The British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP) reiterated its support towards further boosting the British pork imports in the country to assist in terms of challenges on food supply due to the El Niño phenomenon and African swine fever (ASF).

BCCP Executive Director/Trustee Chris Nelson noted in his recent interview that, “There are areas of opportunities that we have done particularly well and continue to do, with the growth of UK pork exports to the Philippines that is driven by mutual interest. There is a need here for food supply, food security, and to fight against inflation. The UK is known to be a quality supplier of pork and other products. I am pleased to say that chicken is also going to be available in terms of there are no restrictions between the two countries.”

Among its key advocacies are to leverage both countries’ agricultural sector by facilitating long-term partnerships with UK exporters and its Philippine counterparts. On 30 July 2024, it hosted the Philippine-British Meat Trade Briefing & Reception in partnership with the UK Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), marking the Philippines to remain as a significant partner of the UK in pork and beef trade, being the 2nd largest pork export market of the UK in Asia, next to China.

A recent report from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), an increase of 9.6% of meat imports from the previous year was recorded in the first quarter of 2024–totaling to 647.75 million kilograms (kg). The increase in imports are motivated by the El Niño phenomenon and African swine fever (ASF) which affected the local sector–having  active cases in 15 regions, 32 provinces, 115 municipalities, and 458 barangays as of 21 August 2024.

The extension of lowered tariff rates until 2028 under Executive Order No. 62 has significantly helped in attracting meat importers to which the British Chamber has consistently promoted alongside the passage of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, which has now been enrolled to Malacanang for signing, to fight inflation and safeguard the local consumers and farmers.

To reinforce the growing UK-Philippines meat trade relations, AHDB  Head of International Trade Development Jonathan Eckley noted that, “We look forward to continuing working collaboratively with industry and government to develop these important business relationships and build on the UK pork sector’s positive momentum in the Philippines.”

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