Philippines Lifts Ban on U.S. Beef Imports

Decision caps meetings addressing bilateral economic issues

The government of the Philippines has agreed to lift its ban on imports of U.S. beef and beef products, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced August 4.

The decision to lift the ban came as U.S. and Philippine officials concluded meetings under the 1989 United States-Philippines Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), which addressed a full range of bilateral economic issues. 

In addition to the issue of beef exports, the two countries also discussed market-access issues related to telecommunications and autos and a joint action plan to improve intellectual-property protection in the Philippines.

Under a new agreement, the United States will be able to export boneless beef from cattle not older than 30 months to the Philippines, reopening a market estimated by USDA to be worth $2.5 million. 

The Philippines restricted imports of certain types of U.S. beef after the December 2003 discovery of the first U.S. case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as "mad cow" disease. It imposed a temporary ban on all U.S. beef and beef products in June 2005 after the discovery of a second case of the disease in the state of Texas.

"I am very pleased with the reopening of the Philippines market to U.S. beef and beef products, which demonstrates their commitment to trade based on internationally accepted scientific standards for human and animal health," said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns.

The United States and the Philippines also coordinated key issues related to the World Trade Organization Doha Development Agenda negotiations, according to USTR, reaffirming their commitment to "an ambitious result" in the Doha round.

Following are the texts of the USTR and USDA news releases:

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Office of the United States Trade Representative
Press Release
August 4, 2005

The United States and the Philippines Meet Under Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, Philippines To Lift Ban on U.S. Beef

Washington, D.C., August 3, 2005 – U.S. and Philippine officials last week concluded meetings under the United States-Philippines Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), during which they discussed the full range of bilateral issues and coordinated on the WTO Doha Development Agenda negotiations. The meeting was led by Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Southeast Asia and Pacific Affairs Barbara Weisel and Thomas Aquino, Undersecretary for the Philippines Department of Trade and Industry.

The United States welcomed the Philippines’ announcement that it would lift its ban on the importation of U.S. beef that had been imposed in response to prior concerns related to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Agriculture Secretary Domingo F. Panganiban signed a memorandum order lifting the precautionary measures imposed in June 2005 on the importation of live cattle, beef and related products from the United States. The United States has been working with the Philippines to provide it the information and certification language it needed to lift the ban on beef imports. The Philippines determined that U.S. control measures assure the safety of U.S. beef.

The Philippines also announced that it would not subject in-quota imports of poultry to safeguard duties. This move ensures continued U.S. access to the Philippine poultry market, the second largest in Southeast Asia.

The two sides reviewed key bilateral economic issues, including a joint action plan to improve intellectual property protection in the Philippines. The Philippines committed to continuing to intensify its efforts to strengthen its intellectual property enforcement and prosecution of criminal cases against suspected intellectual property pirates. The two sides also discussed market access issues related to agricultural products, telecommunications, and autos. In addition, they exchanged views on specific steps that the Philippines could take to improve its investment climate and trade capacity building projects that could help further build our trade relationship.

The United States and the Philippines also coordinated on regional issues and on key issues related to the WTO Doha Development Agenda negotiations. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to an ambitious result in the Doha round.

The Philippines is currently the United States’ 26th largest goods trading partner with $16.2 billion in total two-way goods trade during 2004. The Philippines is party to the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which collectively is the fourth largest export market of the United States. With continued strong economic growth anticipated in ASEAN countries and a regional population of about 500 million, the United States anticipates significant trade and investment opportunities for U.S. companies in this region. The U.S. - Philippines Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) was signed in 1989.

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USDA
Release No. 0295.05
Contact: Ed Loyd (202) 720-4623
Donald Washington (202) 720-3101

THE PHILIPPINES LIFTS BAN ON U.S. BEEF AND BEEF PRODUCTS

WEST ALLIS, Wis., Aug. 4, 2005 - Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced that the Philippines will resume imports of U.S. beef and beef products. "I am very pleased with the reopening of the Philippines market to U.S. beef and beef products, which demonstrates their commitment to trade based on internationally accepted scientific standards for human and animal health," said Johanns. "The Philippines recognizes that U.S. beef and beef products are safe. This is another step forward in our efforts to reopen global markets for U.S. beef."

Under the agreement announced today, the United States will now be able to export boneless beef from cattle not older than 30 months to the Philippines. The estimated value of the Philippines market reopening to U.S. boneless beef is $2.5 million. In 2003, the United States exported $4.9 million worth of beef and beef products to the Philippines. After the December 2003 discovery of the first BSE-infected cow in the United States, the Philippines adopted measures to restrict imports of certain types of U.S. beef, while allowing imports of U.S. boneless beef from cattle not older than 30 months with its memorandum order in January 2004. In June 2005, the Philippines imposed a temporary ban on beef and beef products from the United States following confirmation that a second U.S. cow had tested positive for BSE.

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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)