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The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the White House announced trade agreements with Malaysia and Cambodia on October 26, 2025, and Joint Statements with Vietnam and Thailand. The agreements with Malaysia and Cambodia will enter into force 60 days after a letter exchange indicates all domestic legal processes have been completed. For Vietnam and Thailand, this was just the publication of Joint Statements, and details must still be negotiated/agreed.
The ASEAN region is more critical than ever to the U.S. as an alternative market to China, especially for pork variety meats. U.S. pork currently holds only minor import shares in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia due to the combination of tariff and non-tariff barriers. The growth potential is significant when these barriers are addressed.
Malaysia imported $188 million worth of pork in the first 8 months of the year, including $11.5 million from the U.S., while the EU held a dominant share of 82%. Malaysia already had mostly zero tariffs, and those will be maintained. Malaysia has agreed to reduce the 15% tariff on pork sausages to 10% on entry into force; and to immediately eliminate the 10% tariff on “other” sausages. The 10% tariff on other processed pork products also goes immediately to zero. Most importantly, Malaysia is expected to eliminate its plant-by-plant approvals, onerous questionnaires, and registration processes. If Malaysia carries through with the agreement, it will accept the FSIS MPI directory, making all U.S. plants eligible. Having all FSIS-inspected U.S. pork facilities eligible for Malaysia will expand the market potential from just a handful of plants.
Cambodia is a small market for imported pork, heavily impacted by trade within the region. USMEF expects only limited opportunities, but the elimination of its 15% tariff on U.S. pork and certainty on SPS-related barriers mean that the U.S. industry will be in a favorable position when opportunities arise.
Thailand’s pork imports are minimal ($7.8 million, mainly from Spain) because it heavily restricts all import market access, but there would be meaningful opportunities if the ban on U.S. pork were lifted.
Reported pork exports to Vietnam were valued at about $225 million in the first 8 months of the year, including an estimated $8 million from the U.S., while the EU shipped over $110 million, benefiting from preferential tariffs. If tariffs were eliminated in line with Vietnam’s other trade agreement commitments, and if plant and product registration requirements and offal restrictions were lifted, there would be meaningful opportunities for U.S. pork.
October 26, 2025/ USMEF/ United States.
https://www.usmef.org/
