Government Slaps 20 Percent Tax on Imported Ramen to Protect Local Brand

A key amendment under the Customs Bill sparked debate in today’s House Meeting as Prime Minister John Briceño announced that imported ramen, specifically instant noodles, will now carry a 20 percent increase in tax. The Prime Minister explained that the measure is intended to protect Belize’s emerging local ramen industry, particularly the Caribbean Organic Foodstuff Company, which began producing its own Belizean instant noodles under the “Manna” brand in late 2024.  Briceño told the House that local manufacturers face steep competition from cheaper imports, many of which benefit from subsidies abroad. He said the government must ensure that Belizean investors, who are putting money into machinery, ingredients, jobs, and domestic supply capacity, are given a fair opportunity to grow.

John Briceño, Prime Minister: “It is a protection not against but for our locally made ramen. But as it is right now, our locally made ramen is selling cheaper than what was being charged for the imported one. And we have to protect our own. And so we believe that after they made an appeal to the Ministry of Investment, the Ministry of Investment came to make the appeal, took it to cabinet, and the cabinet felt that it’s something good. We got involved with the Ministry of Foreign Trade, who then in turn discussed it with CARICOM since we are a member of the single market economy, to be able to get approval. And so it has been approved that we can put a tariff of 20 percent.”

On the Opposition side, Leader of the Opposition Tracy Taegar Panton said she has “mixed feelings” about the amendment. While she recognizes the importance of protecting homegrown industries like the Manna instant noodle line, she raised concerns that the tax increase may disproportionately affect low-income families who rely on imported ramen as an inexpensive meal option.  Panton urged the government to carefully consider the cost-of-living implications and to ensure that the rise in import taxes does not unintentionally burden vulnerable households.

The Customs Bill amendment forms part of a broader effort to modernize Belize’s revenue framework while strengthening domestic production. The amendment went through its three readings and passed.