RP adopts new agri trade policy

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- The Philippine government has a new agricultural trade policy. It is anchored on reciprocity and a hard line stance against countries that discriminate against domestic agricultural products.

Agriculture Secretary Edgardo Angara, in a speech delivered during the National Dairy Congress here, said the Philippines is now trying to expand agricultural trade with countries that have allowed the free and unimpeded entry of Philippine products.

As a complementary effort, the country is now restricting trade with countries that have imposed unreasonable restrictions to block the entry of Philippine products into their markets, he said.

"We are the most open economy in Asia and now, we are reaping the fruits of our foolishness," Angara noted.

The DA chief said the sad story of the country's trade with Australia dramatizes the need to adopt tough practices whenever national interest demands so.

He pointed out that while the country has been buying agricultural products worth more than $300 million a year from Australia, Canberra has invoked baseless quarantine and phytosanitay standards to restrict the entry of world-class Philippine agricultural exports.

Australia's agricultural imports from the Philippines have been meager due to the restrictive and protectionist trade policies, he said, adding that half of the $700 million trade imbalance every year in agricultural trade is due to Manila's trade with Canberra.

Angara said it took Australia nine years to approve the import risk assessment of Philippine mangoes. Australia has also required that Philippine mango exports originate from only one source -- Guimaras. All these requirements, he said, had been delivered on a piece-meal basis to stall the entry of Philippine mangoes to the Australian market.

He also noted that the Australian government has been stalling on a formal request to allow the entry of Philippine bananas and pineapples.

Mangoes, bananas, and pineapples are world-class Philippine products that have passed the strict tests of most developed economies like Japan.

"While Australia has espoused free and fair trade, its trade policies are unfair and restrictive," Angara said.

The DA secretary also emphasized that several countries have opened their markets to Philippine products. "Trading with these countries is now encouraged to live up to the Philippine commitment to free and fair trade," he said.