Philippines says talking with Thailand on rice deal

Published: 25 Oct 2009 22:11:29 PST

MANILA, Oct 26 - The Philippines, the world's biggest rice buyer, is currently in talks to purchase 200,000 tonnes rice from Thailand under a government-to-government (G-to-G) deal, a senior state official said on Monday.

"The Philippines and Thailand are negotiating a certain volume for G-to-G," Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap told reporters, adding the initial volume Manila was willing to grant Bangkok is 200,000 tonnes.

On Sunday, Thai Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai said an agreement between Manila and Bangkok on rice import tariffs would be delayed by a month or two as negotiations continued. [ID:nSIN537048]