By Justine Irish D. Tabile, Reporter
ANY DEAL lowering tariffs between the US and the Philippines is not expected to flood the Philippines with imports, though the leading source countries for key commodities are likely to change, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said the interests of Philippine industries will not be sacrificed as the Philippines negotiates lower tariff rates with the US.
“I think wala sigurong dapat ikatakot ang ating mga industries (industries have nothing to fear) because it is not about adding the amount to be imported. It is just a shifting of preference,” Mr. Laurel said on the sidelines of the Sustainable Agriculture Forum 2025.
“Meaning, kung dati malakas ka bumili sa Brazil, dahil ngayong may ganitong move ang America, baka pagbigyan sila na mas makuha ng mas malaking share, mabawasan naman ’yung sa Brazil. Parang ganon (Purchases from Brazil, for instance, could fall because of the negotiations, which could result in Philippine concessions that give US goods a larger share),” he added.
A Philippine delegation led by the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is currently in Washington, DC to negotiate for lower tariffs.
The Philippine delegation is set to meet US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Friday. He met with Japan, Guyana, and Saudi Arabia on Thursday, Reuters reported.
“In my discussion with Secretary Frederick D. Go, I said that we have to protect the local industry. So that is the way we will try to negotiate … It is the shifting of (sourcing) that we are looking at, not adding more imports,” he said, referring to the Special Assistant for investment.
Philippine goods were initially assigned a 17% tariff by the US, second lowest in Southeast Asia next to Singapore’s 10% baseline rate. The reciprocal tariffs have since been suspended for 90 days, with most US trading partners paying 10% for the time being.
“It is very hard to say what America wants from us … But I think 17% is more of an advantage,” Mr. Laurel said.
However, he said the overall goal is to secure improved access for Philippine exports, particularly agricultural products, including coconuts, tilapia, and white shrimp.
“In any negotiation, we want the minimum (rate). So, I will leave it up to Secretary Go, as I am very confident in his ability to get something that is fair for the Philippines,” he said.
“We are all hanging and monitoring, and we just have to be patient and react accordingly,” he added.
The DTI Export Marketing Bureau reported that the US was the Philippines’ top export market last year, accounting for $12.12 billion, or 16.55%, of all exports.
It was also the Philippines’ fifth-largest source of imports with a 6.41% share or $8.17 billion.
The US is the Philippines’ third-largest trading partner with two-way trade of $20.29 billion.
