<p>Next to the United States of America, Japan is the second major trade partner of the Philippines. Japan is its top market for bananas, pineapples as well as mangoes and fresh tuna and shrimps. The present initiative to institute a Philippine-Japan Economic Cooperation in Agriculture aims to explore possible collaborative endeavors in the agriculture sector including but not only limited to expanded trade.</p>
<p>Agriculture is a sensitive issue for both the Philippines and Japan. Thus, promoting economic cooperation cannot be a crop for crop basis. Concessions to have a greater market access for Philippine agricultural exports may have matched by concessions in other industries/ sectors e.g., retirement, contract workers, etc. Japan’s tariff rates are lower than the Philippines.</p>
<p>Freshness and safety considerations are major concerns of the Japanese consumer and are issues that will never be compromised. Existing trade must be facilitated; the direct route of distribution may be explored; and produced may be grown using Japanese seeds and technology. In addition, technical assistance to upgrade the Philippines phytosanitary standards as well as to increase the value added of the Philippine export may be sought.</p>