American pork exporters will have another year to send product to Philippine buyers at reduced tariff rates.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved a recommendation to extend the country’s lower, most-favored-nation tariff rates on imported pork cuts through the end of 2023. The extension was recommended by the country’s National Economic and Development Authority, which also recommended extending lower rates for imported corn and rice through Dec. 31, 2023.
In mid-2021, then-President Rodrigo Duterte approved an executive order lowering the rate for in-quota pork cuts from 30% to 15%, and for out-of-quota shipments from 40% to 25%, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
The lower rates were set to expire at the end of 2022 but were extended for another full year.
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National Pork Producers Council President Terry Wolters said gaining better market access to the Philippines has been a top trade priority for U.S. pork producers. Wolters said NPPC hopes the U.S. and Philippines will “continue to work toward establishing better market access through the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.
This comes at the heels of NPPC working with the U.S. and Philippine governments to work on the prevention and preparedness against the spread of African swine fever throughout the country and region,” Wolters said. “This extension is an essential component of the commitment of NPPC and the United States to food security for the Philippines.”
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