US asks RP to allow entry of bone meal, vegetables

MANILA, Philippines - The United States is asking the Philippines to allow the entry of more bone meal and US-grown vegetables. On the other hand, the Philippines is pressing the US to allow the entry of more Philippine bananas, mangoes and fresh asparagus into the US market.

The issue of phytosanitary restrictions was among the topics of discussion yesterday between visiting US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap during a briefing for the US Agribusiness Trade and Investment Mission yesterday at the Makati Shangri-La.

Vilsack said talks on resolving phytosanitary issues between the Philippines and the US will be on a “rules-based basis,” not on a “quid pro quo” basis.

According the Vilsack, the US is working expeditiously on the banana and mango phytosanitary issues. On the other hand, he said the US is interested in exporting more vegetables to the Philippines, especially those that are not grown locally.

Vilsack could not give a specific list of the vegetables but he mentioned lettuce as an example.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap said he is keeping an open-mind to the US request to allow the entry of more US vegetables.

The two officials said both requests with have to go through a process and that the entry of US vegetables to the Philippines market “will not happen tomorrow.”   — Marianne Go