Two of the countries that Trump will investigate for alleged price dumping.

Stephanie L. López, EL VOCERO

Following allegations of dumping in rice imports to Puerto Rico, official data reveals the local market’s high dependence on foreign suppliers.

According to data from the Planning Board (JP) and the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics, during fiscal year 2025, the value of rice imports from China reached $39.5 million, while Thailand contributed $36.7 million, solidifying both countries as the main sources of the grain arriving on the Island.

Argentina follows with imports valued at $15.1 million, and Spain with just over $536,000. In contrast, purchases from Italy ($20,873) and Pakistan ($6,270) were marginal.

Last week, during a roundtable discussion with farmers, US President Donald Trump indicated that India, Thailand, and China would be investigated for allegedly using Puerto Rico as an entry point to sell rice at prices that could be classified as dumping (that is, well below cost or fair market prices), which could harm US producers.

According to the World Trade Organization, “dumping is, in general, a situation of international price discrimination: the price of a product, when sold in the importing country, is lower than the price at which that product is sold in the market of the exporting country.”

In that context, a Louisiana farmer claimed that she could not sell her rice in the Puerto Rican market because three countries were allegedly dumping it on the island, and the product would then end up entering the United States.

Published Date: December 17, 2025