DA seeks higher farm exports to Vietnam

MANILA, Philippines — The country is looking to boost its agricultural exports to Vietnam, the Department of Agriculture said yesterday, following a bilateral meeting between Manila and Hanoi.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the agency is looking to boost farm exports to Vietnam amid industry concerns over the implementation of agricultural trade agreements, notably in the rice sector.

He said the Philippines is pushing for greater enforcement of agricultural trade contracts to ensure better predictability in transactions between the two Southeast Asian countries.

Tiu Laurel said one of the major issues facing industry stakeholders is that when prices go up, Vietnamese traders typically rescind their contracts.

Tiu Laurel noted that the issue would be raised in future bilateral talks between the two governments to make trade agreements more reliable and efficient.

“The contract enforcement problem has prompted Philippine industry stakeholders and government agencies to negotiate with Vietnam through a more coordinated approach,” he added.

He also pushed for both countries to urgently reinforce the bilateral technical mechanisms for the Joint Trade Committee (JTC) and Joint Committee on Agriculture (JCA) this year to further discuss trade concerns.

Tiu Laurel also stressed the need for tighter coordination ahead of a European Union’s audit in September, noting that stronger collaboration between the two ASEAN members could ease agricultural trade and improve compliance with international standards.

Vietnam’s Industry and Trade Minister Le Manh Hung was quoted as saying that the Philippines’ concerns would be elevated to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment for further discussion.

Vietnam is one of the country’s biggest sources for imported rice, contributing about 85.3 percent or 1.72 million metric tons, according to data from the Bureau of Plant Industry as of May 14.

Vietnam President Tô Lâm recently paid a state visit to Manila, during which both countries agreed to increase bilateral trade to $20 billion from $15 billion.