Browse Data and Analysis

The Philippines maintains a Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) for corn (H.S. 1005). Following the reduction of tariffs in 2022 and their extension in 2023, significant interest in how to access the in-quota tariff ensued, and in turn, so followed widespread concern among local stakeholders for the process being anti-competitive, outdated, and potentially inconsistent with the Philippines' commitments with trading partners.

Philippine imports of pulses and other leguminous vegetables in various formats (dry, frozen, flour, and prepared foods) grew 48 percent in the past five years to $88 million in 2022.

The U.S. has long been the leading supplier of wines to the Philippines and, since 2009, the Philippines has been the largest U.S. wine market in Southeast Asia in terms of volume.

Food retail continues to grow, as retail chains spread across the country. This expansion is being driven by continued strong economic growth, which has led to a boom in consumer spending.

The Philippines is the largest export market in Southeast Asia and the 9th largest in the world for U.S. dog and cat food..

Combined efforts by the Foreign Agricultural Service office in Manila, the USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council, and the North Dakota Trade Office have helped to build a new market for dried legumes.

U.S. agricultural exports to Southeast Asia have experienced extremely rapid growth in recent years and, in FY 2014, they climbed to a record $11.5 billion – up 11 percent from FY 2013.

FAS Manila worked with Veritas Quo (VQ), a California-based exporter representing popular wine brands to connect with several importers.

FAS Manila worked with Blue Diamond Growers (BDG) of California to connect with a new importer and build a bigger market for U.S. almonds in the Philippines.

Producing less than one percent of its growing dairy requirement of 1.886 MMT in 2014, the Philippines continues to be a major global importer of dairy products, especially milk powder.

The Philippines has for years mandated biodiesel and ethanol blending in local petroleum diesel fuel and gasoline.

The Philippines is the 8th largest sugarcane producer and the third largest U.S. sugar tariff rate quota recipient.