BritCham Eyes Stronger UK-PH Pork Trade

The British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP) has welcomed Executive Order (EO) No. 116, s. 2026, which increases the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) for pork imports under Republic Act No. 8178, or the Agricultural Tariffication Act, from 54,210 metric tons to 204,210 metric tons.

The order aims to augment pork supply, reduce retail prices, and stabilize inflation amid ongoing pressures on the country’s food supply chain.

The move comes as the Philippines continues to face challenges brought about by African Swine Fever (ASF), which has significantly affected domestic pork production. EO No. 116 also complements EO No. 110, s. 2026, which declared a state of national energy emergency following the crisis in the Middle East that disrupted global supply chains and contributed to rising oil, food, and fertilizer prices.

The BCCP said it has consistently supported the increase in pork MAV, citing the need to address supply shortages, ease inflationary pressures, and create opportunities for British pork exports to help stabilize the local market.

In a statement, BCCP Executive Vice Chairman Chris Nelson said the Chamber remains committed to supporting the Philippines’ food security objectives through the introduction of high-quality British meat products and stronger partnerships with Philippine stakeholders.

“We remain committed to supporting the country’s food security objectives by introducing high-quality British meat products and fostering long-term partnerships with Philippine importers and industry stakeholders to support the local market,” Nelson said.

“We also welcome continued discussions with concerned stakeholders regarding MAV allocation and other areas of cooperation that will further strengthen the resilience and sustainability of the Philippine agricultural supply chain,” he added.

Nelson also expressed openness to further discussions with stakeholders regarding the allocation of pork imports to ensure fair and efficient distribution of import volumes.

Under EO No. 116, 120,000 metric tons of pork imports have been allocated to the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) for the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program, while 30,000 metric tons have been designated for processors.

The BCCP highlighted pork as one of the United Kingdom’s key commodity exports to the Philippines, supported by its collaboration with the UK Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) in promoting British pork, beef, and lamb products. Since 2021, the Chamber has facilitated eight trade missions aimed at strengthening agricultural and meat trade between the two countries.

The Philippines remains the United Kingdom’s second-largest pork export market in Asia next to China. UK pork exports to the Philippines recorded a 13.3% increase in volume to 5,310 tonnes, while export value rose 10.6% to £6.786 million.

Meanwhile, meat and meat preparations remained among the UK’s top five exports to the Philippines, reaching £29.6 million in value in the four quarters ending Q4 2025.

Nelson also acknowledged the continued engagement between the BCCP and key stakeholders, including meat importers, retailers, and government agencies. He noted ongoing discussions with members of the MAV Management Committee regarding MAV-related concerns and opportunities to further strengthen UK-Philippines agricultural trade through initiatives such as the UK-Philippines Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the Philippines’ expressed interest in joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).