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More farm products to enter Japan under JPEPA
Filipinas
domingo 25 noviembre 2007
More Philippine products will enter the Japanese market once the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) is ratified, government officials told a Senate hearing presided by Sen. Mar Roxas on Friday.
Agriculture Undersecretary Segredo Serrano said that local producers of tropical fruit wines, small bananas, small pineapples, tropical vegetables and organically-grown vegetables are among those that Japan had agreed to import from the Philippines once JPEPA becomes effective.
He pointed out that the Philippines is not exporting these products to Japan at the moment.
“These products will enjoy zero tariff in Japan immediately. These are produced by small farmers and cooperatives,” Serrano said.
The Philippines exports US$700 million worth of agricultural products to Japan each year, with US$500 million accounted for by bananas.
Roxas said it is important for the Senate to determine what Japanese agricultural products could enter the Philippines tax-free so they could determine if it would be detrimental to small farmers and fishermen.
Sen. Edgardo J. Angara lauded the expanded market for Philippine products through JPEPA but he stressed that the opening of the market does not necessarily mean the Philippines would automatically enjoy the benefits.
He urged the government to prepare a plan of action that could enable local producers to meet the demand in Japan, including availability of capital, technical assistance and trade missions. He also pointed out that in the case of agricultural products, it is necessary to educate producers on the stringent quarantine standards of Japan so that local producers could meet them.
Agriculture Undersecretary Segredo Serrano said that local producers of tropical fruit wines, small bananas, small pineapples, tropical vegetables and organically-grown vegetables are among those that Japan had agreed to import from the Philippines once JPEPA becomes effective.
He pointed out that the Philippines is not exporting these products to Japan at the moment.
“These products will enjoy zero tariff in Japan immediately. These are produced by small farmers and cooperatives,” Serrano said.
The Philippines exports US$700 million worth of agricultural products to Japan each year, with US$500 million accounted for by bananas.
Roxas said it is important for the Senate to determine what Japanese agricultural products could enter the Philippines tax-free so they could determine if it would be detrimental to small farmers and fishermen.
Sen. Edgardo J. Angara lauded the expanded market for Philippine products through JPEPA but he stressed that the opening of the market does not necessarily mean the Philippines would automatically enjoy the benefits.
He urged the government to prepare a plan of action that could enable local producers to meet the demand in Japan, including availability of capital, technical assistance and trade missions. He also pointed out that in the case of agricultural products, it is necessary to educate producers on the stringent quarantine standards of Japan so that local producers could meet them.
