Media release
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Tim Fischer
17 November, 1998
Bilaterals Bloom as Apec Slips
Opportunity for more sugar exports to Philippines
Australia's bilateral trade relations continue to bloom, despite a second-best outcome in APEC, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Tim Fischer, said today in Manila.
Visiting the Philippines this week as part of an Australian integrated country promotion, ''All the Best -from Australia", Mr Fischer cited the example of improved access for Australian sugar exports to the Philippines.
His comments followed a meeting today with the Philippines Secretary of Agriculture, Dr William Dar.
"The Philippines has traditionally been a net exporter of sugar, but adverse weather, increasing demand, and lower tariffs have combined to expand our sugar trade with the Philippines," Mr Fischer said.
"In fact this year Australian companies were granted all of the in-quota or Minimum Access Volume (MAV) for sugar, totalling 45,647 tonnes. We also supplied an additional 16,000 tonnes on top of the MAV to meet a shortfall.
"Next year, the Philippines is expected to import about 500,000 tonnes of sugar and Australia will be hoping to win a large slice of this market, especially if the Philippines Government reviews its current sugar import tariff regime.
"Australian sugar faces a higher tariff than some of its competitors and I welcome Secretary Dar's assurances today that his Government will consider putting all exporters on the same tariff level," Mr Fischer said.
Dairy and Beef Exports
Further on the tariff front, Mr Fischer said there was good news for other Australian exports to the Philippines, including dairy and beef products.
"The Philippines has reclassified flavoured milk products, dropping the tariff rate from 30% last year to 10% in 1999," he said. (Australian milk and cream exports to the Philippines were worth about $190 million in 1997-98).
"The quotas on fresh, chilled and frozen beef have now been removed and tariff rates will reduce from 30% this year down to 10% by 2000' (Australian beef exports to the Philippines were worth about $50 million in 1997-98).
Mr Fischer said these solid bilateral trade outcomes followed strong representations by the Australian Government through its Embassy in Manilla.
He also raised with Secretary Dar the importance of Australia's contribution to agricultural research in the Philippines.
Local Date: Thursday, 20-Nov-2008 22:13:27 EST