EU assist to improve exports to Europe
Manila Bulletin | April 1, 2009
EU assist to improve exports to Europe
By EDU LOPEZ
The three-year 7.47 million-euro (P361.62 million) trade-related technical assistance (TRTA-2) project is expected to improve Philippine exports to the 27-nation European Union (EU), the world’s largest market.
European Commission (EC) ambassador Alistair MacDonald said the project, which will receive an EC grant of 6.5 million euros (P314.66 million) could help address key trade constraints and bottlenecks.
MacDonald said the TRTA program can assist the country in developing a strategic trade policy for both bilateral and multilateral negotiations, speed up customs procedures, cope with demanding EU regulations on technical standards and comply with the latest requirements on food security.
The new program would expand TRTA-1’s food safety portfolio to cover the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), the National Meat Inspection Service, and the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).
The first phase of the program started in 2006 with a 3.5 million euro-grant had carried out substantial work with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).
The TRTA-2 will also assist the Philippine Accreditation Office (PAO) to establish an accreditation system for industry operations in accordance to international safety standards and relevant EC directives.
The TRTA program is among the ongoing initiatives of the EC to increase EU trade with the Philippines.
MacDonald noted that EU trade with the Philippines has been declining since 2002 by an average of two percent per year when EU trade with other middle-income Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries has been growing by an average of six percent.
“And at a time of recession, when ASEAN exports to the EU declined by two percent, Philippine exports to the EU declined by six percent,” he added.
The ambassador said the early conclusion of an EU-Philippine Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) will also give a solid basis for enhanced cooperation in the political, economic, social and developmental fields.
“The Philippines is the fifth ASEAN country with which we have begun such negotiations but if we make progress quickly enough, we could be the first to complete the process,” he noted.
Likewise, MacDonald said the Philippines stands to benefit from increased trade and investment flows should the comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) with the ASEAN members is concluded.
