Amid rising global uncertainties and renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP) has renewed its call for the timely issuance of the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) and the reduction of tariffs on key agricultural imports to help safeguard food security and stabilize supply conditions in the Philippines.
The Chamber stressed that the MAV mechanism remains a vital trade policy tool that supports market stability by allowing regulated imports of pork and other agricultural commodities at lower tariff rates. It also welcomed ongoing discussions by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and stakeholders on expanding MAV coverage for pork and corn.
BCCP underscored that the MAV, traditionally issued in January, is critical in ensuring predictable supply flows and easing inflationary pressure on food items.
The Chamber further noted the strong performance of UK–Philippine agricultural trade, with the UK pork sector recording sustained growth over the past five years. This has been supported by BCCP’s collaboration with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), which has facilitated eight trade missions since 2021 to deepen bilateral agricultural and food trade ties.
BCCP Executive Vice Chairman Chris Nelson said UK–Philippine economic relations continue to demonstrate resilience despite global headwinds, highlighting agriculture, infrastructure, and renewable energy as priority sectors for expansion. Total bilateral trade reached £3.2 billion in the four quarters to Q3 2025, reflecting an 8.9% increase.
He added that the Philippines remains a key Asian market for UK pork exports, ranking second in the region after China. Pork shipments to the Philippines rose by 20% to 1,135 tonnes in January 2026.
(Recent engagements included BCCP Executive Vice Chairman Chris Nelson, Catherine Nelson, PNB Europe Regional Director Christy Vicentina, Madame Maria Lourdes B. Locsin, and Ambassador Teodoro L. Locsin Jr.)
Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has indicated that the government is studying the “MAV Plus” framework, which would allow higher import volumes of pork and corn at reduced tariff rates to support supply stability and manage inflation.
The BCCP welcomed the proposal, expressing support for continued consultations among stakeholders while emphasizing the importance of clear, transparent, and straightforward implementation guidelines to ensure efficiency in execution.
The Chamber reiterated its longstanding advocacy for the timely issuance of MAV allocations at the start of each year. It has engaged with key members of the MAV Management Committee, including officials from the Department of Finance Revenue Operations Group, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Agrarian Reform, and other relevant agencies.
Nelson said the Chamber continues to push for concrete policy actions that directly support supply chains and market stability.
“What we look for is action from government and the passage of enabling measures. One key proposal we have consistently supported—and which was also noted by Secretary Laurel—is the expansion of Minimum Access Volumes, which will help strengthen food supply. We have been discussing this particularly for pork. These are the kinds of measures we want to see implemented. The broader context is also important, including the impact of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East on the outlook for inflation, which has recently reached 4.1%,” Nelson said.
He added that the Chamber continues to strengthen engagement with both UK and Philippine stakeholders to support long-term, sustainable trade partnerships.
Nelson also emphasized the UK’s role as a strategic partner of the Philippines and the wider Southeast Asian region, noting opportunities for cooperation as the Philippines assumes its role as ASEAN Chair. Priority areas include food security, digital transformation, renewable energy, and trade facilitation.