ON July 31, 2023, British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP) Executive Director and Trustee Chris Nelson expressed full support for the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act.
Republic Act 10845 or the “Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act” was enacted to protect the local agricultural industry and farmers from agricultural smuggling.
Following the emphasis of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on his plans to amend and improve the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act during his second State of the Nation Address (SONA), Nelson shared that BCCP supported this law because it benefitted the farmers, the consumers and the overall Philippine economy. It also promoted food security, sustainable farming and enhancement of agricultural value chains in the country.
“I think that’s a very important initiative and goes along with the fact that we want to see and develop very close ties. So, yes, [in] food production, we see continuing interest in the consumer sector. The Philippines is very vibrant in that sector,” Nelson said.
BCCP, being a key focus on United Kingdom pork exports to the Philippines, highlighted UK-Philippine trade relations while ensuring food security. The chamber was also interested in further liberalizing the Philippine market, citing the £2.4 billion UK-Philippine trade in goods and services in 2022.
Furthermore, BCCP continued to promote UK-Philippine trade relations, investment opportunities for British companies, food security and overall ease of doing business in the country.
