IN a major push to expand market access for Philippine exports, senators are seeking the total elimination of Japanese tariffs on locally manufactured heated tobacco products (HTPs), fruits and other agricultural products.
The reciprocal trade proposal was pitched by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Vice Chairman Sen. Erwin Tulfo and Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform Chairman Sen. Francis Pangilinan during an official parliamentary visit to the Japanese Diet to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Philippines-Japan Friendship.
The push for zero tariffs aims to modernize the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement. Signed originally in 2008, the treaty slashed or outright eliminated duties on over 90 percent of goods exchanged between the two Asian partners.
However, emerging alternative sectors, such as HTPs, and shifting agricultural dynamics were completely unmapped when negotiations closed nearly two decades ago. The Department of Trade and Industry has been working to finalize renegotiation rounds to keep the bilateral framework relevant in the face of newer regional trade agreements.
“With the emergence of new products from the Philippine tobacco industry and the increasing demand for them in Japan, we are respectfully asking the Japanese government to consider our proposal to exempt Philippine-made HTPs from tariffs,” Tulfo said during the legislative sessions.
The trade push aimed to address global competitive disadvantages. Currently, European Union exporters enjoy preferential terms that place Philippine manufacturers at an economic handicap in the lucrative Japanese consumer market.
The senators emphasized that removing the trade barriers will drive local manufacturing, optimize domestic agricultural supply chains, secure massive employment opportunities and establish a steady, resilient export pipeline to neighboring Asian economies.
Heading the parliamentary mission were Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian and Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Joining them were Senators Lito Lapid, Raffy Tulfo, JV Ejercito, Erwin Tulfo and Pangilinan.
The senators also held discussions with the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, with Tulfo expressing profound institutional gratitude for the foundation’s continuous humanitarian and disaster-relief assistance to the Philippines.
The Tokyo summit capitalizes on a reciprocal visit last Sept. 16 by a Japanese legislative delegation, led by Japanese Senate Vice President Fukuyama Tetsuro.
