According to Philippine Ambassador Albert del Rosario, President Arroyo personally wrote US President George W. Bush asking for a zero duty on Philippine tuna exports in exchange for the country’s assistance to the US in the fight against terrorism.
"The Philippines had already conveyed to the US government its concern about the effect of the soon to be passed Andean preferential trade pact that would grant zero tariff for several South American countries that are helping the US in the fight against drugs," Del Rosario said.
According to Del Rosario, the Philippines stands to lose $90 million a year with the grant of preferential tariff rates to tuna shipments from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.
The Philippines earns $186 million a year from tuna exports, 50 percent of which is accounted for by the US.
Bulk of the country’s tuna exports come from Mindanao where the US and the Philippines are jointly conducting military training exercises.
The Philippines has already pointed out to the US government that any adverse effect on tuna would primarily hurt the island of Mindanao.
The government, along with the US, is trying to revive the economy of Mindanao as a tool to fight terrorism.