The Department of Trade and Industry is pushing for the immediate implementation to zero the 30 percent import tariff on e-vehicles (EVs) as part of the solutions to reduce dependency on fossil fuel and at the same time promote green environment.

DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said at the virtual Kapihan sa Manila Bay that bringing the EV tariff to zero is one immediate solution that can be done to support its thrust in the promotion of EVs and part of the DTI preparations to counter the impact if the Russia war in Ukraine is prolonged.

Lopez argued that since EVs are expensive, adjusting the EV tariff could help reduce the price and encourage more Filipinos to try EVs as one option that do not require the use of gasoline or diesel. At the same time, it will help in achieving a cleaner environment.

While this can be done in the immediate term as DTI, chair of the Committee on Tariff and Related Matters, is also in discussion with the National Economic and Development Authority.

According to Lopez, EV tariff reduction is important because the approach is to allow first the importation of EVs and the establishment of charging stations based on existing proposals and programs. The DTI is looking at growing these two together.

Lopez, however, explained that the benefit from the EVs is not seen immediate but the impact could be felt towards the second half of the year if there are already visible increases in the number of EVs on the road.

Lopez expressed hope that talks between the two countries will progress to peace and the war should be short-lived.

For now, he said, it is still “business as usual” for investors. In fact, Lopez said they just met the other day a group of investors on data centers and digital infrastructures. The trade chief, however, said that if the war is prolonged this would affect investor confidence, turning the “business as usual” to “wait and see” attitude.

Lopez also hopes to meet more foreign investors during the US-ASEAN Summit, which is temporarily scheduled on March 28-29, where President Duterte already hinted his possible participation with other ASEAN leaders.

During the summit, Lopez expects to meet with potential investors such as hyperscalers, digital infrastructure firms, and EV parts and components and battery manufacturers.

On food security, Lopez has also urged to diversify sources of wheat to include India, not just to Canada, US and Australia. He said that wheat prices have gone up by more than 60 percent even since last year. With the ongoing war, Ukraine and Russia, two of the world’s largest wheat producers, there would be further price pressure on wheat globally.