Gov’t urged to lower tariffs on pork imports
Meat importers are asking the government to reduce tariffs on imported pork to stabilize prices in the market.
The Meat Traders and Importers Association on Thursday wrote a letter to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), asking that the Most Favored Nation Rates of pork meat be reduced by 50%.
Most Favored Nation rates are tariffs imposed on members of the World Trade Organization.
Pork products are also under a tariff rate quota, which means that imports exceeding a certain quantity are taxed at a higher out-quota rate.
“We suggest reducing the duty on In Quota Pork from 30% to 10% and Out Quota Pork from 40% to 20%,” the importers said in a press release on Friday.
The group said that pork retail prices have climbed to as much as P500 per kilogram, from P300 per kilogram in October.
The Agriculture Department last week raised suggested retail prices for various cuts of pork sold in Metro Manila wet market and supermarkets due to shortages caused by the outbreak of African Swine Fever in some parts of the country.
The department said that the new SRP for pork shoulder, known as kasim, is at P260 per kilogram, from the previous P230.
The SRP for pork belly, or liempo, was set at P280 per kilogram, from P250.
The Agriculture department last week also said it is working with the hog industry to increase live hog and pork shipments from Visayas and Mindanao to increase Luzon supply and bring down prices.
The importers said that live hogs from Visayas and Mindanao are being traded at high prices and low weights.
“Additionally hogs are diverted to Luzon by reducing volume to the locality thereby depriving its very own consumers. These hogs cannot satisfy the demand of Luzon and whatever volume brought to Luzon would not be sustainable both in price and volume,” the group said.
The import industry group added that duties reduction on meat has precedents in the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration, adding that a reduction in import duties could help citizens affected by the pandemic by lowering prices.
“At the same time, the hog producers can rebuild their business into a globally competitive industry and the Philippines can consider venturing into the export of pork meat.” — Jenina P. Ibañez
