Department of Agriculture chief pressured into extending lower pork tariffs?

MANILA, Philippines — Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel has opposed the extension of lower tariffs on certain agriculture commodities, particularly pork, but was allegedly pressured by economic managers to “toe the line” after the National Economic and Development Authority board chaired by President Marcos approved another one-year extension.

An official yesterday told The STAR that Laurel has been vocal about his position against the extension of reduced most favored nation tariff rates on several commodities, including rice, pork and corn until Dec. 31, 2024.

“He had committed to the industry and the private sector, and even during conversation with undersecretaries and assistant secretaries, not to extend (the lower tariff) on pork,” the source said.

The modified rates were originally approved in 2021 by former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Since then, the lower tariffs for rice, pork and corn have been extended for three consecutive years

The official added that Laurel was non-committal in rejecting the extension of the lower tariffs on rice and corn.

“His position was no extension on the tariff cuts on pork but there was pressure from the economic managers for him to toe the line,” the official added

The executive order will maintain tariff rates for imports of pork at 15 percent for shipments within the minimum access volume (MAV) quota and 25 percent for those exceeding the quota.

The tariff rates for corn will be kept at five percent within the MAV quota and 15 percent exceeding the MAV quota, while tariff rates for imports of rice will remain at 35 percent for both in-quota and out-quota

National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. president Chester Warren Tan has criticized the decision of the government to extend the lower tariff on pork, rice and corn.

“The morale of the hog raisers is low because of this. What we are saying is for the last two years after the lowering of tariff, we did not see the retail price of (imported pork) to go down to P250 (per kilo), Even at the grocery, you cannot buy P300 (per kilo), they only follow the price of local (pork),” Tan said.

Tan added that lower tariff on imported agriculture products also resulted in