The Philipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) called on President Duterte to work for the reduction or elimination of the hefty tariff rates on Cavendish bananas to Japan during his visit to that country later this month. Duterte is set to leave for Japan to attend the two-day 25th International Conference on the Future of Asia on May 30 to 31.

“I really hope they will be able to discuss the reduction or total elimination of tariffs imposed on our bananas entering japan,” PBGEA executive director Stephen Antig said on Tuesday. “We will not be competitive in the Japanese markets if our competitors are enjoying zero tariff on their goods while we are not.”

He said Japan is imposing tariff rates of 8 percent during summer and a maximum of 18 percent during winter for Philippine Cavendish bananas. He added the banana industry would “suffer and might even collapse if we cannot replac markets lost due to high tariffs.”