U.S. red meat suppliers met face-to-face with buyers from the Philippines and Vietnam at the U.S. Meat Products Showcase, adding a personal connection between U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) members and exporters with importers and processors in the southeast Asian region. Originally slated for 2020, the USMEF event, along with USDA, the National Pork Board and the Beef Checkoff Program support, was delayed due to COVID restrictions. However, Dave Rentoria, USMEF representative in the Philippines, says now is a great time to bring the importers and suppliers together as the economies rebound and events are allowed at full capacity. “The marketplace has changed in the past two years, not only because of COVID, but also because the Philippines has reduced tariffs on imported pork, because of the impact of African swine fever has had on the domestic supply,” says John Herath, USMEF’s communications director.
Because of the reduced tariff, from 30% to 5%, and increased minimum access volume or the quota, Rentoria says the Philippines has increased their importation of pork. U.S. pork export values increased by 26%, with a 78% increase in the Philippines alone from 2020 to 2021. Rentoria adds, “This is a good opportunity for us to also tap [the importers] and inform them of the qualities or attributes about U.S. pork.” Seen as an area with tremendous growth potential, the U.S. Meat Products Showcase aimed to further support the goal of increasing red meat exports in the southeast Asian countries, highlighting the quality and diverse product offerings found in U.S. meat.