DA seeks return of 40% tariff on imported pork, two-month import holiday

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Saturday it is seeking the return of a 40% tariff on imported pork and a two-month import holiday to give local hog raisers time to recover from falling farmgate prices.

Hog traders earlier this week held a three-day "pig holiday," temporarily suspending their sale of pork. They urged the government to impose higher tariffs on pork imports, cancel pork import permits, and find a solution to stop the smuggling of foreign meat products.

"A two-month import holiday could temporarily reduce foreign supply and give local producers an opportunity to sell their hogs. Higher tariffs could also make imported pork more expensive," the DA said.

"However, the extent of any benefit would depend on implementation, market demand and the availability of domestic supply," it added.

Reading a message from Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., DA Undersecretary Asis Perez assured hog raisers that the agency is committed to protecting the local industry from what it called unfair import competition.

Perez said the Agriculture Department has been pushing for tariff increases well before the hog traders' protest, rejecting any impression that "the proposals were prompted solely by the protest."

"The DA filed a petition concerning pork jowl imports in August and another in September seeking to raise pork tariffs to 40%... The agency has since attended two hearings, although the approval process remains ongoing," the agency said.

It added that the proposed measures remain under review and require approval from other government entities, including the Tariff Commission.

The Agriculture Department said it is also preparing to launch an investigation under the General Safeguards framework, which could allow legal restrictions on pork imports if they are found to be harming domestic producers.

"The DA's message was clear: it is backing local producers. Whether that support translates into timely relief now rests on the next steps in the approval process," the DA said.

According to the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines, the industry is losing P350 million a day or P7,000 per pig head because of frozen pork coming from abroad. — VDV, GMA News