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President Rodrigo Duterte issued an executive order (EO) on April 7, 2021 temporarily modifying the rates of import duty on pork products to address the impact of the African swine fever (ASF) on the country’s hog industry. The order will be in effect for one year.
“There is an urgent need to temporarily reduce the Most Favored Nation tariff rates on fresh, chilled or frozen meat of swine to address the existing pork supply shortage, stabilize prices of pork meat, and minimize inflation rates,” the EO read.
EO 128 reduces tariff rates for both in-quota and out-quota imports of pork to boost pork supply in the country and tame prices of pork products.
Duterte’s latest EO reduces the MFN tariff rate on pork imports within the minimum access volume (MAV) to 5 percent for the first three months upon the effectivity of the order and to 10 percent for the fourth to 12th month from the current rate of 30 percent.
On the other hand, pork imports outside MAV will be slapped with a lower tariff of 15 percent for the next three months and 20 percent for the succeeding nine months from the current 40 percent, based on EO 128.
Last month, Duterte asked Congress to approve the proposed increase in pork imports to 250,000 metric tons from the present 54,210 MT to address the rising food prices and boost the supply of pork in the country.
On Feb. 1, Duterte signed EO 124, which imposes a price ceiling of PHP270 per kilogram for pork kasim and pigue, PHP300 per kilogram for pork liempo, and PHP160 per kilogram for dressed chicken until April 8.
There will be no extension of the price cap but Secretary William Dar said a suggested retail price (SRP) on imported pork will take effect on April 9. Imported pork kasim shall have an SRP of PHP270 per kilogram and PHP350 per kilogram for imported pork liempo.
April 7, 2021/ Philippine News Agency/ Philippines.
https://www.pna.gov.ph
