RP, India discuss various trade issues

The Philippines and India recently concluded their 8th Joint Working Group meeting where they discussed various trade issues.

Among India’s concerns is increased market access to the Philippines of its buffalo meat export and speedy accreditation of its pharmaceutical products.

India expressed concern over the decline in its buffalo meat exports to the Philippines due to the foot-and-mouth disease and its difficulty in getting a reduction on the current 30-percent tariff on buffalo meat.

The existing tariff on buffalo meat is supposed to have been reduced as of Jan. 9, 2004 by at least four percent with the abolition of the special duty of customs (SAD).

India also questioned the Philip-pines’ need for more pre-shipment inspection.

The Philippines explained that its guidelines is meant to protect the country from potential risk of FMD infestation.

The Philippines, for its part, is asking India for a lower duty on its canned tuna exports.

Trade Undersecretary Thomas Aquino, who led the Philippine delegation in the two-day talks in New Delhi, India, expressed the interest of the Philippine seaweed industry to share the use of carageenan-based capsules with Indian pharmaceuticals.

Philippine interest was likewise expressed on forging a cooperation on gemstone cutting through technical assistance for training and supply of equipment.

Unfortunately, though, India had indicated that it could not grant the Philippines’ request of a training program and the soft loan package arrangement under which the equipment shall be provided.

Instead, India agreed to course the Philippines’ requests for training to the India Technical and Economic Cooperation Scheme of the Colombo Plan 2003-2004 that specifically handles cooperation proposals.

India, however, granted another request of the Philippines for assistance in identifying Indian software assessor-aspirants who can provide professional exposure to five Filipino assessor-aspirants.

Both countries expressed readiness to move forward the cooperation in herbal medicines, particularly in the production of standardized herbal extracts.