NEWSFLASH

---

RP-CHINA TALKS ON FOOD EXPORTS

Manila, April 14, 1998 - The top trade officials of the Philippines and China held extensive discussions in London recently on measures to improve market access of Philippine products especially fresh fruits and livestock.

The meeting between Trade and Industry Secretary Cesar Bautista and Minister Shih of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation was aimed at increasing Philippine exports to China to ease the trade imbalance between the two countries.

China's biggest wholesaler of fruits, hogs and livestock is being requested to consider sourcing supplies from the Philippines to fill the demand for hogs and livestock in Hong Kong.

Philippine corporate executives in the hog, livestock and fruit producing companies will be flown to Beijing in June for meetings with their counterparts.

Minister Shih also agreed to identify other projects that will help increase market shares of Philippine exporters in China, such as lowering of tariff walls and other import barriers.

---