Photo credit: U.S. Wheat Associates.
A recent U.S. Wheat Associates program brought together representatives from some of the Philippines' largest flour milling companies for a trade policy-focused mission to Oregon, Montana and Washington, D.C.
The participating companies account for more than half of the Philippines' total flour milling capacity and purchased more than 1.3 million metric tons, or 47.8 million bushels, of U.S. wheat during the 2025-26 marketing year. Representatives from the Philippine Association of Flour Millers and USW joined the group to strengthen relationships with U.S. producers, exporters and policymakers while addressing a major trade issue for the Philippine milling industry: the upcoming expiry review of anti-dumping duties on Turkish flour.
USW's program focused on supporting Philippine millers' efforts to extend the anti-dumping duties. The Turkish government uses an inward processing scheme that creates incentives for its milling industry to export flour regardless of price, according to USW, potentially distorting flour markets.
The Philippine Tariff Commission originally imposed anti-dumping duties of up to 16.19% on Turkish flour in 2014. Combined with the country's 7% most-favored-nation tariff rate, the measures reduced Turkish flour imports by more than 70% and allowed Philippine millers to increase production of flour used to make food products.
PAFMIL demonstrated that unfairly priced Turkish flour imports threatened material injury to domestic millers. The Philippine government extended the measures again in 2023 after determining Turkish exporters would likely continue dumping flour into the market if the duties were removed.
Before the duties were imposed, Turkish flour captured about 9% of the Philippine flour market, displacing the equivalent of more than 200,000 metric tons, or 7.35 million bushels, of U.S. wheat demand. USW said the return of low-priced Turkish flour in significant volumes could undermine investments by Philippine millers and disrupt market conditions for both the domestic milling industry and U.S. farmers.
The Philippines is the second-largest market for U.S. wheat, with annual purchases averaging 2.5 million metric tons, or 91.9 million bushels. It is also the largest destination for U.S. soft white and hard red spring wheat.
The current anti-dumping measures are scheduled to expire Jan. 14, 2027, and Philippine millers are preparing evidence to support another extension.
The mission began in Portland, Oregon, where participants met with grain exporters, toured export facilities and received briefings from the USW West Coast Office and the Wheat Marketing Center. They learned about the inspection, logistics and quality assurance systems supporting U.S. wheat exports.
The group also participated in a briefing and grain grading session with USDA's Federal Grain Inspection Service, providing an overview of the systems used to ensure the reliability and consistency of U.S. wheat for overseas customers.
In Montana, the participants visited growers, grain handlers and industry organizations. The meetings highlighted the relationship between U.S. wheat producers and Philippine millers, with discussions focused on quality, reliability, the importance of the Philippine market to U.S. farmers and the role of fair trade in supporting both industries.
The group also discussed the Turkish flour case and its potential implications for Philippine millers and U.S. wheat producers.
The Washington, D.C., portion of the program focused on policy. Meetings with USDA officials, trade policy experts and consultants provided participants with additional information about the Turkish flour case, the expiry review process and the importance of maintaining a rules-based trading environment.
The program brought together Philippine industry leaders, U.S. growers, exporters and policymakers as the anti-dumping case enters its next phase. The effort underscored the shared interest of Philippine millers and U.S. wheat farmers in maintaining a transparent and competitive marketplace that supports continued growth in U.S. wheat exports and the Philippine flour milling industry.
Source: U.S. Wheat Associates, "Philippine Policy Team Advances Fair Trade Discussions and Strengthens U.S. Wheat Partnership"