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House Speaker Martin Romualdez has called for the resumption of the general review of the Philippines-Japan Economic Agreement (PJEPA) in the hopes of eliminating or reducing tariffs on key Philippine agricultural products, particularly bananas.  

The leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives made the call during a meeting with Japanese lawmakers comprising the Philippines-Japan Parliamentarians’ Friendship Society (PJPFS), led by Chairman Hiroshi Moriyama, a member of the House of Councilors, National Diet, at the Japan’s parliamentary building late Tuesday afternoon, June 18. 

"I am very confident to be bold now to ask for your support to see if we could have a possible review of the [PJEPA] where we can revisit the issue of elimination or reduction of tariffs, particularly for our agricultural products such as bananas," Romualdez said. 

“We believe that a review of the [PJEPA], especially after the recent trilateral agreements, would show support and solidarity. This request aligns with our past efforts and aims to foster a better and more conducive relationship between our countries,” he told PJPFS officials. 

The Speaker noted the decline in the Philippines’ market share of bananas in Japan, from a robust 90 percent down to 78 percent. 

Chairman Moriyama, a former agriculture minister, acknowledged the request to resume the PJEPA review and expressed willingness to consider it. 

The Philippines is looking to secure a larger share of Japan’s lucrative agriculture market for Filipino farmers and fisherfolk, as Japan is one of the largest importers of agricultural products in the world. 

The aim is to expand Philippine export opportunities for various fish and tropical fruits such as pineapples, avocados, mangoes, durian, mangosteen, and okra. 

Romualdez cited the importance of Japan as a trade partner, noting that it is not only a top provider of Official Development Assistance (ODA) but also the second-largest trading partner of the Philippines. 

However, he pointed out that since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, trade between the two countries has decreased by 12 percent. 

“This decline is not necessarily due to specific circumstances but rather the pandemic and current regional conditions," said Romualdez, Leyte's 1st district representative. 

Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene Garcia-Albano, who was also present during the meeting, shared concerns about the significant drop in banana exports to Japan over the last few years. 

"The majority of our banana exports come from our region. We are very concerned with the decline in banana exports to Japan,” said Garcia-Albano, a former Davao City lawmaker during the meeting. 

“We hope that with the general review of PJEPA, we can address the differences in tariffs imposed on bananas, aiming to level the playing field with other countries like Vietnam, which enjoys a zero percent tariff," she added. 

Chairman Moriyama further noted that persevering through this challenge could make Philippine bananas more competitive in the Japanese market. 

The issue of improved terms for Philippine agricultural products falls under the purview of the PJEPA, which remains the best bilateral track to pursue mutually beneficial commitments. 

Despite both the Philippines and Japan being parties to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the PJEPA is seen as a more effective platform for addressing this specific trade issue. 

Romualdez’s call for a swift PJEPA review during his Tokyo visit underscores the ongoing efforts to support the Philippine agricultural industry and promote equitable trade relations with Japan.