PH wants Japan to lower tariffs on banana exports
Metro Manila, Philippines - The Philippines is seeking a tariff cut on banana exports to Japan in a bid to strengthen the country's position as top supplier, an agriculture official said.
In an interview on Monday, March 17, Agriculture spokesperson Arnel de Mesa said lowering the tariff on Philippine bananas was the main agenda of a delegation during an official visit to Japan.
“Importante na mapababa ‘yong taripa na in-impose ng Japan doon sa ating [banana exports] para masigurado na mas competitive ‘yong presyo ng saging sa Japan,” De Mesa said. “At ‘yong ating mga exporters, mapalago pa lalo ‘yong industriya ng saging sa ating bansa.”
[Translation: It’s important that the tariff imposed by Japan on our banana exports will be cut to ensure the competitiveness of our banana prices in their market. This would also grow our banana industry and exporters.]
Under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), the Philippines exports fresh bananas with an 18 percent tariff from April 1 to Sept. 30 and 8 percent from Oct. 1 to March 31.
“Sa ngayon kasi medyo mataas ‘yong tariff na ini-impose ng Japan para doon sa mga saging na nanggagaling sa Pilipinas, where in fact, ‘yong galing sa ibang bansa, halos wala ng taripa,” De Mesa said.
[Translation: For now, the tariff imposed by Japan is high for Philippine bananas, where in fact, those coming from other countries almost don’t have tariffs imposed.]
De Mesa did not disclose the rate of tariff cut as negotiations are still at an “early stage.”
He said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. was “very optimistic” with the negotiations.
In his three-day official visit in Japan beginning March 10, Laurel proposed a general review of the JPEPA.
Fresh Philippine bananas had a 75 percent market share in Japan in 2024.
In 2023, 985,000 metric tons out of 2.3 million metric tons of banana exports were shipped to Japan.
Mindanao hosts the majority of banana farms and plantations.
Laurel was with officials from the Department of Agriculture, Philippine embassy, and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center-Tokyo. The Office of the Agriculture Attache in Tokyo organized roundtable discussions with banana exporters and importers.
