Philippine agriculture, with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. directly taking primary responsibility, is expected to get a boost from the United States following the launching of a trade mission launched in the country.
Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Daniel Whitley arrived in Manila on Monday, July 18, for a trade mission "to help foster stronger ties and build economic partnerships between the United States and the Philippines," the US Embassy in the Philippines said.
According to Whitley, the US' trade mission in the Philippines "will offer an abundance of opportunities" for both countries as he is confident that "the next few days will produce mutually beneficial results to help expand trade, increase collaboration on key issues impacting agriculture in both our countries, and ultimately strengthen Philippine food security."
"We have a diverse group of US agribusinesses and industry officials joining us in Manilla who can provide reliable, high-quality, and sustainably produced U.S. food and farm products to local buyers," he said.
He was joined by representatives from at least 29 US agribusinesses and farm organizations and 10 state departments of agriculture, who are interested in exploring export opportunities in the Philippines.
"The Philippines ranks as the eighth-largest export market for U.S. food and agricultural products, averaging $3.1 billion during the past five years, and we're looking forward to increasing sales and meeting the growing demand from Filipino consumers for U.S. foods," he also said.
The embassy said that staff of the department based in Manila will host business meetings between US trade mission delegates and Filipino companies seeking to import American food and farm products.
The mission itinerary also includes three memoranda of understanding which seek the launching of a funded program to help combat African Swine Fever in the Philippines, formalization of deeper trade ties between the Batangas and US state departments of agriculture, and formalization of ties between Mariano Marcos State University and the Us Grains Council to support biofuel solutions and climate smart practices.