July 25, 2025

 

Philippine meat importers to gain from zero-tariff US meat shipments 

 

 

The Philippine meat sector stands to benefit from the zero-rated tariff meat imports from the US as it would favour certain meat cuts, which could also merit a shift in the market.

 

"Chicken leg quarters and chicken MDM [mechanically deboned meat] will be impacted favourably," says Jesus Cham of the Meat Importers and Traders Association,

 

"Pork and beef imports will also be affected favoruably, although we do not buy a lot from the [US] at the moment. This will most likely change," he added.

 

He said that other countries might also need to adjust their prices to compete against the duty-free products from the US.

 

"The question is, when will this take effect? Importers will have to digest their current inventory and products in the pipeline to avoid losses," Cham said.

 

"Bottom line, I suppose, is that meat prices from the United States will come down by December over the new year."

 

However, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa noted that the zero tariffs in certain markets remain under discussion, citing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s statement that it would mainly be applied to automobiles.

 

"The President also issued a statement before he flew back to Manila and clarified that the zero tariff is for automobiles and does not include all [markets]," De Mesa told reporters on Wednesday.

 

"There will be further discussions here [in the Philippines] on how the details of this will be. So, let's just wait for the details."

 

-      Business Mirror