Potato Groups Seek End to Philippine Fries Tariff

U.S. potato industry organizations asked trade officials to pursue removal of the Philippines' 10 percent tariff on frozen fries.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in International Trade

Potato Groups Seek End to Philippine Fries Tariff

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The National Potato Council and American Potato Trade Alliance asked the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to pursue elimination of the Philippines' 10 percent frozen fries tariff through ongoing bilateral trade negotiations. The request follows a 31 percent decline in U.S. frozen fries exports to the Philippines in 2025.

Why it matters

U.S. frozen fries shipments to the Philippines have declined since temporary tariff-free access expired in 2019, while Chinese suppliers have expanded rapidly. The request highlights how tariff policy shapes competition for U.S. agricultural exporters in a market that became the sixth-largest destination for U.S. potatoes in 2025.

U.S. frozen fries exports to the Philippines fell 31 percent to US$61.6 million in 2025 from US$89.8 million in 2024, while Chinese exports rose to US$83.7 million from US$1.6 million in 2019. Whether the 10 percent tariff will be removed through current negotiations remains unresolved.

The players

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

The office is the cabinet-level agency responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade policy and negotiating trade agreements.

National Potato Council

The National Potato Council is a U.S. trade organization that represents domestic potato growers in national policy and trade matters.

American Potato Trade Alliance

The American Potato Trade Alliance is an industry group that promotes and advocates for U.S. potato exports in international markets.

The details

The potato groups asked the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to pursue tariff elimination through ongoing bilateral trade negotiations. The organizations also cited potential future competition from European suppliers under a forthcoming Philippines-EU free trade agreement.

2019: Temporary tariff-free access for U.S. frozen fries expired.
2024: U.S. frozen fries exports to the Philippines totaled US$89.8 million.
2025: The Philippines became the sixth-largest export market for U.S. potatoes, while frozen fries exports fell.
November 6, 2026: Potato industry groups requested tariff elimination from the USTR.

Market Dynamics

U.S. frozen fries shipments to the Philippines have declined since temporary tariff-free access expired in 2019, when the Philippines imposed its 10 percent tariff. The current request to the USTR seeks to reverse that loss of access through bilateral negotiations.

If the tariff is eliminated, the organizations project U.S. frozen fries exports to the Philippines could return to US$90 million, adding US$28 million in annual exports. Potato producers and processors whose revenues depend on these shipments would be most directly affected.

The takeaway

Trade access can shift quickly when preferential tariff arrangements expire, leaving exporters competing against rivals who gain ground in the interim. Tracking bilateral negotiations and competitor growth offers a clearer view of how such markets may develop.