DA starts probe on safeguard measures for imported pork

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has launched an investigation on preliminary safeguard measures on imported pork to determine whether higher tariffs or import restrictions are needed to protect the local industry.

The DA recently published a notice on the initiation of a preliminary safeguard measures investigation into the importation of pork from various countries.

The agency notes that there is prima facie evidence of serious injury or threat to the domestic hog industry due to the rising entry of imported pork meat.

“The Secretary of Agriculture is convinced and satisfied that, based on the DA-Trade Remedies Office’s initial review of available statistical data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Bureau of Customs and other official sources, prima facie evidence exists,” the notice stated.

The period of investigation covers 2021 until August 2026.

The agency argued that the substantial and sustained increase in the volume of imported pork has a direct causal link to the industry’s losses.

It cited declining farmgate prices and producer incomes, shrinking market share and self-sufficiency, rising import penetration and growing commercial inventories.

Under Republic Act 8800, or the Safeguard Measures Act, the DA Secretary may initiate an investigation if there is evidence that increased imports are causing, or threaten to cause, serious injury to a domestic industry.

Once substantial harm to local producers has been established, the government may impose safeguard measures such as raising tariffs or limiting import arrivals.

The DA is looking to raise the tariffs on imported pork meat due to the decline in hog farmgate prices.

Under the DA’s proposal, tariffs on pork imports would initially rise by 10 percentage points, raising the in-quota rate from 15 percent to 25 percent and the out-quota rate from 25 percent to 35 percent.

The rates would then be increased further to 30 percent for in-quota imports and 40 percent for out-quota imports by 2028.