NEWSFLASH

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AUSSIE FARMERS CAMPAIGN VS. RP FRUITS

Manila, July 19, 2000 - The trade dispute between the Philippines and Australia is escalating, with Australian farmers reportedly engaged in a smear campaign against Philippine-grown fruits.

The Philippine Embassy in Canberra reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Australian Banana Growers' Council has already put up a Banana Imports Fighting Fund (BIFF) aimed at promoting their produce at the expense of those from other countries, such as the Philippines.

Earlier, Agriculture Secretary Edgardo Angara announced that Australia had agreed to accelerate the testing of Philippine fruits and other agricultural products after the Department of Agriculture threatened to cut live cattle imports from Australia by 20 percent over five years.

"In sum, the arena of the battle has shifted emphasis to the realm of hearts and minds of Australian consumers and voters. Australian mango and pineapple growers are not far behind. The game is to resist as much as possible (the) entry into Australia of competing products, and poison the minds of Australian consumers against said products," the embassy said.

The Philippine Embassy disclosed the ABGC could hire lawyers and public relations firms to utilize all form of media to convince Australian consumers utilize all forms of media to convince Australian consumers there are no other produce better than their own. "The actions would include denigration of the competing product in media releases," it said.

The embassy said ABGC has levied among its members a certain portion of income for the BIEF to pressure political parties to make the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) "more protective of their interests."

The embassy further stated the Australian growers were apparently enraged at the AQIS for "caving in" to Philippine government insistence to allow the entry of fruits to Australia.

The embassy suggested that Filipino producers and exporters of mangoes, bananas and pineapple prepare a counter-PR campaign targeting Australian consumers and voters. It said emphasis should be placed on the "safety and reliability, affordability, taste and luxury" of Philippine products.