PBGEA: LOWER BANANA EXPORT TARIFFS IN KOREA
South Korean ambassador’s visit in Davao City in August gives light in pushing lowering of tariffs of Philippine banana export to Korea.
With the South Korean ambassador’s recent visit in Davao City in August, Philippine Banana Growers Exporters Association (PBGEA) pushes to continue discussions on lowering the tariff in exporting banana to the Korean market.
PBGEA executive director Stephen Antig said the visit of the South Korean ambassador Han Dong-Man in the city is a good avenue in lobbying the potential progress in discussing about lowering the tariff of banana export to Korea.
“In the case of Korea, we had a meeting with the Korean ambassador. Nangayo mi ug update sa gihangyo ni president Duterte sa iyaha bitaw nga i-reduce ang tariff ug tinuod na nakahisgutan na nila (We asked for an update regarding the request of president Duterte to the ambassador to reduce the tariff, and it is true that they already talked about it),” Antig said in an interview on Monday, September 3, 2018 at PBGEA office, Davao City.
“Apan nihusgot ang ambassador nga dili daw sila makahatag ug PTA (Preferential Trading Agreement) sa amoa kay dili naman ta developing country (The ambassador mentioned that they cannot grant PTA to us because we are not a developing country anymore),” Antig added.
He also said the Philippine trading activity already changed over the course of the years, maybe this also was considered as a factor as to why the PTA was not granted.
Antig said PBGEA requested the option for a PTA grant because opting for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will take longer approval for a bilateral agreement.
“Not to mention this RCEP is participated by almost 16 countries,” Antig added.
Though Antig added the South Korean ambassador assured them that the RCEP will be done this year.
Based from South Korean embassy data for trade and investment, banana export is considered as one of the Philippine’s main export produce to Korea amounting to $288 million.