The United States has granted broader exemptions from reciprocal tariffs, now covering the majority of the Philippines’ key agricultural exports to the American market, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAPIEA) said Tuesday.
The US executive order provides additional relief to Philippine products that are not produced, or are produced only minimally, in the United States, reflecting a list submitted by the DTI earlier this year, said DTI Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque.
“This is good news for the Philippines as many of our key agriculture exports to the US have been included,” Roque said.
“We extend our sincere appreciation to the United States for taking into account the predicament faced by our local producers and farmers,” she said.
The latest exemptions now cover the majority of Philippine agricultural shipments to the US, including fruit juices, processed pineapples, confectionery goods, fresh and processed bananas, tuna fillets and dried fruits such as mangoes, guavas, mangosteens and bananas.
The newly-exempted agricultural products totaled over $1.03 billion, according to US data cited by outgoing OSAPIEA Secretary Frederick Go.
Based on 2024 figures, total US imports from the Philippines reached about $14.5 billion, of which $6.8 billion, roughly 46 percent, is now exempted from reciprocal tariffs, including $1 billion in agricultural products and $5.8 billion in industrial goods.
“These products generated over $1 billion in export value in 2024 and sustain thousands of Filipino farmers, MSMEs and rural workers,” Roque said.
“By keeping these products competitive in the US market, the exemption helps protect livelihoods, preserve jobs across our agricultural value chains and create opportunities for communities that rely heavily on exports,” she said.
Since May, Manila has been engaging Washington to mitigate the impact of reciprocal tariffs on Philippine exports. In July, the DTI formally requested exemptions for coconut and its derivatives—including coconut water, coconut oil and desiccated coconut—along with pineapples, carrageenan, sugar, mangoes, cacao, coffee and avocados.
The measure builds on earlier exemptions granted to industrial goods, including semiconductors, worth roughly $2.5 billion to $3 billion annually and representing nearly a quarter of Philippine shipments to the US.
The US remains the Philippines’ third-largest trading partner, top export market and a key source of investment and technology, Roque said.
The Philippines continues to pursue further exemptions for garments, travel goods, accessories and furniture, which remain on the DTI’s “wish list,” according to Go.
