The Department of Agriculture (DA) is keen on expanding the market reach of the country’s agricultural and fishery goods following the three-month pause of reciprocal tariffs imposed by the United States (US).
In a press briefing on Thursday, April 10, DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the agency is expected to take a “proactive approach” within the next 90 days as tariffs threaten agri-fishery imports.
“The Secretary (Francisco Tiu Laurel) is proactive in ensuring that all agri commodities, whether there is a change in the tariff or not, that is part of the advocacy and focus of the Secretary,” said De Mesa, also the DA’s spokesperson.
De Mesa noted that the Philippines was seen as a potential beneficiary when US President Donald Trump announced last week a barrage of tariffs against most countries.
During his so-called “Liberation Day” on April 2 (US time), Trump announced a 10-percent baseline tariff on all foreign-sourced goods, along with a higher reciprocal tariff on countries with which America has a trade deficit.
The Philippines, which has a trade deficit of $4.9 billion with the US last year, faced a 17-percent tariff from the Trump administration.
This was among the lowest in Southeast Asia, giving the country a competitive edge over countries considered close competitors in trading with the US.
“As [Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs] Secretary Frederick Go mentioned, at least we have a slight advantage because among our trade for agri, we have the best rate for now,” said De Mesa.
“But since there is a pause, all those have been erased. So, it’s the same again,” he added.
Trump has since reversed the reciprocal tariffs on all countries, apart from China, as other nations move to negotiate with the US government.
According to De Mesa, the Philippines’ total agri-fishery trade with the US last year notched ₱5 billion, with imports reaching ₱3.6 billion and exports hitting ₱1.4 billion.
Given this trade volume, the DA acknowledged that the US remains the top market for Philippine agricultural and fishery commodities.
However, amid global trade volatility, the agency has become more active in promoting the country’s goods to other countries.
In particular, it is looking to reach more countries in the Middle East, especially their Halal industries, and the European Union (EU).
The Philippines seeks to prioritize its prime export, coconut and coconut by-products, as well as tropical fruits such as pineapple and mango.
“We are also looking at other commodities. For us, while we are pursuing that, we need to maintain or improve our productivity. At the same time, we need to be competitive,” said De Mesa.
Notably, Assistant Secretary Philip Yang was recently appointed to oversee the agency’s efforts on exports.
De Mesa said Yang will provide recommendations to the DA chief regarding agri-fishery commodities and their trade potential.