Food & Beverage

Pork tariff fight splits hog raisers, importers

The Department of Agriculture's push to raise tariffs on imported pork drew support from hog raisers and opposition from meat importers, while the Sara Duterte impeachment trial and Mary Jane Veloso's homecoming dominated separate strands of the day's coverage.

By the MMI Food & Beverage Desk

The Department of Agriculture's proposal to [raise tariffs on imported pork](https://media-meter.com/report-library/serbias-vucic-resigns-pork-tariff-fight-splits-traders "Serbias vucic resigns pork tariff fight splits traders") drew the day's most consequential business coverage, with hog raisers welcoming the plan and meat importers warning it would push consumer prices higher. The department has submitted a petition to the Tariff Commission seeking a staggered increase in duties on imported pork, a proposal that has since been elevated to President Marcos(https://business.inquirer.net/613174/da-pushes-for-higher-tariffs-on-pork-imports). Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the agency proposed a 10-percentage-point increase in [pork tariffs](https://media-meter.com/report-library/pork-tariffs-lpg-tax-relief-gcash-ipo-talk "Pork tariffs lpg tax relief gcash ipo talk") in 2027, raising import duties to 25 percent in-quota(https://business.inquirer.net/613174/da-pushes-for-higher-tariffs-on-pork-imports). The department is also seeking a separate tariff line for frozen pork jowl, a cut that has become a major import item because of its lower tariff treatment and now competes directly with local pork in retail and food service(https://business.inquirer.net/613174/da-pushes-for-higher-tariffs-on-pork-imports).

The proposal has divided the industry. National Federation of Hog Farmers vice chairman Alfred Ng said producers had pushed for the immediate restoration of pork tariffs to their previous levels. "We discussed this with Secretary Tiu Laurel this week. We wanted the tariffs restored immediately, but importers also appear to have strong lobbying power," Ng told The Manila Times(http://www.manilatimes.net/2026/09/28/business/top-business/tariff-hike-plan-divides-hog-raisers-importers/2433703). Ng said liveweight prices had fallen below production costs, leaving hog raisers — particularly backyard farmers — in urgent need of government support. "Raising tariffs is a step in the right direction. It will force importers to increase their prices and allow fresh local pork to compete more fairly," he said(http://www.manilatimes.net/2026/09/28/business/top-business/tariff-hike-plan-divides-hog-raisers-importers/2433703).

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