DA opens pork import probe

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has initiated a preliminary safeguard measures investigation into pork imports, opening a critical review of whether rising foreign shipments are hurting the domestic hog industry and warranting temporary trade protection.

Agriculture chief Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. initiated the investigation motu proprio under Republic Act No. 8800, or the Safeguard Measures Act, citing initial evidence of increased imports that may be causing serious injury or threatening local producers.

“The DA determined that prima facie evidence exists to warrant initiating the preliminary safeguard measures investigation to establish the existence and extent of serious injury or threat thereof, and the causal link between increased imports and injury,” Tiu Laurel said in his October 19 letter to Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro.

The investigation covers fresh, chilled and frozen pork, as well as offals and fats, under specified ASEAN Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature classifications. Its period of investigation runs from 2021 through August 2026.

The DA’s initial assessment identified several indicators of possible harm to the local industry, including declining farmgate prices and producer income, shrinking market share and self-sufficiency, rising import penetration, and growing commercial inventories.

These findings could strengthen the case for safeguards, but the investigation must establish whether increased imports are sufficiently linked to the reported injury.

The initiation itself does not constitute a final determination that foreign shipments are responsible, nor does it automatically impose additional duties or other restrictions.

The European Union is a central stakeholder in the proceedings. It accounted for approximately 47 percent of imports of the products under consideration from 2021 to 2025, according to the DA’s notice. Brazil, Spain, Canada, the Netherlands and the United States were among the other leading suppliers identified in the department’s documents.

The DA has asked the Department of Foreign Affairs to help circulate the investigation notice and supporting documents to relevant foreign diplomatic missions. It has also formally notified the EU delegation in Manila.

Interested parties are invited to submit written comments, evidence and positions within five working days from publication of the notice. Parties receiving questionnaires must provide complete responses within the applicable deadlines. — Philippine Star News Service/FPL