February 27, 2009

The Philippine government on February 26 announced the US will still enjoy the country's tariff rate quota (TRQ) for pork, preserving US access to a fast-growing market for pork exports.

This announcement was public by the US' National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) at its website.

The Philippines previously warned that it will severely restrict pork imports by revoking importing licenses within the country's 54,210-tonne pork TRQ.

The NPPC, in response, filed a petition with the Office of the US Trade Representative in December 2008, requesting removal of the Philippines from the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).

NPPC said the restriction would have the Philippines violate World Trade Organization rules and a 1999 Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and the Philippines. 

GSP is a programme designed to provide developing countries such as the Philippines with preferential duty access to the US market. In 2007, the Philippines exported US$1.1 billion worth of products to the USA under the GSP programme. 

NPPC president Bryan Black said they were the delighted by the Philippine decision to maintain the pork TRQ and that the US have withdrawn the GSP petition.

However, the group said they will remain vigilant to ensure the Philippine government continues to give the US pork industry full access to its pork market.

The Philippine decision to maintain its current TRQ administration rules preserves a growing market for US pork exports. US pork sales to the Philippines in 2008 surged by 360 percent to 25,300 tonnes valued at US$46 million.