PHL bats for greater Japan market access for pomelo, banana, tuna

AGRICULTURE Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said the Philippines is seeking greater access to the Japan market for its pomelo, banana, and tuna exports, while seeking to enlist Japanese assistance in modernizing its farming system and logistics.

Mr. Laurel emerged from talks with Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture seeking a deal to export more pomelo in particular before the end of the year.

He said sustained engagement with Japan and other strategic partners remains crucial to modernizing Philippine agriculture.

“There’s a very big export market for horticulture products in the world,” Mr. Laurel told Radio Television Malacañang.

Mr. Laurel noted that Japan’s advanced agricultural infrastructure could serve as a model for upgrading the grain storage and processing operations of the National Food Authority.

He also noted that trials for Japanese agricultural technologies in the Davao Region have been ongoing since March last year, and showed promising results which may be expanded to other major crops.

Mr. Laurel also requested that Japan reduce tariffs while the Philippines prepares its accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, an international free trade agreement of which Japan is a signatory. — Marron Joshua F. Mendoza