PH-US trade in agriculture promoted in Washington, DC

Dr. Javelosa briefs visiting Kansas Corn Collegiate Academy Students about Philippine agriculture at the Embassy on July 17, 2019. (Washington PE Photo)

Washington, DC — The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., through the Office of the Agriculture Attaché Dr. Josyline Javelosa, held a series of meetings in July 2019 aimed at promoting trade in agriculture between the Philippines and the United States.

Last July 17, 2019, Dr. Javelosa received six students from Kansas Corn Collegiate Academy wanting to learn about the Philippine corn industry with a specific focus on policy and trade.

Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. Agriculture Attaché Dr. Josyline Javelosa (center) with visiting Kansas Corn Collegiate Academy Students and Kansas Corn representatives Emily Koop and Stacy Mayo-Martinez. (Washington PE Photo)

Accompanied by East Kansas Corn Market Development Coordinator Emily Koop and Kansas Corn Director of Industry Relations Stacy Mayo-Martinez, the students had the Embassy in its itinerary that included visits to the U.S. legislature, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and meetings with industry professionals from July 15-18, 2019.

Dr. Javelosa briefed the group about the Philippines’ continuous and robust economic growth, the status of the Philippine agriculture, and her engagements in post with regard to food and agricultural trade policy, trade and investment promotion and technical cooperation. She further commended the student program, which allowed participants to examine in more depth various factors, and trends that may impact the corn industry and their future careers in the field of agribusiness.

Dr. Javelosa hosted her agriculture counterparts with a simple Filipino lunch to introduce Mr. Haas to Filipino cuisine and food products such as the bangus (milkfish), lumpiang shanghai (spring rolls), mungbean soup, pork barbecue and a special dish of buco pancit. (Washington PE Photo)

The Philippines, as mentioned by Dr. Javelosa, is an importer of corn by-products from the US such as ethanol and distillers’ dried grains.

Following day, Dr. Javelosa also welcomed the incoming U.S. Agricultural Counselor to the Philippines Mr. Morgan Haas, who will assume his post in Manila by the end of July. Mr. Haas was joined by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service colleagues, Lead Desk Officer for South and Southeast Asia Dr. Jadon Marianetti, and Desk Officer for the Philippines Benjamin Tsui.

Incoming U.S. Agricultural Counselor to the Philippines Morgan Haas (left) and Dr. Javelosa after their meeting on July 18, 2019 at the Philippine Embassy. (Washington PE Photo)

Dr. Javelosa received her agriculture counterpart and discussed Philippine agriculture interests in the United States. Mr. Haas, whose previous assignments covered Morocco, Tunisia and China, expressed his appreciation for the meeting and is looking forward to enhancing the Philippine-US bilateral relation in agriculture.

The governments of the Philippines and the U.S. are partners in various agricultural cooperation areas such as agbiotechnology, food safety, animal and plant health, development of commodities such as coffee, cacao and coconut, and in sustainable fisheries management.

The Philippines is the 11^th largest agricultural export market of the U.S. in 2018, while the U.S. is the Philippines’ top single country of destination for its food and agricultural exports.