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File photo MANILA - The Philippine government is asking Japan to set the next general review of its free trade agreement (FTA) as the country has offensive interests in agriculture. In an interview with trade reporters, Special Trade Representative Dita Angara-Mathay said tropical fruit growers in Mindanao are batting for the removal of seasonal tariffs for Philippine bananas and pineapple entering Japan. According to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), imported bananas from the Philippines are slapped with an 18 percent tariff during the winter season and an 8 percent tariff during summer in Japan under the Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (PJEPA). Angara-Mathay said Philippine bananas are losing market share in Japan to bananas from Ecuador and Peru, as bananas from these countries have zero tariff in Japan. "At one point, we are at the high 90s (percent) share of our bananas. Right now, I think we're on the 70s. The landed cost coming from Ecuador is

Glenn penarandaJapan economic partnership agreementSpecial trade representative dita angara mathayPhilippines japan economic partnership agreementSecretary glenn penarandaFile photo manila the philippine government is asking japan to set next general review of its free trade agreement fta as country has offensive interests in agriculture an interview with reportersPecial trade representative dita angara mathay said tropical fruit growers in mindanao are batting for the removal of seasonal tariffs philippine bananas and pineapple entering japan according to department industry dtiMported bananas from the philippines are slapped with an 18 percent tariff during winter season and 8 summer in japan under economic partnership agreement pjepa angara mathay said philippine losing market share to ecuador peruS bananas from these countries have zero tariff in japan quot at one pointE are at the high 90s percent share of our bananas right nowI think we 39 re on the 70s landed cost coming from ecuador is high but are losing shareNd this is something we need to look intoUot she said partly in filipino dti assistant secretary glenn penaranda added that the market share of philippines for all imported bananas to japan was at 76 percent or about 844 million tons quot we want maintain this number least increase it with our policy shiftUot penaranda said both trade officials amending the tariffs for tropical fruits can be done through general review of pjepa quot you know we havea dominant position to sayI think our bananas really taste better and thenUr proximity to japan it gives us an advantage