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Philippines: Government to Pursue Tuna Lobby in U.S.
Thursday, August 1, 2002
By Bernie Cahiles
The Manila Bulletin

"Our exports would have to pay between 6 percent and 12.5 percent in tariff for this product versus the 0 percent tariff for an equivalent product that was packaged differently," he stressed.

The Philippines will raise the issue of greater market access for its tuna exports to the U.S. during the visit of Secretary of State Collin Powell here following a disappointing approval of an omnibus trade bill that continue to discriminate the Philippine canned tuna.

Powell is arriving here today as part of an ASEAN swing where he is seeking the completion of a regional pact on counterterrorism. Southeast Asia is the focus in the second round of the U.S. campaign against terrorism.

"We would continue our lobbying efforts with the US Administration and we will take advantage of the upcoming visit of Secretary Collin Powell to the country to push for greater market access for RP tuna," said Trade and Industry Manuel A. Roxas II.

Roxas said that the omnibus trade bill approved by the US Congress, which includes the Andean Trade Preference Expansion Act (ATPEA), allows the duty-free importation by the US from Andean countries not of canned but tuna packaged differently -- in pouches or foils.
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2002 © The Manila Bulletin.

Dan