The Trump administration's progress on a number of issues under the bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with the Philippines is getting a nod of approval from the National Pork Producers Council. NPPC hopes the progress on these issues moves the United States closer to initiating free trade agreement negotiations with the Philippines, a priority market for U.S. pork producers.

“The Philippines is a large pork-consuming nation, with a fast-growing population and a burgeoning middle class,” says Jim Heimerl, NPPC president and a pork producer from Johnstown, Ohio. “It also has some of the highest food prices of any Southeast Asian nation and would benefit from a free trade agreement with the United States.”

Last year, the United States shipped nearly $100 million of pork to the Philippines. U.S. pork sales to the country would grow significantly through a free trade agreement that removes tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade.

“We thank the Trump administration for the steps it is taking to expand U.S. pork access to many international markets, including the Philippines,” Heimerl says. “Pork is one of the most competitive U.S. export products and sustains more than 500,000 jobs in rural America.”