Banana growers seek to re-enter Australia

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is willing to extend help to local banana growers to regain access in the Australian market.

The Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) earlier said it planned to write to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol to arrange a possible meeting between local banana producers and the Australian government.

“We have yet to receive the letter but we’re willing to help them. This is a welcome development for us. For me, it is unfair that we keep on buying products from them and yet we cannot enter their market,” Pinol told reporters in a chance interview on Monday.

Australia exports its temperate fruits in the country at zero tariff due to the ASEAN Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreements.

Australia exports its fruit produce to 45 countries with the Philippines as its 11th largest market in both volume and value. Australia also exports meat products, especially beef, to the Philippines.

“The banana industry is enjoying historic prices right now following the drought and plant diseases in South America. The price last week was about P700 plus per box and that used to be about P150, this is one of the highest prices so far,” Pinol said.

Pinol is optimistic that the Philippines will be able to supply enough bananas to Australia once the latter agrees with the re-entry of the high value crop.

“This is another market opportunity. It will also manifest a sense of cooperation between the two countries,” he said.

Since last year, the government has been urging Australia to allow the entry of Philippine bananas, which have been barred since 1995.

It was in 2002 when the Philippines filed a complaint against Australia at the World Trade Organization for its de facto ban on Philippine bananas, arguing that local bananas will not be a threat to the Australian market as it does not intend to fill Australia’s demand for the commodity.

Pinol said the government is looking at negotiating with the Korean government for a zero tariffication scheme on the country’s agricultural products particularly banana exports.

“I received a text from Secretary (Carlos) Dominguez asking us to prepare an engagement with South Korea as President Duterte is set to visit South Korea. But as to when, we don’t know yet,” Pinol said.

The Philippines accounts almost 90 percent of bananas being imported by South Korea annually.