THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said new markets for Philippine farm exports, including halal-certified products, will help mitigate the uncertainty generated by the US tariffs.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. has been pursuing negotiations to widen the access of Philippines farm exports, DA spokesman and Assistant Secretary Arnel V. de Mesa said at a briefing.
Currently, the Philippines is working to boost its halal exports to the Middle East, he said, while targeting Italy and Spain among European markets.
Mr. De Mesa noted that Mr. Laurel has also visited Japan and South Korea to seek lower tariffs for Philippine agriculture products.
He said the Japanese government has agreed to review — and potentially lower —tariffs imposed on Philippine bananas, which are charged an 18% duty between April 1 and Sept. 30 and 8% between Oct. 1 and March 31 under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).
Mr. De Mesa reitared that the 17% tariff to be imposed by the US on Philippine goods will not have a major impact on domestic agriculture.
After the US, Japan and China are the next largest markets for Philippine exports, he noted
“Also, our goods are exported to many Asian markets,” he said in Filipino.
The US, which accounts for about 17% of total Philippine agricultural trade, has paused its plan to impose additional tariffs on most countries except China.
In Southeast Asia, Cambodia faces the steepest tariff at 49%, followed by Laos (48%), Vietnam (46%), Myanmar (44%), Thailand (36%), Indonesia (32%), Malaysia (24%) and Brunei (24%). Singapore will be imposed a baseline tariff of 10%. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza
