Press Release
March 13, 2009

CHIZ URGES GOVT TO LOOK DOWN UNDER
'Expand trade relations with Australia'

Senator Chiz Escudero on Friday called on the Arroyo administration to expand economic relations with Australia by working out an agreement on the exportation of agricultural products, especially after it recently allowed the entry of bananas from the Philippines.

"We have much to gain if we can export other agricultural products to Australia. While most of the time we look up north for trade opportunities, it is high time that we look down south," Escudero said in a statement.

The Philippines is one of the three largest exporters of bananas in the world and it constitutes about 15 percent of the entire farm output in the country. Most of its banana produce are sent to US and Japan.

"We have never exported banana to that country because of fears that our produce carry diseases. We just have to comply with their strict standards, it is now up to us to make this work," Escudero said.

The senator said the Philippine government should start focusing on how to meet the "very stringent" standards of Australia when it comes to the importation of agricultural products.

The senator returned last Wednesday from a four-day visit to Australia where he met with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and other top labor, trade, and immigration officials.

"Australian government officials assured me that Australia is ready to further strengthen bilateral ties with the Philippines," Escudero said.

"I urge the government to capitalize on this fresh opportunity and pursue with renewed vigor the expansion of trade with Australia," he added.

Aside from banana, the senator said the other major Philippine agricultural exports include coconut oil and other coconut products; milk and cream powder; and fish and seafood, among others.

Escudero pointed out that the ASEAN region is Australia's biggest trading partner, but the Philippines is lagging behind its neighbors as it cornered only around $2 billion out of the $71-billion worth of products of the regional bloc's total trade with Australia.

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