Philippine official seeks lower Japan banana tariffs

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has called for Japan to lower its tariffs on bananas from the Philippines. Currently, the Philippines faces an 18% tariff from April to September and an 8% tariff from October to March. Other countries, like Cambodia and Vietnam, benefit from zero or lower tariffs on their bananas. Japan is the biggest market for Philippine bananas. Tiu Laurel emphasized that the banana industry is crucial for many farmers and workers, especially in Mindanao, where it plays a key economic role. He believes that reducing tariffs will help the industry grow and create more jobs. The Philippines supplies about 75% of the bananas consumed in Japan. The country exports over 1 million metric tons of bananas each year to meet Japanese demand. Tiu Laurel recently met with Japanese officials to discuss the possibility of reviewing the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) to address these tariff issues. He noted that the trip was important for maintaining the competitiveness of Philippine bananas in Japan. The goal is to find a solution with Japanese stakeholders to make the trade agreement more favorable for the Philippines.