The Philippines Government has on a temporary basis made a drastic cut to the tariff rate on pork imported into their country from the United States. Joe Schuele with the U.S. Meat Export Federation says while the Philippines purchases a lot of pork from the United States, they also do it with a very high tariff rate.
He says the tariff rate cut is only on a temporary basis.
Schuele says there is also consideration of an increase in the quota threshold which will allow most pork to enter the Philippines at the lower quota rate in 2021. He also says the U.S. is trying to diversify its pork markets so the Philippines is an important destination for American pork.
Schuele adds that U.S. pork exports to the Philippines are off to a fast start in 2021, through February pork and pork variety meat exports totaled more than 11,500 metric tons, up 114 percent from a year ago valued at $28.5 million.
