Phl food exporters urged to tap opportunities in US

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine businesses should tap food and beverage export opportunities in the US through active promotion efforts and more engagement with the government, a top diplomat said.

Speaking at the joint membership meeting of the Makati Business Club (MBC) and Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia Jr. said while there has been growth in the entry of Philippine food and beverage products to the US market, there are still export opportunities yet to be tapped by the country’s exporters.

He noted that food exports from neighbors in Southeast Asia, including fish sauce from Thailand and cat fish from Vietnam, are now on the shelves and freezers of mainstream US supermarkets.

Such exports, he said, are prepared and labelled to attract US consumers, a larger market compared to the niche Filipino-American community.

“The government cannot do it alone. We really need to see more engagement from the private sector to promote themselves and in so doing, promote the Philippines,” he said.

At present, the Department of Agriculture is working to get wider access for the country’s mangoes to the US.

Aside from strengthening promotion efforts, Cuisia said the private sector will also need to work with government in preparing for the country’s possible entry to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.

“I also ask you to be active in your engagement with the government, in particular, in giving information on the costs and benefits of the TPP to the private sector and recommendations on appropriate steps to take and prepare the country for a 21st century agreement,” he said.

He noted that the embassy will continue to assist Manila in securing as much information as possible to help make a smart decision about joining the TPP as well as to prepare for an effective negotiation strategy, should that be the final decision.

The TPP, which is being negotiated by the US and 11 other Pacific countries such as Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam, seeks to set high standards covering intellectual property, labor rights and environmental protection, in line with the creation of a free trade bloc which would represent more than half of global output and over 40 percent of world trade.

Philippine officials have started to exchange information and consult with American counterparts on the prospects of joining the TPP under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement mechanism in a meeting held in Washington last month.

Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo said earlier it is in the interest of the Philippines to become a member of the TPP as the trade pact is an avenue to get access to markets, primarily the US.

“It (TPP) is something we have to engage in. We have no choice because the US is our second largest trading partner and many of our neighbours will become members of  TPP. If they have duty-free access, for example, in the US and we don’t, it will really handicap the Philippines and affect us in a significant way,” he said.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg said earlier the American government welcomes the Philippines’ expression of interest to join the TPP as such will help further strengthen the two countries’ relationship.

“TPP is a key avenue for positive change and economically freer Philippines is a stronger Philippines and a stronger Philippines will ensure security, stability and longevity and will enhance the overall strategic relationship between our two countries,” he said.