U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Philippine Secretary of Trade and Industry Ramon Lopez recently issued a joint statement noting that the two countries have made progress on several key trade issues of specific interest to the U.S. red meat industry.
These include collaboration on the development of cold chain requirements and best practices in the Philippines and an agreement to seek improvement in the valuation of agricultural imports for duty collection purposes.
Joel Haggard, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) senior vice president for the Asia Pacific, discusses these issues in more detail in the audio clip below, explaining their importance to U.S. exporters. Haggard also notes that the Philippines is a rapidly growing destination for U.S. red meat—especially raw material used in further processing.
Through August, U.S. pork exports to the Philippines totaled 30,759 metric tons (mt), up 22% from a year ago, valued at $73.9 million (up 17%). Beef exports were 25% ahead of last year’s pace in volume (11,408 mt) and 30% higher in value ($55.9 million).
