Tuna byers could be the winner if the EU Commission finalises its favorable endorsement of the Philippine application for 6274 tariff lines for duty-free access to the 28-member European trading bloc.
“The approval was a little bit ahead as we were anticipating for an approval by August yet because we have to consider they have a new parliament to deal with,” Cristobal said.
Cristobal said the agency has convened the GSP task force and industry stakeholders in cooperation with EU Trade Related Technical Assistance and to ensure that local exporters are ready and compliant with the EU requirements to be able to access the EU market, which sets high standards on imported products.
Philippine Trade and Industry Undersecretary Adrian S. Cristobal Jr. told reporters during a press conference they have been informed in a note verbale of the EU Commission’s favorable endorsement to the EU Parliament.
“The approval was a little bit ahead as we were anticipating for an approval by August yet because we have to consider they have a new parliament to deal with,” Cristobal said.
With the earlier approval, the DTI expects the EU Parliament approval by end of the year paving the way for Philippine exports to start enjoy duty-free entry of their products to EU by early 2015.
Cristobal said the agency has convened the GSP task force and industry stakeholders in cooperation with EU Trade Related Technical Assistance and to ensure that local exporters are ready and compliant with the EU requirements to be able to access the EU market, which sets high standards on imported products.
The workshops to be conducted by the GSP task force would include topics on rules of origin, technical issues and the practical side of doing business.
“We are doing this because giving access is one thing but bringing products over there is another thing,” he said.
“Food exports could be challenging because of the high standards of EU and the whole standards of GSP is under the concept of sustainable development that include environment issues,” he said.
One environmental concern being raised by EU is the overfishing issue against the Philippines.
“So it is important that we implement reforms or adjustments enumerated by EU. We have until September this year to do that and we are doing with the Department of Agriculture, particularly the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources,” Cristobal added.
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