Photo courtesy of Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines
MANILA – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has proposed to scrap import duty on electric vehicles to accelerate the country’s shift to e-vehicles.
DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said adjusting the tariff on e-vehicles will bring the down the cost for this mode of transportation that will encourage more people to use e-vehicles than those run by fuel products.
“We proposed to adjust the tariff rate from 30 percent to zero in order to populate the market with e-vehicles,” he said in mixed Filipino and English.
E-vehicles coming from Asean are already zero-duty while most favored nations are slapped with 30-percent tariff.
Lopez added the impact of this policy might be felt starting the second half of the year, but it will help in reducing the country’s consumption of oil, which prices are volatile.
The trade chief said e-vehicles will not only cut local oil consumption but these will also help in reducing carbon emission.
While accelerating the growth of e-vehicles, Lopez said the same effort should be done in putting up charging stations across the country. (PNA)
