Central American rice producers are expressing concern over the potential elimination of the rice import tariff under the Free Trade Agreement with the United States (DR-CAFTA) in 2023, which they believe could lead to bankruptcy and increased poverty. The tariff's elimination could allow for the import of rice without tariffs, putting local farmers at a disadvantage against US farmers who have subsidy programs. Rice farmers are urgently calling for government action to maintain a tariff that protects local producers and are seeking to use clause 3.18 in the DR-CAFTA to evaluate the impact of agriculture under the agreement.