The Philippines has agreed to Thailand supplying up to 50,000 metric tons of “premium rice” on a need basis.

Trade and Industry Assistant Secretary for International Trade Group Ramon Vicente Kabigting said that Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap has agreed to the new language Tuesday night.

According to Kabigting, the language in the draft agreement goes, “If the Philippines should need to import high quality rice, Thailand will supply up to 50,000 metric tons.” This would be part of the planned 360,000 metric tons of rice to be imported from Thailand as part of the Philippine compensation for delaying tariff cuts on rice under the ASEAN Free Trade Area agreement.

Kabigting said the agreement between the Philippines and Thailand is going to be signed during the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting in Malaysia end of this month.

The language on the 50,000 metric ton premium rice allocation was agreed upon after the Philippines told Thailand that what the country intends to buy is “affordable” rice and not premium rice.