WV traders and stakeholders convene in-depth talk on FTA and Agricultural Trade Disciplines

More than 90 exporters, agri-preneur, buyers, dealers and stakeholders convene in a four day orientation seminar on Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Trade Remedies and Disciplines on Agricultural Trade initiated by the Department of Agriculture , Macro-Economic Policy Division (DA-MEPD) in Diversion21 Hotel , Iloilo City on October 10-13, 2023.

Stakeholders from Balay Tablea, Panay Darag Breeders Association (PADABA), Lorenzo Farm, IPOPHIL, Libacao Development Cooperative, Great Harvest Commodities, SAMANCE Agro Products Inc., NMIS , BAI, BPI, BUSESAFA Guimaras, NONESCost, Tariff Commission, Fishta Seafood Inc. , CPSU Kabankalan, OPA Negros Occidental and Antique , ALDI Foods, Shoreline Crab Philippines, McNester Food Products, Armacor sugar and rice trading, Uswag Rivergems Ass. and the Local Government Units(LGU) were promising business export sector in the region.

“This simply shows that we are ready for globalization, we can export whatever produce and goods we have and we can buy products abroad, that is the essence of opening a trade agreement . There are disciplines in WTO that are beneficial and things we need to follow. It’s challenging on our part a small country like the Philippines, we are not the most competitive when it comes to agricultural produce compared to Vietnam and Thailand we cant compete when it comes to economy of scale.” Said Dir. Dennis Arpia of the Department of Agriculture Western Visayas.

He added, “ the whole of Visayas for example is relying on Region VI for food sufficiency. The fact that the produce will only be enough for local consumption there are still entrepreneurs who exports. In basic trade local and international the small scale businesses are still left behind.” “If you want to survive in agriculture ‘dapat paunlarin mo ang iyong sarili’ you need to empower yourself, and government should be the enablers, he emphasized” Meanwhile , Ms. Tishia Pia E. dela Rosa , Chief, MEPD, Policy Research Service (PRS),DA presented the essentials of the World Trade Organization Agreement on Organic Agriculture and Ms. Denise Cheska Enriquez OIC Chief, Regional Relations and Arrangement Division, Bureau of International Trade Relations (BITR) reiterated the Tariff Classification for Agricultural Products. Also, discussions on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, as well as protocols on fish and fishery products, animals, meat and meat products were tackled.

“We encourage you to export if you want your business to prosper and not import “ said dela Rosa MEPD Chief. While the discussions on protocols for plant and plant products overheated with the queries about sanitary permits among World Trade Organizations (WTO) allied countries.

Meanwhile, Dr. John Roel Hilario, Regional Veterinary Quarantine Officer of Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) discussed the procedure of accreditation for foreign live animal facility establishment as well as country which have been granted system accreditation and individual accreditation. Steps and Regulations for export of live animals were also discussed such as food safety, quality , animal and plant safety measures and its protocols to follow .

The BPI, FPA, DA , BAI are the Bureaus and Agency assigned to issue clearances SPSIC. The different steps and regulations for export of live animals were talked through as well as types of export permits. The National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) also tackled the importation and exportation of meat products and its legal basis with Dr. Maria Fatima Amparo Senior Meat Control Officer (MIED). Trade remedies agreement and the Philippine Laws on Trade and its practices developed in the country were also reviewed. ####Text and Photos – JNCapaciete(DA6/RAFIS)