Taking cues on how President Duterte’s recent visit in Japan went down, the Department of Agriculture has high hopes that Japan will finally agree to ease further its agriculture trade relations with the Philippines.
Over the weekend, Duterte returned to the country after his four-day working visit in Japan, bringing home with him P300-billion worth of business deals. During the visit, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol was also able to secure a follow-up meeting with his Japanese counterpart to discuss some of the Philippines’ agriculture-related requests to the East Asian island country.
Piñol flew to Japan again Tuesday night for this meeting. According to him, there are four topics the DA particularly wants to discuss with Japan’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Takamori Yoshikawa.
First topic would be the Philippines’ request for Japan to recognize the Philippines’ status as Foot and Mouth Disease-free country. This, the DA chief said, is critical for our exports.
Another two topics Piñol will discuss with Yoshikawa have something to do with banana.
Right now, Japan is one of the countries where imported bananas from the Philippines are taxed heavily. The Philippines wants such tax to be reduced.
Also, the Philippines is requesting Japan to relax its quality control on Philippine bananas.
A few months ago, Piñol said he will personally handle the request of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association Inc. to convince Japanese officials that Philippine bananas comply with Japanese standards for the maximum residue level for chemicals used as insecticides in banana plantations.
Right now, PBGEA members export 50 percent of their bananas to Japan.
“There’s already softening on their part. I feel that they are now willing to take a look at it. I’m expecting positive results,” Piñol said on Monday.
Aside from the aforementioned requests, Piñol said he will make sure to mention to Yoshikawa the country’s interest to penetrate the Japanese market for hash avocado. (Madeleine Miraflor)