The Department of Agriculture (DA) said coconuts and poultry will be among the key agricultural commodities up for discussion in the scheduled meeting between Philippine and US trade officials on reciprocal tariffs.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., have told reporters local producers have been batting for the possible adjustments of US’ tariffs on coconut products.
A team led by Frederick Go, the special assistant to the president for Investment and Economic Affairs, is scheduled to fly to the US within May, and will serve as lead negotiator, while DA Undersecretary Asis Perez, who handles Policy, Planning and Regulations, will represent the agency in the Philippine delegation.
“Well, from what I understand, as of the moment, that 17 percent allotted is an advantage to us but there are other sectors, I think, that are at a disadvantage and don’t agree, so there will probably be a deal somewhere there,” Tiu Laurel said.
However, as of April 30, Tiu Laurel could not tell the target rate of adjustments the Philippine delegation would be seeking, to make the US tariffs more bearable to Philippine agricultural products.
“Of course, in any negotiation, we want the minimum. So, I will leave it up to Secretary Go. I’m very confident in his capability to get something that is fair for the Philippines,” the DA chief said.
“It’s very hard to say what America really wants from us but earlier, a company mentioned here that they are hoping for coconut exports and tariffs for a possible downward adjustment so we can sell more to the US,” he added.
The Department of Trade and Industry earlier said the US was the top buyer of the Philippines’ food and non-food coconut products in 2024, accounting for 25.68 percent of the total. The Philippines exported a total of $556.3 million worth of coconut products to the US in 2024.
Meanwhile, Tiu Laurel assured the local poultry industry that their interests will be the priority of the government in the US tariff negotiations. The DA chief gave the assurance in response to fears that the US may want further access to the country’s poultry imports market.
“What I’m gonna say is not the policy but I think the local industry should not fear that much because it’s not about adding the amount to be imported. It’s just a shifting of preference. Meaning, if we buy mostly from Brazil and now that the US has this move, we may allow the US to get a bigger share and reduce it from Brazil,” he explained.
Based on data from the Bureau of Animal Industry, the country purchased a total of 472,211,452 kilograms of imported chicken in 2024. Of that amount, 158,159,185 kg were from the US, equivalent to 33.5 percent while 237,395,370 kg or 50.3 percent came from Brazil.
On the other hand, the DA said that the country could attain a better market position for fisheries products in these tariff adjustments.
Tiu Laurel said that since Vietnam and Thailand got tariff rates of between 35 and 40 percent from the US, the Philippines may offer itself as the alternative source of tilapia and vannamei shrimp with its lower 17 percent tariff rate.
He added, however, that since the US tariff rates have been suspended for three months and pegged at a uniform 10 percent in the meantime, all trade partners have been “hanging and monitoring and we just have to be patient and act accordingly.”
